Page 2 | To NOT believe some of the threads posted on Mumsnet?

NovemberMorn · 2024-12-31T13:34:56+00:00

Some are far fetched, some threads ask for advice then the posters don't bother to respond when asked for details, some threads just seem to be started for provocation. I don't mind any of the above...but I certainly don't believe they are all genuine.

rewilded · 02/01/2025 01:30

I am sure MHQ has been replaced by bots already.

Butchyrestingface · 02/01/2025 01:22

Well, since so many threads get pulled for being weapons grade bollox, I would say it's not remotely unreasonable to proceed with caution.

Subjectivist · 02/01/2025 01:10

Abitofalark · 31/12/2024 14:07

It sometimes strikes me that a story isn't true yet most posters who respond are very trusting and lacking in suspicion so it will get hundreds of earnest responses offering advice and sympathy. I might be wrong of course, but...

There was one fairly recently where it seemed to me that the originator had cleared off after posting an utterly contrived get out cover story yet people kept posting for days afterwards entreating her/him/ to update and let them know she was all right. It just didn't occur to them to be suspicious of the (to me) very suspicious sudden and made-up ending. Another one the other day posted two separate threads with similar versions of the story. That was one unanswered mystery but there were other signs within the postings, such as a jarring response that didn't fit with the emotion of a supposedly distressing story.

It baffles me when people call out the OP for posting the same or very similar thread already and others still continue to post asking if the OP is OK or offering advice. It just seems like a total waste of time to respond to a thread that is highly unlikely to be true.

Balaclaval · 02/01/2025 00:58

Why would you expect “free speech” on an internet forum?

“Free speech” is lobbed around indiscriminately these days; it’s lost all meaning.

Saphire123 · 02/01/2025 00:44

Being fairly new myself, I am getting pretty good at spotting the trolls.
I suppose they have to get the attention somewhere.

Doyoumind · 01/01/2025 13:32

MN is more than just AIBU, Chat and Relationships, where the trolls tend to hang out. There have allways been trolls and there will always be trolls. But there are interesting posts and responses. It's not as funny as it used to be though.

I don't feel there's a lot of AI - certainly not without quite a lot of effort put in by a human. If people want to waste their time that way, I don't really care as my starting point on the popular boards is that the post is unlikely to be 100% true whether it's because it's a troll, or the OP has changed a lot of detail for privacy or to influence the responses.

Original poster

NovemberMorn · 01/01/2025 13:07

FelixtheAardvark · 01/01/2025 12:32

No. It's a site owned my MNHQ and they can veto anything they don't like.

There's not as bad as The Guardian when it comes to doing it, but they can do it.

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Obviously there has to be some limits to what people say on a public forum, hopefully it's not too oppressive.
At least this thread, which is harmless imo, has been allowed to run it's course.

OP posts:

FelixtheAardvark · 01/01/2025 12:32

NovemberMorn · 31/12/2024 13:40

Is free speech not allowed on here then?

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No. It's a site owned my MNHQ and they can veto anything they don't like.

There's not as bad as The Guardian when it comes to doing it, but they can do it.

ueberlin2030 · 01/01/2025 12:24

BarbaraHoward · 01/01/2025 11:59

I think there's an increase in goading too. Perhaps that's not the right word. But people posting something positive or a "totally genuine naive" question about trans people/people from X country/injectables/weight loss jabs/Harry and Meghan/William and Kate/religion Y etc etc etc in order to bait posters into slagging that group off.

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Yup.

YaCannyKickYaGrannyInTheShin · 01/01/2025 12:03

YANBU but it's one of the reasons I love MN.

Even the ones that have an element of truth, are often hugely exaggerated, especially the threads that are deliberately set up to run into 3 or 4 threads.

But possibly more batshit than the trolls are the MN aunties, swallowing every line of BS.

They don't like it pointed out to them and can get quite defensive, which just adds to the hilarity! 🤭🤣

BarbaraHoward · 01/01/2025 11:59

ueberlin2030 · 31/12/2024 20:01

As well as trolls I think there are some folk trying to get information for articles and the like.

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I think there's an increase in goading too. Perhaps that's not the right word. But people posting something positive or a "totally genuine naive" question about trans people/people from X country/injectables/weight loss jabs/Harry and Meghan/William and Kate/religion Y etc etc etc in order to bait posters into slagging that group off.

