To ask - what the fuck is the matter with people who do this?

Attention seeking sympathy junkies. On one of the groups I found a particularly good resource, we had one poster constantly wanting soothing, sympathy, threatening to end it all, needing somewhere to live, often 2am monologues. People were really kind and patient. A few long time members/posters of the group private mssgd me to say don't waste time or sympathy and to do post history check (didn't know at the time you could) I was shocked to see loads of contradictory posts over many threads, same name but completely different person/circumstances. I think social media really feeds this type of manipulative person, a constant source of supply. Most people kindly share their experience but not everyone is who they portray themselves to be and far from honest.

It was completely unbelievable, even aside from the highly unlikely extreme reaction on "his" part, a lot of posters asked for details of what type and pointed out there are lots of different options for men, and questioning what he was supposedly told for various reasons as it wouldn't have been done or said that way, and they were all ignored.

I think it's safest to just assume everyone is a troll, and then post accordingly. Never give too much of yourself online. No poster, real or otherwise, deserves you sharing more than you would want to share on the school run. But if you do choose to share, you may well help someone reading even if the OP is a load of bollocks.

I didn't see the thread in question but I have noticed a lot of weird threads recently (more than usual!). Either it's AI or some other kind of training of 'bots' or '50c army' type scenario.

And of course people are fucking weird. Some of the stuff I read on here I find disturbing on a really subliminal level. There are a lot of borderline crazy people out there.

I agree to an extent......if I posted aspects of my life on here people would accuse me of trollery.......I wouldn't even bother posting for support. I rely on my dark humour to.get me through......couldn't even make money by writing it down and sending it into Eastenders as a potential script. It would be rejected for being too far fetched 🤣🤣🤣

I do think the troll posts are pretty obvious tho. The more outlandish and dramatic.they are the more likely they are to be fake. That and the large gaps that occur as they sit their rubbing their thighs over the attention they're gleaning off strangers.

Oh crikey! I see. Goodness. Well, I have no idea then! And will read the thread with interest!

Maybe some people never get past the pre school role play stage. My kids are constantly making up scenarios and getting me involved, so I guess some people regress back to that stage later in life!

• I find it fascinating too, there is a site I use for local information which has the most horrendous troll on it. When I was on the receiving end of their threats and bile I did quite a lot of reading about the psychology of people who do this and there is definitely a link with the "dark triad" of Narcissism: A pathological form of self-love that can lead to shame-driven rage
• Machiavellianism: A style of interpersonal strategy that involves manipulation, deception, and self-interest
• Psychopathy: A trait that is often studied in forensic populations, such as prisoners and mentally disordered offenders . Of course people like that have been around for centuries but the internet and social media have given them a whole new playground. They can assume multiple identities, hound and bully people, manipulate and con them and all form the comfort of their own home.

There is all sorts of trolling. It isn’t limited to straight out aggression and hate. People make up stories and post them all the time. It can be to get attention and interaction for themselves personally or for a political position or to start an argument.

Social media is full of false information and stories. Do not use what you read here or elsewhere to form opinions. You are very likely reading a shaggy dog story. The more flowery and dramatic the language the more likely it is to be made up. The more rambling and detailed filled the more likely it is to be made up.

There are also posters whose story is probably a very one sided and self serving narrative. They are using the forum to validate their behaviour and position.

There are some very fucked up individuals who walk amongst us. The internet is the perfect place for them to indulge their sick minds. Trolling can be very damaging, and there should be consequences for people who repeatedly use chat and social media sites in this way - I don't know what, some sort of restricted internet access maybe.

I know "oh school holidays" often gets cited but I honestly think very few of them are teenagers mucking about.

Obviously some people do it for attention.

However being older and having seen plenty of life there are some stories that I personally know are true that do seem like they could be made up. As they say truth is often stranger than fiction.

How MN allegedly know people are trolls baffles me, unless they can actually investigate a story by collecting evidence.

I mean I could write I’m 32 and single with blonde hair, none if that is true but how would they know.

I saw someone that I know (vaguely) trolling on Facebook once- he said some vile things about a disabled child. I can confirm that he is exactly what you’d expect a troll to be like. Lives with his mum at the age of 40, no job or girlfriend, difficult and unpleasant personality and basically a sad unhappy person with nothing better to do than make other people feel as bad about themselves as he does. I do now imagine that all trolls are similar and are basically deeply unhappy horrible people that deserve pity more than anything.

@SunshineSky81 Following on from that it was also amazing the amount of people who posted online about loosing a family member (or a boyfriend seemed very common) on memorial pages where it was obvious that it was not true, given that the family's at this point all knew each other through months of court hearings. it was all so bizarre, and made a horrible time even harder for everyone involved

This never makes any sense to me, why would you wish something so terrible onto yourself?
I've known a couple of people die unexpectedly, one of whom was tragically young and a couple of people who barely knew the deceased but clamoured about, claiming to be the most upset and grief stricken was sickening to watch.

It seems to be less of a thing now (probably because these people can go on forums like MN now) but i used to wonder the same about those scam email/facebook posts. You know the ones - someone would go to the trouble of creating a fake letter from the local police force warning the public about some terrible criminal gang..... and it was all completely fake. And it really used to throw me becuase when you looked up the story, it had inevitably been rolling around for years, in multiple cities or even countries, but the one that was popping up on my facebook would be dated last week, with my local police force's details... so someone had found this, then gone to the trouble to adapt/edit it for local use, then started spamming it out there.

It's really odd and mind blowing to me.

Also frustrating - pretty much every single person in DH's family would buy into those ones!!!

I get why people say it’s for attention, but I can’t understand what fulfillment it gives to have attention for something made up. Like if you all compliment me for something I’ve done I’d feel good, but for something I haven’t done? How could that make me feel any satisfaction? It’s utterly bizarre to me.

I can only think maybe people get off on feeling they’ve fooled others. Again, no idea why that would feel good.

It is very strange. Years ago a close family member was killed in a very public accident. Speaking to the family liaison officers afterwards, they were saying how the amount of fake calls to the police incident helpline was unexpectedly high and took a massive amount of resources to deal with - think reporting your loved one missing and possibly involved in a incident where it took days to recover the dead.

Following on from that it was also amazing the amount of people who posted online about loosing a family member (or a boyfriend seemed very common) on memorial pages where it was obvious that it was not true, given that the family's at this point all knew each other through months of court hearings. it was all so bizarre, and made a horrible time even harder for everyone involved

I think it's got to be for attention.
Like the thread last week about a couple taking his ex wife's child with another man on holiday with them and their children so she wasn't left out. Loads of posters were saying how good and decent they were until it was found to be a work of fiction.

I saw that last night. It was a very disturbing read and so many replies trying to be kind and genuine. I always assume it’s boredom and attention seeking, though there are some individuals who tip into fetish on certain topics (usually bodily functions, bizarrely).

Sadly I now assume everything in Aibu or chat is embellished at the very least, if not an outright nonsense. Which is a shame for posters looking for genuine advice.

A power trip? They are in control of a situation and making people dance to their tune.

Maybe a previously banned poster/

Such a dangerous thread too considering what they said he was threatening to do.