Should MN maybe post a thread daily mentioning high profile threads which have turned out to be trolls?

I now assume any complicated family/friendship scenario is made up even though I replied to one yesterday

Perhaps you think there should be disclaimers on bereavement threads 'potential troll alert' perhaps? That would be nice wouldn't it for genuinely bereaved folk.

I think that's a good idea actually. Exactly to stop bereaved folk being caught out by and overly-emotionally invested in some of the horrible troll threads that get posted there.

People aren’t engaging in a nudge, nudge, wink wink we know it is made up way. They are engaging because they think it is true and should be believed. And they read other things that aren’t true and believe them. Before long they are sucked into conversations and threads entirely populated by people who aren’t thinking critically and believing every thing they are told.

Completely agree, Linguist. Most long-running threads are about more than purely the specific question at hand. They tend to be about the differences in posters’ views and perspectives, and that is often fascinating. I find it very frustrating when a thread is pulled because the op is a troll when a good discussion/debate has got established.

Obviously, posts that are emotionally manipulative about very sensitive subjects should go if started by a troll, but otherwise I find it pointless and annoying.

'While we're discussing trolls, would it be possible to put a message on threads asking about children's toilet habits/daughters starting their periods'

Oh fgs it's a parenting forum these topics are frequent issues with kids. Just report them if you think its dodgy 🙄

Perhaps you think there should be disclaimers on bereavement threads 'potential troll alert' perhaps? That would be nice wouldn't it for genuinely bereaved folk.

While we're discussing trolls, would it be possible to put a message on threads asking about children's toilet habits/daughters starting their periods, especially the ones that start "Man/Dad here"? I'm thinking of something to the effect that posters should be aware that these topics are frequently posted by Herbert and his hairy-handed chums and that any responses may be used as fodder for their solitary activities. It might stop people rushing to share their children's intimate secrets with thousands of strangers on the internet. If MNHQ can't do that is OK for regular posters to put such a message on a thread without the threat of being deleted?

'. on the other hand, though, perhaps it will open the eyes of some of those posters who tend to believe that everything posted here is the truth?'

Tbf there are trolls and weird fuckers all over the Internet. I've no idea why people would expect anything less on Mumsnet. If people need guides, tips and helpful reminders that half of what you read online is bollocks then they should stick to the crossword in Woman's Own.

Penis beaker was a troll????

I've never really understood why people get so het up about troll threads (except the ones on very serious or upsetting topics, which are surely pretty infrequent). Surely we largely post on threads as if they can be taken at face value, while being aware that any thread might be pure fiction. If a thread I've posted on turns out to be fake , I'm not fussed tbh!

... on the other hand, though, perhaps it will open the eyes of some of those posters who tend to believe that everything posted here is the truth?

It also troublesome from the perspective that potentially:

60% of posts are totally made up.
50% of posts are real
75% of posts other posters agree with but they have no idea what they voting for

And so on.

I think posting a daily list of troll threads would be somewhat embarrassing for MN as they’d need to acknowledge a) how many troll threads there actually are and b) know they were definitely troll threads.

The term ‘troll’ has become something of a catch-all, meaning everything from ‘someone who disagrees with me’ to the perverts who use MN for wank fodder.

Mumsnet need to be better in zapping rogue threads. I’ve often reported a thread which has pinged my trolldar, only to be told that they have no reason to suspect the poster but will keep an eye on it. It then goes on to see the thread removed yet none of the people who reported it will be acknowledged and if they posted any troll-hunting, their posts were deleted but still count against them.

So basically, posters who identify trolls to MN are punished.

I think it would give the trolls more attention. They want to be discussed and wondered about. I think it's better to give them as little airtime as possible.

Ah yes. I take your point @YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet. Can see it becoming a sort of 'Trolls Top Ten'

But I can't believe you ever get things wrong!

Korean granny was a troll?

I don't think they would have enough time to do that daily. Must be about 70% of daily posts are fake/trolls I rekon

Not just troll threads. There are 3 threads I've posted on in the last few days, all deleted because of 'real life concerns'. One of them was the 'trustworthy, discreet food delivery' one (which was very funny). How could the OP have 'real life concerns', they never gave any bloody details? But I can't ask anywhere whether the OP did finally come back to the thread because that would be a TAAT.

You would still get people posting ‘what happened to x thread’ because no one can be bothered to check first.

Haha no way will mn ever want to admit how many are trolls or possible trolls. Imagine the responses of the long ongoing sagas so many fell for, like Soft play zilla, Korean grandma, etc etc

@HebeMumsnet in what ways do you think it would be tricky? Genuine question!

All we'd need is a list of thread titles and the name of the OP. Possibly the date the thread was started.

... or even, as putting the name of the OP could be an issue, I suppose, simply the thread title?