....of Trolls & Troll Hunters

[LittleMissStroppy]

I've namechanged for this simply because I like my regular name and persona and would like to keep it on the off chance this goes tits up.

I was going to post this on the thread about Troll Hunters but it felt like it would be a detraction from the main issue of that particular thread.

I think to a large extent, if anyone is worried and brave enough to post about issues going on in their private lives, they open themselves up to a lot of speculation and examination - in addition to the good advices they may or may not recieve.

What worries me is that a lot of vulnerable people come on here, spill their hearts and sometimes are subjected to MNers negativity.

A while back, I used to post quite regularly and it was fine until I decided to ask for insights about some personal matters. Whilst majority of the responses were supportive and helpful, some were downright negative and hurtful. I was shocked that complete strangers, who had no idea what my life is / was like, assumed they had the temerity to make judgements and assumptions. Yes, I agree - words on a screen - but when it is someone's life and feelings, we owe it to each other to be circumspect and treat ourselves with dignity and respect.

Yes, some troubled individuals WILL take advantage and make up stories and I am certain not all of us are dumb to be taken in by them.

It's the few unfortunate ones that get subjected to all sorts of deriding treatment that make me sad about how we treat ourselves on here.

I remember being shocked and a bit frightened that someone knew so much about me based on posts I had made eons ago and kept bringing it up in newer threads to cast aspersions on everything I said (posted). It was frightening and it affected me so much in RL. The inability to make that person and his/her crew see that this was my life and that I wasnt lying about anything. It was frightening. Till today, I rarely post asking for insights or opinions. I stick to the safe topics and pick up helpful tips from threads I find interesting.

I dont / wouldnt want to be in that situation ever again.

My point? Trolls are disruptive, yes. Troll Hunters are worse. They have a grandoise opinion about themselves and their "position" on a board and thrive on their ability to disparage anyone who seems vulnerable, or are battling with "unbelievable circumstances" in their life. They have an over inflated opinion of themselves as "Masters of the board". I am glad MNHQ do their best to discourage them.

[milkmilklemonade]

Completely agree with you, especially the last paragraph.

[PinotsKittens]

There are sooooooo many of these threads around at the moment Is there anything left that hasn't been said already? I'm going to have to turn off MN at this rate

[boudiccasSideKick]

Totally agree with you too.

[bibbitybobbityhat]

Why yet another thread on this subject?

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

I used to feel much the same way as you, OP. I don't anymore. I agree that 'troll hunters' who call 'troll' willy nilly can do untold harm, both to the poster and to the board itself, but actually, I don't see those kind of egotistical, self-aggrandising posters much now.

The troll-hunters I see (or rather don't see) are rather more circumspect; making sure of their facts, researching the posts that they think are relevant and quietly making it known on a thread that all is not as it seems. God bless them, I say. It's appalling that DrPolidari was jumped on when she called it on the 'GP' thread. So many posters were getting personally involved and giving out information that they would have been better to have kept private. That's putting RL people are risk from unscrupulous users and it's not on.

If people choose to lie (not talking about the adjustments we all make to keep ourselves anonymous) but the cold, calculated, cynical lying that is designed to get posters involved and stir them up into a frenzy, well.. I don't care if the liars feel 'got at', they should, they are, we hate them, many of us anyway.

MNHQ do an excellent job, it's true, but they can't be here, there and everywhere and they can't read every thread. This particular thread happened at the weekend (what a surprise) and there was no removal until Monday, during which time goodness knows how many other posters could have been sucked in. It's human nature to want to help and that's what these leeches count on. They don't deserve a minute of our time, nor our consideration.

I'm fairly clueless where trolls are concerned but I do have 'spidey senses' for want of a better description and I've backed away from posters that I don't think are authentic. Instead of backing away in future, I think I'll ask them some pointed questions about what they've posted and if I disbelieve something, I'm going to say so in future.

I hope the GP troll never comes back, she was like a dementor, sucking the life out of the board and I pity her child(ren) if she actually has them at all.

