Trolling of the Bereavement board

That was a troll thread?!
Fuck. That is so sick.

All the people saying how they 'spotted' the troll, I know you mean well, but you're only giving tips on what to avoid so they can draw even more people in next time.

I have been thinking about that thread all day. Who are these utter cunts that get a kick out of making this stuff up?

I saw that thread too, and didn't believe it.
The baby died after falling of the sofa and yet the 'new' poster started a thread about it the same day.
I didn't report, I knew I was right but I couldn't 'just in case'.
I think with those sort of posts, even if people don't believe it, they just feel very uncomfortable about reporting and so they're left to stay.
It's a difficult one, I'm a cynical cow and usually spot trolls, but on a bereavement thread I don't report.

I thought it was a bit fishy, posting so soon and the OP sounded so "together" and then waited a while before responding. I did have my suspicions.
However I was also quite traumatised at the slight possibility of it being true because having recently had a very prem baby in NICU/SCBU who had a serious health emergency soon after discharge I am struggling with severe anxiety about my baby's health.

How can people be so cruel? Other bereaved parents shared their experiences. Bastard trolls.

I saw that thread and tbh I did wonder if it was genuine and then felt awful for thinking such a thing.

Any delays in a thread being posted could be very upsetting for someone genuinely in need but then if they are grief stricken things perhaps can't be made worse.

We have all had our 'bums bitten' by people pretending about the death of a baby/child on the bereaved Mums thread. Its revolting and disgraceful. I used to feel sad for anybody who had to get attention in that way, used to worry about their mental state etc etc.

Now, when I read threads, like the one today I quickly realise that something is not right....which is also a sad thing but comes with experience of being fooled in the past.

There is no death so sad as that of a child (no matter what age they are) Today, when I read the thread, I quickly realised what was going on. When you have experience of losing a child you want to help others going through the same thing. You feel the urgency to talk to them and also to tell 'your' story.

Bloody hell. I was thinking about that family at work today, hoping the nine year old wouldn't blame herself for the rest of her life. Very relieved that it never happened, but what a despicable individual to post something like that.

I didn't report but did think if my baby had just died, MN would be the last place I'd be.

Maybe someone would need MN support a bit down the line, but straight away?

Agree that people who do this have a serious mental illness. (Or are total bastards. And I don't use either insult lightly)

There simply isn't an administrative solution to this. It requires engaging your brain before responding (don't be a sucker), and being prepared to use the mechanisms which are already in place, ie the Report function. MNHQ will never think badly of you for flagging something that sounds suspicious, and they don't need you to feel apologetic about helping them keep the boards kosher.

Nobody, least of all the OP, need know you've reported. Obviously, don't call troll on the thread.

And yes, don't give more of yourself than you can spare.

What abut the bereaved parent who needs support now and has joined MN to get it? Why should they suffer a delay in getting that support?

I read the thread and had a gut feeling it was a troll, but I didnt want to report it because I thought it would be awful if I was wrong. Thank you to those who did report and got it looked into and stopped quickly.

Those type of trolls are the lowest of the low and just do not understand, or care, how hurtful it is to those of us who have lived through the nightmare of a baby dying.

Those measures might not protect as much as you think (remembering the one who began with an "S").

God, what utter wankers there are. Some people just shouldn't be allowed a keyboard!

Thank god MN got to it quickly. But also thank god it wasn't real.

Jeez, somebody made that up! I read it and felt awfully sorry for everyone, including the '9 year old daughter' blaming herself!

I'm 9 months pregnant and was horrified at the prospect of any harm coming to my little boy.

I honestly cannot comprehend why anyone would ever make something like that. I've seen some crazy trolling in the past but on a board designed to help those suffering the pain of grief and loss is beyond sick!

Maybe that's the answer, some sort of heads up thing for reports from that topic.

The thing is, if a thread is reported MNHQ can often tell pretty quickly if it is a troll. So, wouldn't even need a delay, just MNHQ routinely checking new OPs on bereavement section only.

Of course some will still slip through but many will be caught, as the latest one was.

It is very uleasant, but a common feature of the Internet, sadly, not just MN. I think that all you can do is use your common sense, and report stuff that seems dodgy. If you see a poster whom you know has been through similar being sucked in, give them a discreet heads up via PM and just remind them that they need to take care of themselves online.

Had a very strong feeling that thread was bogus as I read through it

Just the general tone. and It's incredibly rare a baby would harm themselves seriously from falling off a sofa - I've done it, as I think have most people.

What a horrible person