... to think that trollhunters make more trouble than the trolls themselves?

[GandalfyCarawak]

If you suspect a troll, REPORT THE POST. Do not risk upsetting someone in need with your snide comments and emoticons.

The thread where the poster wanted handholding while she waited for news of her missing husband who has posted a suicide note on facebook is heartbreaking. I can't believe how unkind the people are who have shouted troll.

On the other hand, there was a thread where a poster said they were unable to get the thought of another womans nipples in their mouth where people shouted schoolboy porn troll which was highly entertaining.

But if a poster writes abouti a desperate situation, and you are doubtful surely either report it or hide it. Not hard, is it?

And FWIW only putting is just as bad as using the word troll IMO.

It depends on the context - spoof school boy threads should be highlighted.

Not sure where I stand on commenting on needy ones. I know there are many people on this board who have been hurt by responsing to cries for help which were not real and that others feel a need to protect people from this. It is difficult to balance this with the need not to put posters in often very difficult situations under addition emotional stress.

On balance, I would say that on the emotional threads, reports should be made to MNHQ - although of course they will not always be in a position to work out what the truth is either.

Very difficult.

YABU. There are a lot of timewasters that no-one dares suggest are trolls because of the "no troll hunting" rule

You can suggest they are trolls - to MNHQ.

But then if everyone reported every troll they saw MNHQ would be quite inundated. The obvious trolls are easy but it's the less obvious ones which are more annoying IMO. Things like the recent baby name thread which had Jesus and Lucifer as potential names, and which about 50% of posters actually took seriously.

"You can suggest they are trolls - to MNHQ."

Maybe they'd be inundated, but that's what they want. MNHQ has quite a few employees nowadays and there aren't that many trollish threads per day.

Really obviously silly threads aren't worth reporting, just have fun with them. I didn't see the Jesus and Lucifer thread, sounds pretty harmless whether people took it at face value or not TBH, not annoying.

So QuestionNumber, the "inundated" argument is a weak one. I find it hard to believe that people shout troll in order to lighten MNHQs workload- In fact, monitoring that sort of bunfight is probably far more work for Justine & co.

I just can't see how (unless it's completely obvious and funny) you know they are trolling. I myself get highly suspicious at times, but I don't know, do I?

I just don't see where the issues are... if someone thinks it's a troll, regardless of the subject, why not just ignore them and move on to the next thread?

If somebody wants to respond on the thread and it's a troll, well perhaps somebody else was lurking and the information was helpful to them.

It's really a non-issue I think... making a mountain out of a wormcast...

I saw that thread last night - I take it from this thread that the poor lady was genuine.. how did it end.. did she find her hubby safe and well??

Hi fm! It is still ongoing.....here

YANBU, there's a reason the 'MN policy' at the top of the AIBU threads says 'no troll-hunting', not 'no trolling'.