[boudiccasSideKick]

Why shouldn't the OP have started another thread on this? Just don't read them then.

[worraliberty]

Really I think MN has become obsessed with trolls and troll hunters

It's part and parcel of using a forum open to the general public to view or use.

[SaulGood]

Please no more of these bloody threads.

Troll hunters, like trolls, are not some big homogeneous mass. Sometimes after reporting the same flipping liar time and time again a poster will crack and say something on thread because they're sick of people being sucked into the deceit. Sometimes troll hunters are malicious, sometimes they're bored, sometimes they're misguided. Just like trolls. Some need help, some are just ridiculous, some are actually after something concrete from you.

There are lots of aspects I don't like about MN. I don't particularly like aibu or threads about dogs but people post in different ways for different reasons and I'm not arrogant enough to think I'll ever change it. I can only ever modify what I do. Which is to hide about 99% of MN and weep over the remaining 1%.

All this clutching of pearls is making my braxton hicks worse. If you see a troll report it. If you see a troll hunter report it. If you see a Tory report it. You won't stop any of it but you can choose the path you take. But don't make the mistake of assuming that a 'troll hunter' is one thing or another.

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Worra... I think it's Harry Potter fever still.... "there's a trolll-llll in the dungeon..."

[DrPolidori]

"clutching ofpearls"

I love you Saul

[worraliberty]

Stares blankly at Lying* and admits to never having seen more than 5 mins of Harry Potter

[DrPolidori]

I am surprised that the OP felt a discussion about how troll hunters were as bad as trolls was not appropriate for the other thread on the same subject.

Is there some semantic difference that I am missing?

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

worry, really? ....

[milkmilklemonade]

And they also hijack any thread they don't like and make it into one of their childish pisstakey cliquey threads. Fuck off if you are not interested, you don't own the internet.

[LittleMissStroppy]

"clutching of pearls"

Me too Saul, I love you :)

I've this mental picture of me, hands wringing, over my non existent pearls, despairing over trolls and troll hunters on MN...

[LittleMissStroppy]

DrPolidori, that particular thread veered on to CRS bla bla + support for her and it didnt seem right to clutter it up.

This is just a general observation Dr....no particular thread in mind.

[MorrisZapp]

Troll hunters, what a stupid term. If I tell you a lie, and you call me a liar, are you a 'liar hunter'?

I don't hunt for trolls. But I do use the forums and sometimes I come across them.

[boudiccasSideKick]

Well done milk, here they go huh! cliquety clique, cliquety clique.

[DrPolidori]

sorry little Miss, I was referring to another one,more recent.

[worraliberty]

And while we're on the subject of people bringing up other poster's history.....

Sometimes it is totally relevant to the thread.

I mean if someone posted to a thread saying "It's my Birthday, AIBU to expect a card or a prezzie from my DH? He's bought me nothing and I'm in tears"

Cue all the posters flocking on to say he's a miserable bastard and the poor OP is not being unreasonable to expect something. Then cue all the other posters with all their little stories and experiences relating to forgotten Birthdays etc...

Would it be unreasonable for someone to remind the OP that they fucked their Husband's brother 3 weeks ago and perhaps their Husband might still be a tad upset?

I've made that scenario up....but see what I mean? Sometimes the things a poster has posted is totally relevant to the thread

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Or if they've forgotten that they themselves had their birthday, last week.

[PinotsKittens]

Ooh don't be mean about friendships on MN. Just join in!

[DrPolidori]

blimey. whiney paranoia or what?

"they" the homogenous mass that apparently characterises the species "troll hunter"
"clique" Is there some great troll hunting hangout where they meet and swap tall tales of the "one that got away"?

I am an individual. It might make you feel better to create some stereotype of people who voice doubts about threads. Its as false as trolling.

I've called a troll in the past. on sensitive stuff. But you know what? I didn't care. because it comes the internet territory.

[PinotsKittens]

Shuddup DrP and give me my High Priestess cape and feathered headpiece.

Or else.





(Ohh I am tough as a High Priestess)

[PerryCombover]

I thought that this was another thread about exactly the same thing....