Can we have a proper discussion about the way some threads go?

I'm not going to get drawn on a particular thread but I agree 100% with Dione about not troll hunting.

As regards lock down... I am sure MN works to some sort of industry guidelines for dealing with this type of post. I trust their decision.

I am not an expert and recognise my limits in dealing with the type of post that you are discussing. I will engage if I think it's helpful (usually a poster I can have some empathy with). I don't feel the need to plunge in and post unless I have something helpful to say. It is a bit like a car crash watching the well meaning but dangerous, the troll hunters and the emotional congregate however.

And yes, to be fair there is also an excessive amount of handwringing also on these threads.

Excellent idea about locking the thread Beer. I read that thread and felt uncomfortable with it - too many people treating the OPs' issue as a joke and something to be sneered at or assuming it was a troll - but it may well not have been, and I think he had a point with what he said. Is the thread still running or was it deleted in the end?

I don't know that it wasn't a troll. Indeed I suspected or maybe hoped that it was. I reported it as soon as I saw it and it was a single post then.

However, as I was unsure I went back to post a link to the Samaritans. I was shocked at the replies at that point. If in doubt posters should err on the side of caution and adhere to the rules. This keeps people safe while maintaining the integrity of the site. I like MN as it is.

Neither to be honest Tee - both have their place.

It would be nice if 'report' posts could be acted on more quickly. I wonder if it would help to have 3 categories instead of two, one marked URGENT.

I spend a lot of time on the MH forum and FWIW I think there's an enormous troll on there at the moment talking about suicide, but I don't engage. Mostly there are genuine posters who need support. In my darkest hour I posted an "I want to jump off a bridge" post, but I, like most of the genuine posters on MH used the support and listened to the advice and stayed on line to talk.

That's a lot different than coming on and posting a ranting thread, relating it to cocks and saying you're going to blow your head off. If you can't tell the difference then that's your issue.

Minty, I understand that these threads, like many, can be upsetting to read. However they have also been an invaluable and sometimes life saving line for those in need. The MH forum is evidence of that. MN instructs members not to invest more than they can afford to give emotionally and this is good advice.

Trolls love MN because of it's lack of moderation and it's name change policy.

In order to have less trolls you'd need to get rid of one, the other or both.

What are you willing to give up?

That's not how I saw anyone on that thread Beer. Not everyone needs to have Asist training to know that engaging with a person with suicide ideation should be done with tact and caution. And I think most, if not all MNetters know the guidelines on trollhunting. How do you know for sure this was a troll?

Tee, I read the post when it appeared and reported it immediately. MN has sent me a message saying that they have no evidence that this is a troll and have passed on some info they hope will be of help to the poster.

I have long argue for suicide threads to be locked down. It is not on to ask strangers on the internet to support you.

Everything that Beer said.

So, really, mostly over lunch time?

And have HQ responded at all?

HQ replied saying they had no reason to delete the thread.

About 11.30 this morning, Tee

I have to ask, as I haven't seen this particular thread, but what time of day was it first reported? And have HQ responded on thread?

HQ is not 24/7 and they don't have millions of staff. I think people expect immediate action no matter when they report and it's just not always possible.

Agree with everything Beer says. Generally and specifically.

No Beer, the main difficulties cone when posters decide to ignore the guidelines to report, ignore their own instincts that this is a troll and blunder on in regardless.

It's a triggering thread. The level of detail about how the poster has prepared to make it look more 'spectacular'...

Keep telling myself to stop reading... But there's stuff there that should be deleted whilst not removing the info to assist support.

Has his name been removed? Cos people were googling...