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Original poster

Anti-Religious Trolling On Mumsnet

882 replies

DioneTheDiabolist · 26/03/2016 00:36

I get that not everyone is religious and that some people are very anti-religious (some with good reasons).

But some MNetters are religious, others are simply curious. So how come so many threads are allowed to be derailed by anti-religious trolls? Today a thread about Good Friday was deleted because a troll came on. FFS, it's Easter! Threads about Islam are regularly derailed by Islamophobes. On a thread seeking information on Judaism in the Philosophy & Religion topic, a troll has posted LMFAO. Ok, serious question, why does the Jewish God make all men wear a funny beards? She continues venting for a few posts before eventually exiting the thread saying that she is on drugs because It's Easter, party time.

She is a MN regular, like most of the anti-religious trolls here. I have reported her posts but they still stand.

Trolls are not interested in knowing what other people think or believe. They have no desire to discuss the point of actual threads and rarely start threads of their own regarding their issues with religion or belief. They just derail threads in the hope of driving all talk of religion and different beliefs off MN. And they are succeeding.

Why are MNHQ allowing this to happen? Deleting threads instead of dealing with posters? Allowing blatant anti-religious trolling to derail threads that people may find supportive or informative? Is MN a religion free zone? Because if it is, that's ok. I just think that religious posters should be told. Then they can go elsewhere if they wish to discuss their beliefs.

OP posts:
lottielou7 · 26/03/2016 21:56

I think that rather than deleting certain posts, it is incumbent on the people posting to judge for themselves whether their intention is not really to add anything to a given thread and therefore to not try to derail it. There are plenty of threads on that board which do invite debate.

MNHQ
IonaMumsnet · 26/03/2016 21:52

Hi there Dione. It's always helpful to have as much info as possible in reports but don't worry too much. We can always have a look behind the scenes (and on the spreadsheets on the walls - just kidding) and see if someone is being reported again and again for the same thing and if so, if it was justified.

It is something we'll discuss again at HQ but religious intolerance is a thorny issue and we don't like to close down debate. If a post clearly is a personal attack, or breaches talk guidelines, we'll always delete but to a certain extent we think it's important that people can challenge the beliefs of others and discuss them (in a polite and civil manner, of course!). If we said posters couldn't attack a religion it would be very hard to know where to draw the line as what would be regarded as incredibly offensive in one religion might not be at all in another, and vice versa.

We think that generally encouraging an atmosphere of mutual respect is usually the best way but if we feel any posters are being deliberately inflammatory rather than simply having strong feelings and wanting to discuss them, we will of course take a closer look.

Original poster
DioneTheDiabolist · 26/03/2016 20:33

Thank you DawnMN. Your post regarding Deliberately Inflammatory Posters was very helpful indeed.

It is clear from this thread that many MNetters feel the same as I do. Would it be helpful if instead of just reporting a single post, it be pointed out to MNHQ that such posters have a history of trolling/derailing religious threads? Perhaps giving examples?

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread.Thanks And Thanks to MNHQ for dealing with the troll on the Judaism thread.

OP posts:
lottielou7 · 26/03/2016 20:15

I don't think having a sweary username is necessarily against guidelines but it's something people should consider. I'm sure it's usually meant to be humorous but on certain threads it could create the wrong impression possibly

'We'd appreciate it if you could use the same courtesy when posting messages on Talk as you would use when speaking to someone face to face. Please do bear in mind how difficult this parenting business can be, and if there's one thing all of us could do with, it's some moral support.'

This is the same as it's always been. So, the idea that we have to accept rudeness on mumsnet or use another parenting forum doesn't stand up really.

Newes · 26/03/2016 20:09

How perspicacious of you, Bertrand, through the screen and the whole internet.

BertrandRussell · 26/03/2016 20:06

The "one poster" seems to be rather enjoying it though........

