Temporary ban for troll hunters?

wannabe - your post (Now I absolutely think that people should think a lot more carefully before getting drawn into the life and problems of someone they know only by a username on an internet forum. However often the topics are so emotive that the people who relate and become involved do so because they have such personal experience that they feel they want to be there for the other.) rings true for trollhunters as much as trolls

I also have a dispute with your last paragraph - for many a forum can be the first point at which people realise they may be taken seriously in RL and thus take action

the problem with just reporting threads is that for the most part mn hq are actually powerless to do anything. You can only prove someone isn't who they say they are if they have previous history/their IP can be linked to other accounts etc, but if someone starts afresh with a new email/new IP address then there really is no way to prove that they are who they say they are, or that their story is genuine.

In cases of some of the most prolific and damaging trolls such as cvq and dizzymare, they had been reported to mn hq for weeks before either of them was publically outed, and all mn hq could say was that they would keep an eye, but realistically they can do no more than that, so the trolls are left to continue to draw people in, and if you start adding banning of those who express doubt into the equasion then you are essentially saying that people have the right to troll here at will without consequence.

The fact remains that there are people who go on the internet and make up stories about their lives. And many of them do it convincingly and drag people in as a result.

Now I absolutely think that people should think a lot more carefully before getting drawn into the life and problems of someone they know only by a username on an internet forum. However often the topics are so emotive that the people who relate and become involved do so because they have such personal experience that they feel they want to be there for the other.

However, and I am probably going to get flamed for this, I think people need to think equally hard before relying on an internet forum as their main source of support. People talk of people losing valuable support etc, thing is, if someone is that desperate they should be seeking support from professionals, not from a bunch of strangers (whose authenticity might be equally questionable, it's not just the support seekers who troll but the supporters are capable too) on the internet. And in truth mumsnet is never going to be anyone's main source of support - if you're new here then you have no afinity with the site, the members here etc, if you don't get support here there are hundreds of other sites you can go.

True, now we have the PM function it is easier to give people a heads up in private too.

...do not need to be removed.....

Ursula I was here. I am not saying trolls need to be removed - but let MN do it

Some nice balanced responses here.

The OP on that other thread has returned now anyway- and the trollhunterhunters have achieved their aim of making any sceptics keep their gob shut. I doubt either 'side' of the argument is going to feel they need to change their view: a poster could return because they feel safe to ask for support, or that they feel safe to troll with equanimity. And it's unlikely that either side will be proved correct to the satisfaction of the other.

I think that some people weren't here or haven't heard the tales of when some of the more high profile trolls were on boards such as bereavement, causing serious harm to women who have lost children. That makes people protective.

Troll hunting is for what purpose? protecting the innocent? If I wish to engage with a troll, surely it's up to me.

Some naive people might get sucked in but tbh most troll threads would die naturally with less attention rather than more. More attention is created by the people who post accusing OP of being a troll

As I said on the 'abortion thread' there is a lot of support given on this board to people suffering 'unbelievable' events in their lives. They feel unable to talk in RL and come here and get disbelieved and laughed at.

A poster on page one (here) said a lot had happened in their life but they didn't dare ask for advice because they would be accused of being a troll. I relate to that! I name change a lot to protect myself, because my bad luck is too unbelievable to be believed (and I don't wish RL people to follow me)and then I'd face the troll hunters cross examining me for details and if I failed to provide them, passing sentence as a troll

I dislike trolls as much as the next person. On every other board I post on there is more history to your posts...either with an avatar or a name. You can't quickly change both. People do change identity or get two identities in order to troll or ask sensitive questions. The issue of trolls is not so prevalent as on this board. There is a lot more sensitive posts on this board (esp relationships topic). There is also a lot more naivety on this board than any other I've been on. I still think troll hunters do more harm than good

The trollhunter hunters are much worst IMO as if a troll shout is ignored and reported it cannot derail a thread, it's the fighting etc afterwards that do that.

People do not use the report button enough.

I agree with youLeBOF I was on both threads in question (as a lurker on one). I hate the clique accusations. Is no one supposed to talk to each other or make virtual friends......

Crocodile- there simply WASN'T any conspiratorial lolling and hunning on that thread : one person chose to do it, which nobody has to approve of, but didn't break guidelines. That does not constitute bullying or cliquish behaviour, and the frequent insidious suggestions of that are part of what is making these boards such hard going at the moment. Right now, all that has to happen is for another poster to agree with you, and some people start shrieking "cliiiiiiique!", especially, God forbid, if you've ever appeared friendly or been in agreement before. It is very destructive to any atmosphere of camaraderie or the natural tendency of posters to form a rapport with people with similar outlooks or senses of humour.

There is no truth whatsoever in your assertion of a campaign of sarcasm/lolling, just none.

I think that there is far more trolling here now, don't mind the funny ones but so many more are hurtful. Also there are longer term posters here that have been hurt by the more nasty trolls. It makes for a sceptical environment. A look though the achieves shows the depth of pain caused.

I do think my idea of having joining dates on all profiles regardless of namechanges or coloured dots next to the name to indicate length of membership (green for newbie etc) could work. Not all newbies are trolling but site invasions happen a lot now and this would help flag the 'I'm a reg that's namechanged' if you can clearly see they have only just joined.

Namechanging is valuable to help protect identities however I don't believe the function is needed to change mid thread, so maybe that could be stopped to avoid sock puppeting. Although I have seen a troll outed by a forgotten namechange.

Agree with BIWI - I've seen similar, perhaps less obvious than the example Camille gave but pretty much similar. Mind you, the last time I saw it was on a horrible thread on NM - that really was disgusting troll-hunting. :(

I've seen the phenomenon you describe, Camilla, and agree that it can be very threatening. However, it can also flush out a troll - it makes it obvious to them that people aren't falling for their story and it also alerts other posters that the OP may not be what she seems.

fargate - I'm surprised that you haven't seen it - and Camilla isn't being dramatic or inaccurate.

But if a troll is suspected, rather than simply hound a poster, it should always, always be reported to MNHQ.

I think that I'm around often enough to say that I've never seen anything remotely like your imaginary example above.

Anyway. It wasn't real and you do yourself no favours by being so dramatic and inaccurate.

I really think that it's the responsibility of MNHQ to respond [more] promptly to trolling and in response to information which is being provided as MNHQ have already requested.

Actually, not very subtle at all now I re-read my post, but indirect, anyway

I don't know whether this has prompted your post, Quint, but this thread seems to have kicked off some fairly malevolent troll hunting, in a very subtle and indirect way. I won't link to the thread I am thinking of but posters from the thread I linked to have used the lolz and hunz approach MmeLindor mentions upthread - I reported this and was told that as it was not 'a direct attack' it would be allowed to stand. This IMO is tantamount to HQ condoning ganging up and a nasty clique mentality.

i think noobs should be made to wear collars

Report the trolls to MNHQ.

Report the troll-hunters to MNHQ.

perhaps intimidating, rather than threatening. I know it's a fine distinction, but yes, a suggestion of trollery to someone in a distressed state would be enough in some cases for them to back off and stop posting for support (and has been).

Beertricks - posts are not deleted just because someone calls Troll - and you surely know that as you are not averse to a bit of troll hunting ...... what's the word.......amusement? yourself.