Please or to access all these features

Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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

57 replies

HeartsAndClubs · 26/10/2021 17:20

I know that in theory mn doesn’t want to talk about which threads have been troll threads, especially when they’ve been there a while. But the reality is that members do talk about these threads,because people post asking what happened to the poster etc. But then MN remove the thread for being a TAAT because it’s “against guidelines” which then means that because those who haven’t seen it haven’t seen it they post another thread which is then deleted for being a TAAT and so it continues.

So surely it would be better to either post a thread talking about which high profile (i.e. the funeral thread to name one) threads have been removed, and people can go there before posting a “what happened to/I’m worried about/hope x is ok” type thread. You could, if you didn’t want discussion of the particular trolls, remove commenting.

Thing is there will always be trolls, and when they’re outed they will always be discussed. Especially in the case of trolls who have been particularly emotive ones where users may personally have become invested due to their own circumstances.

OP posts:
FuckeryOmbudsman · 29/10/2021 13:02

One main way in which it could be tricky is by showing how many threads are discovered to have been started by trolls.

Sparklingbrook · 29/10/2021 12:59

I don't think the trolls should have any more mentions than is necessary. If a thread is deleted there's only going to be a couple of reasons.
Good idea for there to be a little bit more info on the TAAT deletions though.

HebeMumsnet · 29/10/2021 12:55

Afternoon, everyone. Thanks for the idea. We can see why that might be helpful in some ways but we think it could prove tricky in others.

What we will try to do is to be as clear as we can in deletions, which hopefully will stop some of the threads about threads. And maybe it would be an idea if we said when we took a TAAT down that it was a thread about a troll thread? That might make things clearer and save further confusion too.

Winecheesesleep · 27/10/2021 09:33

I would appreciate this, I often get taken in by them and would appreciate knowing which ones weren't real.

FictionalCharacter · 27/10/2021 01:54

Good idea @BIWI

BIWI · 26/10/2021 21:36

I think just listing the thread title, along with the OP, would be a good idea. No reason needs to be given though - so putative trolls won't get any clues!

ArblemarchTFruitbat · 26/10/2021 18:03

Hmm ... my first thought is that it might be abused by other trolls - a source of what works in terms of getting a reaction. Sad