Troll-hunting and subsequent Thread-ruining

There would be outrage if people could just delete threads.

on second thoughts lets do it

I think breadbiscuit is pulling our leg.

I disagree that it would be less upsetting to come back to find your thread gone than to come back to find someone had called you a troll.

Troll hunters do effectively delete threads already, in the sense that they close them down to further discussion.

But it would be a better outcome for a genuine OP if the thread disappeared altogether by deletion than that it be allowed to stand with all the troll accusations intact.

I was called a troll once when posting about a family problem - the 2 who did it were regular posters known to all on here and it was very distressing - particularly as they were also having an unpleaseant conversation about me on another thread about something else. Some troll threads are very obvious indeed ( recent one I noticed re infidelity) but I do thing that anyone who is not the Mumsnet norm is at risk of this.

"TheSlightlyScaryStalker Sun 08-Apr-12 11:17:52
Nah I don't think troll hunters should be able to delete threads or should have any power or authority.

Who wants the convicts running the prison? "

Not me.

And the SS troll who was a troll but then wasn't, but was still rather vile. That one was a very complicated one who did a fuck load of damage.

Actually what TSSS and Usual Said. ^

Tbf, though, I found the other night as did another poster, that our reports of one word "Troll" ended up on the thread. it was not our intentions for this to happen we were both trying to report separate incidents of a particularly vile troll to HQ but were thwarted by the report function going into melt down.

In my opinion the Troll hunters are often long standing posters who have seen this all before and are just trying to protect the greater MN community. Although I am a re-reg I have so many trolls and been sucked in by a number in my early days. It was the people who were saying simply "Hang on a mo" That have actually made me wiser to the problem of trolls. And the damage they do.

I don't agree with some of the random shouting troll that has happened but some of the people who were most hang on a mo this doesn't add up have said on this thread they simply don't post any more on the threads. So I think the approach that HQ have on not tollerating shouting troll and dealing with it is started to work but it is young and there is nothing to say sometimes it isn't a sock shouting troll on a thread. Because that has happened in the past.

Trolls destroy the safety and sanctuary of mn
Troll-highlighters try to protect but innocents do get caught in the cross fire.

The only way to protect yourself entirely from trolls and being called a troll is to never post anything personal and never read anything personal. Would kill mn right off that would!

Caution and everything with an unhealthy pinch of salt.

It would cause chaos if anyone other than MNHQ were given the big red button.

Nah I don't think troll hunters should be able to delete threads or should have any power or authority.

Who wants the convicts running the prison?

Anyone who deliberately posts to wind other people up is a troll.

Lots of controversial threads are started by trolls ,not just the emotional ones.

Troll isn't called on every thread where someone name changes or posts about a contentious issue though.

It's the fact that the troll hunters' power/authority on the site is currently not formally acknowledged that seems to be a big part of the problem.

don't be ridiculous.

OneofSue, you're right. its incredibly complex, and not as black and white as it seems. Ive called troll and been wrong. and felt dreadful about it. but I didnt call troll on CVQ even though my gut was screaming, and I feel dreadful about that. and the Hilllls thing, for me was just horrendous. the longterm effects on my health were terrible. I wish someone had given me a heads up.

I think it also depends on the definition of troll. That needs clarifying as well.

Maybe MNHQ should give the troll hunters the power to delete threads. It would be better for genuine posters to have their threads deleted than be subjected to sarcasm and humiliation; and real troll threads would be gone in an instant.

It's the fact that the troll hunters' power/authority on the site is currently not formally acknowledged that seems to be a big part of the problem.

there are lots of things that get the trolldar pinging though, not just an "unusual situation" or unusual reaction. if you look at the fallout from CVQ, for example, many, many posters felt something "off" about her threads for a while. they reported, they didnt engage onthread, they even messaged posters who were being sucked in. yet, for months she posted and did huge amounts of damage.

if hunker (iirc) hadnt called troll on dizzy and found those pictures, she may still be here now.

those are the worst ones. the vampiric ones.

then you have posters who hold out the begging bowl, the ones who get their jollies from stirring trouble....

sometimes just reporting isnt enough. for many posters (especially when they first join) mn becomes quite consuming, they forge friendships and for many its an outlet, they dnt feel qute so isolated. these posters are prey for scumbags who get their kicks from hurting and lying.

I'm now dying to know what thread it is.

You can remind people not to be so trusting and to always remember there is a chance the poster is not who they say they are. but if you do that onboard, its troll-hunting!!!

You can't stop the trolls. It is impossible.

You can stop the troll hunters who damage/hurt genuine posters.

You can remind people not to be so trusting and to always remember there is a chance the poster is not who they say they are. This is why I will never be "hurt" by a troll.

"The implication made about the troll-hunter on that thread was more of an observation about the nature of this person's posts in the past, which seem fairly abrasive and provocative on the whole"

What relevance does this have? Or do you have an axe to grind about another poster? Not nice.

I think far more troll threads remain than get deleted.

MaryZ Sat 07-Apr-12 23:23:52
I'd like to know the percentage of threads where troll is called and they turn out to be genuine.

Not really Mary, well, not that I know but I've been called a troll several times on genuine threads and only because people thought it was an unlikely story.

Not because any of it differed from my concurrent threads or posts...there was no reason to suspect trolling apart from the fact it had never happened to them, and I sounded like I had a different attitude to them about the situation.

I'm certain it happens a great deal.

what TheSlightlyScaryStalker said. that type of snipey post is bullying itself imo, a personal attack and against the talk guidelines. or do they only apply when you agree?