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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think troll hunters are sometimes just as bad as the trolls themselves?

129 replies

BatmanLovesRobin · 17/08/2011 08:47

I always think of trolls as saddo people, emotional leeches if you like. There are some very clever ones about, and inevitably people get taken in, and give (often sterling) advice and support.

Then along comes a poster on the thread, crying 'Troll, troll', instead of simply reporting. The danger of this is accusing genuine posters of trolling. I've noticed this before, but not really paid much attention beyond giving trollhunter a mental catsbumface. However, a RL friend is currently feeling very upset and vulnerable following being called a troll herself (CRS, regarding giving personal info about herself on a recently notorious thread), and as she has given much of herself in other threads, is taking basically being called a liar hard, as she has been so supported here, and in turn has supported others. Those others may now, in turn, feel taken in.

AIBU to believe trollhunters appear to be more keen on being able to say 'I told you so' than the feelings of possibly innocent people they are accusing?

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 17/08/2011 13:29

XPosts!!

DrPolidori · 17/08/2011 13:30

You know, I am surprised that all those who had such a go at me should be so resolutely silent on other threads where someone is being not so subtly outed by lots of posters.

One gentle hint, I get flamed, but what appears to be a couple of big old troll hunts indulged in by several people, one even meriting a thread being pulled, don't seem to merit any attention, indeed, I notice that one poster who has been very vocal about how bad troll hunting was colluding whole heartedly.

Glass houses, ladies, glass houses.

GypsyMoth · 17/08/2011 13:31

Agree drpolidari!!

MmeLindor. · 17/08/2011 13:34

Of course more harm is done by the trolls.

But troll hunting is damaging for the website, and unfair for those who are accused of being a troll simply because they changed details to protect their identity.

I am amazed that anyone can remember details about a poster's life from several months ago - I can hardly remember details of my own life from December 2010.

It seems to me that if someone can recall details of a poster (or searches MN for evidence) that they perhaps have too a strong attachment to MN and should take a step back.

If there are inconsistencies, then point them out to MNHQ and take a step back.

TheRealMBJ · 17/08/2011 13:34

I have never not had a response from MNHQ regarding a reported post or thread. Never. Sometimes it takes them longer to look at it perhaps because at face value everything seem fine, and they need to dig a little deeper?

If you are really concerned that someone is being too open with a troll or being sucked in, why not PM them?

Anyway, I can see we are akk wasting our breaths here as this must be the 3rd thread in 2 days that this discussion has been had and noone (including me Grin) has changed their minds. I suggest though, when in doubt, stick to the Talk Guidelines conveniently linked to above every 'add message box'

bibbitybobbityhat · 17/08/2011 13:34

Well said DrP. Its still going on on another thread right now.

MmeLindor. · 17/08/2011 13:35

DrP
You have lost me.

TheRealMBJ · 17/08/2011 13:36

DrP I am sorry you were abused but I for one reported those threads and posted on neither.

DrPolidori · 17/08/2011 13:37

people are being "outed" as trolls as we speak.

Where is your righteous indignation on that? Nowhere.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 17/08/2011 13:39

MmeLindor... I tend to remember random things about people and with some posters, I can remember the entire post if it made me laugh. There are also some posters who, even though I can't put my finger on it, make me back away. It's a sense rather than anything concrete and if I happen across them, sometimes what they say is filed away, unfortunately never to be binned. Confused

Now, if you ask me what I did with the tomatoes I bought yesterday, I couldn't tell you..

LadyBeagleEyes · 17/08/2011 13:47

I agree DrP, why are there so many people flaming people who have doubts about a thread and not the actual trolls/fantasists themselves?
I really don't get it.
MNHQ can't keep up with every thread 100 per cent of the time, and of course let them know, as I have done in the past.
But there are plenty of posters around that seem to spot inconsistancies straight away, and no, not through trawling through old threads, but just because they know there's something 'not quite right' about them.
Or should we all just sit back and let the trolls reign and never ever say anything.
Bloody Hell, that would make for some interesting reading.

happymole · 17/08/2011 13:47

Whose being outed? Please someone pm me.

I'm always the last to know.....

PinotsKittens · 17/08/2011 14:04

I am not aware of anyone else being outed today. There were discussions last night than a new inflammatory poster was infact an old poster with a n/c, but that hasn't been proved and like I've said a million times - innocent until proven (by MNHQ) guilty.

DrP can you clarify your claims? I haven't seen anyone slate you and then engage in trollhunting of their own, either.

I haven't drunk enough coffee for this, clearly... Wink

DrPolidori · 17/08/2011 14:08

more a continuation of the pulled thread outing

I think you are on it.

kitya · 17/08/2011 14:12

The RealMBJ, I totally agree. What posesses anyone to go and look up someones previous posts from years ago and, all their name changes. What kind of person would be so inclined. Its happened to me today and, Im quietly upset. We genuinely come on here for advice/entertainment and then, out of the blue, someone has to have a dig and accuse you of having a double life!! Smile Anyway, I really must step away and go and do something useful like buy the gin for tonight

PinotsKittens · 17/08/2011 14:12

Aha. Yes. Woo, for once!

DrPolidori · 17/08/2011 14:13

There are some posters who slated me on original thread (forgotten them now) and some who slated me after the thread was pulled, which was just as nasty, and some who slated trollhunting per se... with the thread last night being a point in question. posters who has been very anti troll hunting posted, and made no mention of not troll hunting the possible banned person.

Still with me?

That's all.

PinotsKittens · 17/08/2011 14:16

I think, possibly and just trying to be fair to all, that the thread last night was a unique case as the person inflaming it and being talked about, has (allegedly) sooooo much history that it maybe excludes normal 'rules'. Rules isn't the right word - etiquette, maybe? I'm not making myself clear. I think when it spills into RL and then returns on MN it can make it hard to stick to generic 'rules'. Or etiquette. GAH!

Not that the person is necessarily the old poster returned, of course.

happymole · 17/08/2011 14:18

Hands Pinot truth serum coffee

I just like to know, am both nosey and needy:o

DrPolidori · 17/08/2011 14:19

yes, its very hard. Which is why I find the idea that its completely black and white so risible.

we make judgments based on context.If the context changes, we might make a different judgment.

DrPolidori · 17/08/2011 14:23

And the "troll" in the pulled thread is still being referenced today. Subtly? It depends on your viewpoint, but categorically? yes.

Tanith · 17/08/2011 14:26

Unlike MNHQ, we are not omnipresent. If you have a problem with a poster, then report to MNHQ. It's their site: that's what they've asked you to do.

Throwing out little hints about you think there might be a troll elsewhere is just stirring up trouble.

bibbitybobbityhat · 17/08/2011 14:29

"Throwing out little hints about you think there might be a troll elsewhere is just stirring up trouble."

DrP isn't doing that, though, is she? She's stating quite categorically that troll "outing" is going on on another thread right now. Which it is. And?

DrPolidori · 17/08/2011 14:30

tanith, you seem to have trouble understanding.

I did not say there was a troll out there. I said there was troll outing going on.

Rather different.

PinotsKittens · 17/08/2011 14:33

It's the same troll afaik - MNers are just catching up if they missed the thread yesterday. As normal.