$regex = qr/--/

if($thestring =~ $regex || $thestring !~ $regex)
{
   unshift(@match, $thestring);
}


##</code><code>##

081407 start up server
081407 -- fatal error in procedure 1
081407 -- disconnected user
081407 -- logging started
081407 -- not enough space

##</code><code>##

081407 -- fatal error in procedure 1
081407 -- not enough space

##</code><code>##

081407 -- disconnected user
081407 -- logging started

##</code><code>##

1. get all occurrences of "--".
2. in those occurrences of "--" ignore those that have "logging" and "disconnected"

could it be place in a qr// function like:

qr/-- || ~! logging,disconnected/ (wrong syntax of course)

something like an ignore list.