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Original poster

AIBU in suspecting that MN start threads to increase site traffic

106 replies

Newbutoldfather · 31/08/2026 11:55

When I first looked at MN, the best part of 20 years ago, the popular threads were on parenting, health, FWR and a couple of others. And there were loads of posters!

Now there seem to be fewer posters and the ‘normal’ type threads that were the stock-in-trade of MN seem to get little traction. I think AI has had a role here. Many of those questions are well answered by an AI query.

OTOH, there are a lot of ‘exciting’ threads started where the OP contributes relatively little for a few hours and then disappears, and they keep going until often full. Sometimes they are deleted later. There are at least two that I contributed to early now which are still going.

Of course there are loads of genuine trolls (if that isn’t a contradiction in terms!) but it’s also great for MN, increases the value of advertising and, if the site is for sale, will increase the value.

Of course, maybe they are all trolls, but Occam’s razor kind of says that it wouldn’t be hard for employees of MN to quietly and anonymously start these threads which are very helpful for the site.

Of course we can never know the answer, but it is odd.

OP posts:
Original poster
Newbutoldfather · 31/08/2026 17:37

*misandry

OP posts:
Original poster
Newbutoldfather · 31/08/2026 17:32

@EmailsaysOOO ,

I do think there is some misandry on this site in that the same scenario from two different sexed posters does get treated very differently.

i used to get worked up about it, but it is a women’s site (predominantly) so I don’t care any more.

These days I think there is a trend to critique the OP harshly so an ideal thread is a man whose wife had had an affair (say).

You always get the defence of ‘oh, you must be useless around the house. She must have had a reason’. Then comes the accusation of misogyny (which is kind of true).

OP doesn’t come back much, just enough to hook the crowd.

And on it goes for 1,000 posts.

OP posts:
EmailsaysOOO · 31/08/2026 17:08

Newbutoldfather · 31/08/2026 13:39

@Foolish1984 ,

I am not really saying just on the basis of a weird scenario.

It is the inconsistent language in the OP’s style, seeming either semiliterate or EAL and then starting to talk about misandry (for instance!).

It is also the long and detailed first post, the engagement with short further posts for a couple of hours and then vanishing into thin air, as the thread runs to 40 pages.

There are definitely a lot of posters who keep banging on about misandry. Do you think that's sort of programmed in ?

I think it's frustrating when a thread that is really interesting seems to be abandoned by the OP and they do stand out but I guess the OP would need to get stuff done so maybe there's a genuine reason there.

leavesinthebreeze · 31/08/2026 17:06

SwirlyGates · 31/08/2026 16:49

Even if they do admit it, it boils my piss. People post on here to get responses from real people, not "I asked ChatGPT and it said..."

Show quote history

I agree - but when posters post a long post (too many posts? 🤣) from ChatGPT as though they are the oracle or so clever - really irritates me! I come here for the human interaction (good and bad) and the different opinions and have done for nearly 20 years - if I wanted a ChatGPT response I would ask it myself. I’m going to start calling it out everytime I see it 🙈

SwirlyGates · 31/08/2026 16:49

leavesinthebreeze · 31/08/2026 13:45

It’s posters who reply with a response they got from ChatGPT that piss me right off - unless they admit they have used it.

Even if they do admit it, it boils my piss. People post on here to get responses from real people, not "I asked ChatGPT and it said..."

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 31/08/2026 16:49

AMA is probably copied from Reddit.

Vallies · 31/08/2026 16:43

I think the sharing of threads on FB is misguided. We all know it was never confidential anyway, but the risk of being outed on FB 'feels' much higher than on MN alone, so I suspect posters with some of the more interesting matters to discuss are more reluctant to share.

DandyFatball · 31/08/2026 16:41

Probably.

Justine said in an interview years ago that in the early days of MN she made lots of sock puppets to start threads and even talk to herself on threads to get the site going.

MN isn't as popular as it was. There are more similar websites now and the days of going on threads and recognising lots of names are gone.

It may have more traffic but that doesn't equal popularity, it's just the nature of social media now. Tonnes of traffic doesn't equal tonnes of dedicated users which is what made MN thrive in the 1st place.

It's just a business at the end of the day. It made the owners millionaires and they want to continue making that kind of money. And will do whatever it takes to make that happen.

MyThreeWords · 31/08/2026 16:39

Darragon · 31/08/2026 12:05

IDK for certain but I have noticed that AMA used to be a rarely used not very busy topic until about two months ago when it suddenly exploded with lots of very unusual people deciding to start threads about their bizarre circumstances. Maybe it’s just some odd trend.

I think the AMA topic is odd in itself. It only arrived (unasked for as far as I know) a couple of years ago, and it always amazes me that anyone would be arrogant enough to start a thread in this topic. I did assume, when it was set up, that MNHQ wanted it because of the obvious possibilities of product-related AMAs.

I'd assumed they would do that openly, though. Perhaps I'm naive, but I find it hard to believe that they are prowling around undercover and creating threads themselves. Surely we the users are a prolific enough fountain of garbage?