BarbaraHoward · 01/01/2025 11:56

AsTheLightFades · 31/12/2024 21:06

Along with gotten

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England's a bit of an outlier re "gotten". It's used in Scotland, Ireland, NI, the US, Australia etc. If you're noticing an increase it may simply be a more diverse user base as the site grows.

Original poster

NovemberMorn · 01/01/2025 11:49

ShesNotACowShesAFox · 31/12/2024 21:32

YANBU.

i reckon only half on MN posts are genuine. But I don’t really care, I never take it too seriously it’s all entertainment at the end of the day

It's certainly entertaining.
I have read a couple of threads that have really touched me, insofar as I will find them again, hoping that if the author has updated, their dilemma has had a happy ending.

It usually hasn't.

OP posts:

ShesNotACowShesAFox · 31/12/2024 21:32

YANBU.

i reckon only half on MN posts are genuine. But I don’t really care, I never take it too seriously it’s all entertainment at the end of the day

Unicornsandprincesses · 31/12/2024 21:13

ueberlin2030 · 31/12/2024 20:01

As well as trolls I think there are some folk trying to get information for articles and the like.

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100%

Unicornsandprincesses · 31/12/2024 21:12

There’s definitely one spammy poster whose style I recognise. Hard to believe topics, hard to follow posts, always spells words wrong but in a way to bait/boost replies, eg cococunts instead of coconuts …

TaggieO · 31/12/2024 21:08

In the old days it used to be way easier to spot them.

They always had twins, a name and number username and there was always a drip feed.

AsTheLightFades · 31/12/2024 21:06

Pancakeflipper · 31/12/2024 13:51

Noticed a huge increase of the word 'mom' in posts in the last few months and they've turned out to be creative works of fiction.

Along with gotten

LindorDoubleChoc · 31/12/2024 20:52

OP - it is absolutely not my intention to be patronising, but I'm thinking you must be new to this site?

ueberlin2030 · 31/12/2024 20:01

LittleRedRidingHoody · 31/12/2024 13:35

Of course. Loads of trolls about - I'm starting to be able to recognise the writing patterns now.

As well as trolls I think there are some folk trying to get information for articles and the like.

LittleGreenDuck · 31/12/2024 19:59

CombatLingerie · 31/12/2024 16:35

I agree @Gem359 there have been some harmless and at times very funny fake threads that got deleted. Usually just when I am enjoying them. I noticed a recent trend in usernames. A describing word, a colour and then an animals name. It has interested me because I wonder if it’s one very imaginative person? Or are lots of other posters following the same format? Or is some kind of bot generating the names? I probably spend too much time on here😂.

I guess I fall into this category! Though I'm not a bot, haven't started any strange threads and nor was my username suggested by MNHQ.

Simply, I was trying to think of a name and found myself looking at a mini statue of a green duck on DD's shelf. Terribly boring 🤣

MistressoftheDarkSide · 31/12/2024 17:07

Oh don't get me wrong, I also enjoy the "entertainment" aspect. I also enjoy the debates and creativity - I got way too invested in a thread a while ago where cats were posting their grievances with their MN owners, that kept me diverted from real world problems very nicely.

I'm fascinated by our collective psychology in general and how we all deal with life. And how quickly the current zeitgeist can change and evolve. Much prefer here to Facebook lol.

AngelAva · 31/12/2024 17:00

MistressoftheDarkSide · 31/12/2024 16:45

Oh, I didn't know that. I know that name generators exist, but didn't realise it was also a MN feature for some reason. I am wondering if there's some sort of back door low level "attack" going on, although it's possibly just mischief makers with too much time on their hands.

Either way it's a shame because it makes the site less friendly feeling for "genuine" posters, and can attract the attention of the press. I worry that it just makes MN look like batshit central when actually there's scope for real support and advice, and I think plenty of us do engage on that basis in good faith. First world problems I suppose.

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Mumsnet is batshit central, that's why we're all here! For the entertainment!

Tormundsbeard · 31/12/2024 16:59

maybe I am the one being naive believing the posters who appear to be surprised that their stance is not supported on AIBU…

soupfiend · 31/12/2024 16:58

Arent you here for entertainment?

Im here for entertainment. I hate it when those sorts of threads are shut down, they make me laugh