Newes · 26/03/2016 20:04

I think you should delete all the shite aimed at Ohfuck, including the criticism of her username and the pathetic allusions to her having been Reported, MNHQ.

MNHQ
IonaMumsnet · 26/03/2016 20:02

Hi folks, we just wanted to pop by to see if we can get this thread back on track and clear a few things up.

We certainly don't think you are a troll Ohfuckaducky but we did think that the misunderstanding and ensuing spat meant the original thread got a bit derailed, which is why we suggested a new one was started. We've just dropped you a mail actually if you want to check your inbox.

We also don't think this thread was started as a TAAT or was aimed particularly at anyone. It's a question that comes up a lot and is something we will have a discussion about again at MNHQ.

We'd really like to draw a line under all this now. We're very happy for people to continue to discuss the original OP and what is and isn't offensive and should or should not be deleted, but if it continues to be a bunfight we'll have to suspend posting on it, which would be a shame.

Whether you're religious or just a fan of peace at any price, could we maybe all just take a deep breath, and crack open the chocolate 12 hours early if that's what it takes? Thank you ever so much.

BoGrainger · 26/03/2016 20:02

Honestly bibbity, ducky has explained herself over and over again because new posters are coming on and criticising her all over again. Yes, it IS tedious. Why can't people STOP referring to the Good Friday thread? Even the op from that thread has been on again complaining, mistakingly thinking ducky is having a go at HER so ducky has to explain AGAIN that she ISN'T... It's like Groundhog Day.

Newes · 26/03/2016 19:56

It's evolved into a rather unedifying pile in against one poster. Odd.

Parrotmore · 26/03/2016 19:51

This thread is really saddening, such anger and nastiness. It makes new site users like myself have a very bad impression of the place.

didyouwritethe · 26/03/2016 19:18

It wasn't always part of MN's ethos to have sweary usernames, nor to be rude to other posters.

lottielou7 · 26/03/2016 19:05

I would have to disagree that being rude to others is part of the MN ethos, however Hmm

lottielou7 · 26/03/2016 19:04

Swearing in a post is fine but is it really necessary to have a sweary username? I feel it could inadvertently inflame. That's just me though. I'm prepared to accept I may be wrong.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 26/03/2016 19:02

When I get to 70+ posts you are welcome to tell me I am doing the same as you.

This glitch with the reporting at HQ is getting silly now!

nooka · 26/03/2016 19:02

If you start getting upset by someone's username, when it is pretty obvious that the username has absolutely nothing to do with the thread then I would suggest that mumsnet is possibly not really the place for you. We swear here. We always have sworn here, it was always part of the site's ethos that it was a place for grown ups to hang out, and that sometimes grown ups like to be a bit rude and sweary. There are plenty of other sites that have very different ethos, where people are I am sure much more polite. Of course there is a line between robust conversation and putting the boot in and on the whole MN manages that very well.

lottielou7 · 26/03/2016 18:44

I think didyouwrite makes a good point. Even if a poster doesn't choose that name seriously it certainly can appear a certain way on a heated thread where people can see only the words written.

VertigoNun · 26/03/2016 18:44
Ohfuckaducky · 26/03/2016 18:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

didyouwritethe · 26/03/2016 18:37

I think it would help if posters were generally encouraged to be respectful towards other posters - I mean, encouraged more. And discouraged a lot more from having sweary usernames. Which in themselves encourage a culture of rudeness towards fellow posters. I know some will disagree, but I do think this is true.

SurferJet · 26/03/2016 18:36

This is just getting silly now.

Op: I agree with you.

< I'm out of here >

Ohfuckaducky · 26/03/2016 18:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 26/03/2016 18:33

You are repeating yourself. You've made your point. You are shutting down debate and making this all about you, which is incredibly trollish behaviour.

Ohfuckaducky · 26/03/2016 18:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 26/03/2016 18:30

You've made over 70 posts on this thread! It's too much, you aren't defending yourself you are shouting people down.

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