KrankyKumquat · 31/08/2026 16:39

'AIBU: 'OMG I shagged the vicar'...it's no wonder this site has become a joke.
🤣

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 31/08/2026 16:34

Darragon · 31/08/2026 12:05

IDK for certain but I have noticed that AMA used to be a rarely used not very busy topic until about two months ago when it suddenly exploded with lots of very unusual people deciding to start threads about their bizarre circumstances. Maybe it’s just some odd trend.

Yes, I agree with this and the AMAs used to be genuinely interesting (to me). Now I just think how up your own arse would you have to be to start a thread saying 'I'm having an affair, AMA'.

Really, who gives a shit? It's obvious that it's just goady rage bait.

KrankyKumquat · 31/08/2026 16:33

The name of the op here suggests some (lots?) of men too? When MN first arrived, I never even wandered in for a reccy as I didn't have children. It just never crossed my mind it'd be relevant. Now, i suspect a lot of men are on here too, some to make mischief of some sort, others, like the op, maybe not but who knows.

Vallies · 31/08/2026 16:32

harriethoyle · 31/08/2026 13:47

There seem to be clumps of threads about the same thing - in the last week I’ve read three threads about people getting into traffic/driving arguments in the community and the police turning up a couple of hours later. Before that there was a plethora about people taking a dispute from 0 to 100mph (the supermarket one where op called a jobsworth a cunt, someone snapping back at MIL at a party etc). I’ve started to presume similar threads are AI generated tbh.

I think that is either people seeing a thread that reminds them of a similar situation that happened to them or people making up a similar thread rather than MN itself.

Vallies · 31/08/2026 16:28

beigepaints · 31/08/2026 13:38

Definitely.

Do you remember when they had that feature “how many are reading now” or similar & it was really low numbers. I think they have struggled to attract new posters & many have aged with the site.

Definitely a lot more middle aged women than parents of young children now.

Which is OK but does suggest the concept has had its day.

Yello24 · 31/08/2026 16:27

YANBU. I have been on here for everrrrr. (Name change very regularly). Everything that makes money gets enshittified in the end. In fact it would be odd if the staff weren’t feeding the threads to increase engagement but I’m definitely suspicious of loads of them now.
I just can’t imagine a woman wanting input in to some of the stuff that gets posted. I don’t care that much because subsequent posts on the dodgy threads are genuine seeming and the topic might be interesting.

KrankyKumquat · 31/08/2026 16:25

@beigepaints
I really like Reddit but very much use it as a place to discuss niche topics. It doesn't feel overwhelmingly weird once you get your list of 'joined' communities set up, there's no newsfeed type thing and you can block the obvious trolls/numpties.

AndyKitten · 31/08/2026 16:23

leavesinthebreeze · 31/08/2026 13:45

It’s posters who reply with a response they got from ChatGPT that piss me right off - unless they admit they have used it.

Yes.

It used to be ‘I told DH and he says…’
now it’s ChatGPT.

Justbrieme · 31/08/2026 16:22

The activity of bots online is impacting all comment and forum sites. There are predictions that put the activity of bot posting at 50% across all of these types of sites. It is impossible to tell how much MN is affected by this but all comment and chat sites are impacted.

The origin of the bots is often politically motivated.

KrankyKumquat · 31/08/2026 16:20

NolanChanceJustLikeTheWeatherNSoul · 31/08/2026 16:13

Guilty of that.

Show quote history

Ha,ha. Yeah me too. Just quoted 'This Life' elsewhere and felt very old (1996 ffs).

beigepaints · 31/08/2026 16:19

Nothing wrong with that just evidence that the user base is older

NolanChanceJustLikeTheWeatherNSoul · 31/08/2026 16:13

beigepaints · 31/08/2026 14:35

Also when people reference a show they liked or something they remember it’s always from decades ago

Guilty of that.

Boomer55 · 31/08/2026 16:11

Don’t know, but the DM grab threads from here. And this site is known as MumNuts. 🤷‍♀️

beigepaints · 31/08/2026 16:04

I don’t use FB or similar so can’t compare but I do find the lack of nuance, comprehension really odd. I don’t remember that a decade ago. I have just started using Reddit though but not posted.

KrankyKumquat · 31/08/2026 16:00

beigepaints · 31/08/2026 14:43

I would like to think it’s increased AI because fuck me so many posters seem stupid these days. It’s not spelling or grammar which can easily be mistyped but basic comprehension skills that are lacking.

I think the standard of literacy is much higher on here than on, for example FB, which makes me suspect AI has had a hand. The content is still often weird, stilted, lacking real insight, with no ability to calmy debate and engage with others, or understanding of nuance, but the standard of writing is, on the surface at least, better than it used to be. People who are frothing at the mouth about some unimaginable slight or personal situation or immigrants or trans in toilets or whatever topic is hot today are invariably barely literate on other SM sites but on here (and Reddit) the opposite applies.

beigepaints · 31/08/2026 15:11

@Eudaimonia11

So many responses are obtuse or contrary now & so many posters seem to want an argument & repeatedly misconstrue what posters say. I find it more boring because I actually don’t want argue.