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Trolls, why do they do it?

47 replies

Catmama123 · 29/01/2024 18:16

Started as yet another thread I'd commented on has been removed due to OP being a previously banned user for made up threads.
Why do people come up with these made up stories? I'd absolutely love if there's a troll on here who would tell us why you do it.
It's so frustrating when you've taken the time to try and give a poster advice along with so many others just to find out it's all fake.

OP posts:
cloudtree · 29/01/2024 18:17

Dopamine hit when they get attention

TraitorsGate · 29/01/2024 18:40

Boredom, attention seeking, shit stirring,,find it amusing, enjoy watching people argue. Who knows.,

DiamondGazette · 29/01/2024 18:44

Definitely attention-seeking, also with a lot of free time. Most of us don't have the energy to devote to a made up scenario and be able update everyone several times a day, then the audacity to start thread two and thread three for their eager followers. Then MNHQ suddenly realise it's a troll and all 3 threads are zapped.

GaroTheMushroom · 29/01/2024 18:47

Boredom?

Catlander · 29/01/2024 18:48

Sad little empty lives. Boredom. Needing attention. Lonely. Envy.

Hurt people, hurt people. It's a shame really.

Icantbedoingwithit · 29/01/2024 18:48

Honestly I think it is attention. People who don’t get much in real life. So they create a farcical post on here with a deliberately divisive theme and feed off the arguments it causes and know that now, for a while, a number of people are involved in a post THEY created. Quite sad really.

Whattobakeiwonder · 29/01/2024 18:50

I must need to get out more because when I read the title I thought it was going to be about the movie 😲

Just12345 · 29/01/2024 18:53

I don't understand either!

I was following the Bowel post and Op seemed so genuine I can't understand why someone would make that up

Boobettes · 29/01/2024 18:58

It'll be boredom and attention I expect.

It's not just trolls who attention seek for company though, there's a small handful of regulars who've been doing it for years.

TraitorsGate · 29/01/2024 19:00

Just12345 · 29/01/2024 18:53

I don't understand either!

I was following the Bowel post and Op seemed so genuine I can't understand why someone would make that up

Looking back that thread had some inconsistencies in it but we all got caught up in it and you don't know how many posts and replies were the same op with different usernames, it is sad but over the years you do get a very occasional funny really obvious fake thread.

InAnotherLifetimeMaybe · 29/01/2024 19:00

Is a 'Troll' someone who posts made up threads then?

I thought a troll was more a trouble maker

Boobettes · 29/01/2024 19:02

InAnotherLifetimeMaybe · 29/01/2024 19:00

Is a 'Troll' someone who posts made up threads then?

I thought a troll was more a trouble maker

If you keep joining up to make up threads, then you kind of are causing trouble aren't you? Especially if you've been banned.

SuperFurryCat · 29/01/2024 19:03

People with sad, pathetic lives I think or very young teens with nothing better to do.
I find it infuriating when I invest in a thread only to find it’s gone and it was all crap.

10yeaaaar · 29/01/2024 19:04

cloudtree · 29/01/2024 18:17

Dopamine hit when they get attention

Yes this, I reckon. Combined with loneliness? A lack of connection with people in the real world?

catchmewhenifall · 29/01/2024 19:04

I knew of someone who was a troll 10-12 years ago who used to go on SciFi chat rooms after a night out and tell them he were in show business and definitely knew that the next Dr Who was going to be played by a woman just to whip them up and see all the frothing from the nerds!

I guess like reading the daily mail comments on a particularly divisive article.

I think the Dr Who thing is quite funny, but now I'm on the receiving end on here, like you, it annoys me with all the fake posts.

Boobettes · 29/01/2024 19:13

SuperFurryCat · 29/01/2024 19:03

People with sad, pathetic lives I think or very young teens with nothing better to do.
I find it infuriating when I invest in a thread only to find it’s gone and it was all crap.

Definitely not teens imo.

If teens are going to troll, they'll choose Twitter, Insta, or one of many other popular forums.

Most of the trolls on MN make it clear they're pretty regular because they know exactly what buttons to push.

HunterBidensBurnerPhone · 29/01/2024 19:19

I reckon sometimes it's fetishists posting for wank fodder. The FWR board means this place has caught their attention.

I noticed there were a suspicious number of 'extreme constipation' threads over the weekend.

SuperFurryCat · 29/01/2024 19:20

Boobettes · 29/01/2024 19:13

Definitely not teens imo.

If teens are going to troll, they'll choose Twitter, Insta, or one of many other popular forums.

Most of the trolls on MN make it clear they're pretty regular because they know exactly what buttons to push.

Rethinking it, actually, you are right - teens wouldn’t know mumsnet existed, I didn’t discover it until I was 40. I stand corrected. But stick with sad, pathetic people!

Yozzer87 · 29/01/2024 19:22

Just12345 · 29/01/2024 18:53

I don't understand either!

I was following the Bowel post and Op seemed so genuine I can't understand why someone would make that up

Probably some weirdo who gets off on women talking about their poo habits. It seemed off to me early on. The giveaway is loads of exclamation marks and emojis, as though they can't contain their excitement.

Oneearringlost · 29/01/2024 19:32

So what goes through their minds in the wee small hours?

Are they proud of what they do?

Are they secretly ashamed?

Do they realise their inadequacy?

Are they happy that they are attention-seeking?

What is it, that they do, that makes them happy with their activity?

Do they actually have any insight into themselves or are they incapable of reflection/insight?

Or do they just not care?

It must be a lonely kick.

Hagbard · 29/01/2024 19:33

There seems to have been an explosion in fetish trolls recently. There was a post about a mother flashing her daughter's friends last night. I was shocked anyone was replying! Clearly written by a pervy man. Emojis and !!!s aplenty there were

Theyarehere · 29/01/2024 19:44

I used to fall for every single one mainly because it wouldn’t have crossed my mind to make up stories on the internet so I took everything in good faith. Now I know that People are just weird and a bit sad really, I remember a case where they unmasked a few keyboard warriors online (nasty stuff to young girls) and it was middle aged men with wives and families in boring everyday jobs.

If it’s anything to do with bowel movements just don’t get involved it’s usually a weird fetishist. Anything that’s written in a really odd long hand wringing style that looks like it could be a two part serialisation from woman’s own is likely made up. Emojis are also a good rule of thumb too (but not every time) and tons of responses from OP.

It is bloody annoying though especially when there’s been some heartfelt stories and good advice that others might need to see.

RockyRogue1001 · 29/01/2024 19:45

There's been a noticeable increase in fetishism trolls since the sex topic in active debacle.

Although they've always been here. I'm very careful about not posting when they're clearly fishing for stories of you (or worse, yourchildren) and bodily functions or underwear 🤢
Gobsmacks me how people post about times they've pissed themselves etc... So obviously wank fodder for the pervs.
There used to be a regular on Friday afternoons about children wetting themselves in school. Absolutely grim

successismyonlymotherfuckingoptionfailuresnot · 29/01/2024 19:47

I take comfort in the fact that the threads are read by others who will have been drawn to them by genuine needs and may have got sone comfort and use from the advice prior to it being taken down

soupfiend · 29/01/2024 19:47

cloudtree · 29/01/2024 18:17

Dopamine hit when they get attention

Really? Off an internet forum? I do find that hard to believe it has that sort of effect on brain chemistry but I suppose something must happen to cause it

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