To think it is naive to assume Russian troll farms don’t target massive high traffic discussion forums like Mumsnet to post misinformation

On mumsnet? How

If Mumsnet can't/won't censor disinformation, it shouldn't censor attemps to call it out (even if misguided, or sometimes tedious).

I thought this post from @MrsBennetsPoorNerves in response to a post from one of the moderators (re users making "bot" accusations on a thread yesterday, put it very well:

"[Becky] do you think perhaps the time has come for MNHQ to review its talk guidelines?

I understand your point that people should challenge posts with arguments rather than so-called troll hunting, but it isn't always possible to disprove the spurious claims that are often made on here because they're just made up nonsense. And in this day and age, when we know that hostile foreign states are actively seeking to influence the political debate in our own country by deliberately spreading disinformation via social media, I am not sure that it is helpful for MN to just carry on zapping posters who cast doubt on a poster's motivations. Isn't it better to at least raise awareness amongst all MNers of the possibility that hostile foreign actors may be at work, so that people can maintain that critical awareness?

If you are not willing to allow posters to call others out when they suspect that hostile foreign actors may be at play, can you outline exactly what steps MN has taken to guarantee that such actors cannot possibly be active on MN? Or do you not actually agree that we should be taking all possible steps to minimise the influence that hostile foreign states might have on political debate in the UK?
We have a curious situation on MN at present in which highly offensive content is frequently left to stand and deliberate disinformation is rampant, and yet posts which dare to suggest that posters may not be exactly what they are purporting to be get zapped because they are "against Talk Guidelines".

I would respectfully suggest that it is time for MN to tear up the old Talk Guidelines and draft some new ones that properly address the very real threats facing us in today's world."

Loads

And they're really sophisticated too

Basically they say 'oh what about this thing I saw somewhere else about what Zelenskyy did before'

Making out they're NOT trying to drop a lie/bomb

It’s not the so called bots that is killing this site, it’s the constant accusation by posters that anyone who has a different view to them is a bot.

Have an issue with labour? “You’re obviously a tori bot.”

Vote for Trump? “You’re obviously a Russian bot.”
Disagree with what Zelensky is doing wrt Ukraine? “Clearly you’re a Russian bot.”

The fact is that there may well be bots out there, but there are also people who don’t share the same opinions as you, and the constant accusation of “bot” is tedious.

If you think they’re a bot then report them but don’t respond. The more you respond, the more the thread goes off on the wrong tangent, and then it is you who made that happen, not a bot.

Yes and stylistically there are so many tells as well.

A political group on Facebook I joined years ago popped up today. I was horrified and disgusted to find it full of pro-Putin types repeating Kremlin propaganda about Zelenskyy, and saying Ukrainian surrender was the only way to peace.

They most certainly do.
The pro Trump, anti Ukraine posts are a Moscovy peasant's cottage industry these days. Many don't even get paid for it.

Yes absolutely. And if you point it out you get deleted. Look there are many Mumsnet posters who I don't agree with but the difference is these posters have been around for years, and whilst I vehemently disagree with them, they have every right to post their opinions. The posters I have a problem with have only signed up to Mumsnet for a matter of days or weeks and post heavily if not exclusively in favour of Trump/Musk/Putin etc. Oh and they all seem to parrot the same far right talking points. So yes I agree with you OP.

Yanbu.

There are some truly interesting posters on the Ukraine etc threads.

I love the thought of Putin, laying shirtless on a bearskin rug in the Kremlin, chuckling to himself as he calls posters remoaners and draws parking diagrams.

I’ve been on here for 15 years but today is the first time I’ve ever had posts deleted.

I wonder how long before this one goes pfffft as well?

They do and most of us see them. Pity MNHQ refuse to.

MN don't like you questioning their moderation on anything.

They prefer a bun fight as it gets media interest and leads to more advertising revenue.

Russians/MAGAs
Potato/Potato

I even got a ticking off via email

No mnhq is based in a liberals democratic country where guess what?? We are allowed to think differently and have multifaceted views even on the same topic 🤯🤯🤯

Could you link to an example?

Me too. Is MNHQ now based in St Petersburg?

And so what if putin is wasting time here, mn is usually used by intellectual people, who all think differently and sometimes similarly on any multitude of threads.

Disinformation is everywhere, we need to apply critical thinking and challenge the posters

I've been on mn for about 16 years.
Yoni, small Korean woman, eyes at champagne the person of height challenge locked into the shop, the garden stage over looking the garden with hot tubs and so on.

I think some posters are veering into deranged territory with the endless insistent bot claims

I'm very glad mn is cracking down on it.
The level of paranoia of many posters is deeply worrying. Mn is some people's life line I get that and some spend far too much time here, I have.
But seriously back off it's insane and killing really good discussions which is the mn raisin detre.

It's a casual insult now chucked anywhere.

You can spot them a mile off. Plus also the Twitter / Facebook profiles.

It's not just Russians.