Troll-hunting and subsequent Thread-ruining

TT - I know, but I am in West Yorks and from the sound of it I wondered if she may possibly be somewhere near me... I don't know why, but that particulat post has got to me. I have never offered rl help before - but this one just struck a chord & pulled at my heartstrings... and I am a de-sensitised cynical cow usually.

I didnt say that posters who disagree with troll-hunting are trolls. I said that some are. and I stand by that. recently we had a troll posting frequentr threads about how harmless trolling was, the same poster who was trying out a novel.

Misskeith -I know the thread you refer to. My personal advice would be to not get involved in such a direct way with that poster or any other.

Rubbish, oracle. Just because people disagree with troll hunting, that does not make them trolls, FGS. People are allowed to disagree with you. For one thing, MN actively discourages troll hunting - look at the talk guidelines. And for another, there are some ruddy stupid accusations made.

It's akin to the tedious people who post 'journalist?' when the thread contains nothing that would ever make a news story or feature even on the Smalltown Gazette where the most exciting thing that ever happened was someone gave a dog a funny look.

That would make this a thread about a thread, and would break talk guidelines. You're having a laugh aren't you? You are advocating troll hunting which is against talk guidelines ??? yet cannot tell me what the risk was in a thread which has not been linked to and you could be non specific.

I'm not saying I'd rather have trolls all over the boards. That is a deliberate misinterpretation

ooh, this is all v interesting. Last night I read a post in lone parents and advised the poster (new i think - no results on as) to post her problem in relationships for wise mn'ers to help. I also offered to drive to her and bring her food in rl if she was in my area. Her post moved me almost to tears as she seemed to be explaining a situation that I have been unfortunate to witness in rl some years ago.

She posted again but on an old thread and hasn't had many responses, or been back and posted again.

Today I have thought about the poster, I am desperate to help in a weird way, I empathise with her and understand what a horror she must be living. I felt the poster was genuine but now I am not sure (after reading this thread) She has not been back, but has also not received the advice she clearly needs if she is in fact genuine. Its a toughie. I hope to god she was a troll and not a poor woman in need of help & advice. (I offered to take food as she stated she hasn't eaten properly for two weeks - how could I not?)

I wish i knew if she was real or not. Its all so hard isn't it. No answers, only questions...

what LadyBeagleEyes said.

and, as I said earlier, its posters who have either trolled themselves (I am NOT talking about anyone on this thread) or have never seen the damage they cause who are so indignant about troll-hunting.

I still don't understand the attitude that troll hunters are somehow worse than the actual trolls themselves.
As I said, I will report if I have any doubts at all, but still don't mind people giving the heads up sometimes.
So basically some of you are saying that you'd rather have trolls all over the boards than people saying 'Hey, wait a Minute', as other people might get some good advice.
To me, this is a really weird attitude.

Toothbrushthief, I'm not discussing a particular thread. That would make this a thread about a thread, and would break talk guidelines.

And no, I'm not going to say what gets my trolldar going, because TSSDNCOP.

I saw that, and it didn't say that at all. The documentary focussed on the damage that trolls do.

'the trolls'

How can some of you know so confidently who is a troll and yet MN cannot?

I've had my doubts about some threads but just walk away without posting.

rl help is typically offered, yes I rarely see this?

I do understand that you feel passionately that you are protecting more naive MNetters. Can you outline exactly what on the thread that started this, was the major risk? It must have been something you saw as a huge risk to others for you to risk upsetting a genuine poster.

Know what. I think I'd rather go deal with the sock pile. And I fucking hate dealing with socks

And yet again I a still agreeing with Usual.

The links will still be there on genuine threads. the same links are offered time and time again. Why should the troll threads be allowed to stand, they do too much damage. Yes the advice might be useful but it is the same advice offered again and again. It is available in a lot of places. One thread is not going to make the difference of that advice being available. And tbh who actually trawls the darkest depths of old threads to find information when they can just ask on a new thread? which is something that is complained about and complained about the complaining

According to a recent BBC documentary on cyberbullying, fronted by Richard Bacon, troll hunting does encourage trolls onto a site, because trolls want:

a). as much fuss and shouting as possible
b). to wreck the site

No troll hunters do not encourage trolls onto a site. Being high profile and mentioned in the news/newpapers does that.

Otherwise how would the trolls know of the existence of the site?

Of course they are , the more dramatic the better , meanwhile poor poster who wants genuine help is ignored.

Are they?

Usual, yep. And posters are typically drawn to threads entitled "help my dh pushed me down the stairs, has spent all the money, I am 27w pg, in early labour and locked in the bathroom" rather than "is this normal behaviour"

Usual, yep. And posters are typically drawn to threads entitled "help my dh pushed me down the stairs, has spent all the money, I am 27w pg, in early labour and locked in the bathroom" rather than "is this normal behaviour"

But troll hunting encourages trolls onto a site.

It's what they want.

rl help is typically offered, yes. Usually where noone has posted any warnings.

rl help is typically offered, yes. Usually where noone has posted any warnings.

Genuine posters in distress are often ignored because the Trolls make everyone so disbelieving.

Thats the Trolls not the troll hunters

Are they offering rl help?