[brainstorming] feature to check for similar thread-title

[Mas*Mind]

It would be very usefull to have a feature that checks if a post has a title similar to an already existing thread.
So that if someone wants to post a thread and similar titles are allready found in the database the user will be notified of this so he can figure out if he'd post the thread or not.

An example of this would be:

upload avatar problem

would match

Cannot get Avatar to upload

The only problem is: How to implement such a feature? Is there some mysql-inbuilt function to check such things? (couldn't find anything) Or maybe there's a php-workaround on this? (not that I know of, I only know of the soundex-function (also available in mysql btw) that does such things, but I don't think it would be usefull for this type of things.

Many times similar threads with similar subjects are posted so this kind of feature would help preventing that.

The only thing is: Can it be implemented and if: how?

I often have seen websites and when you search for something which isn't found, the script comes up with suggestions that sound similar to it. So I guess there is a way to do it.

Just brainstorming here, maybe we'll find a way and I can start hacking

[Martz]

How about an option when posting a new thread to "Check for similar threads" - and a search is performed like the one already built in when the user clicks the submit button. If any threads are found, the post is suspended, and shown like a preview, with the threads found by the search expanded to show the orginal post, and x number of replies underneath...

Just my thoughts, the idea is well conceived and makes sense. Useful for support or "How to" forums. Nice concept.