to say: Let's talk about ***TROLLS***

[Hullygully]

Now, while I agree that trolls trying to get people's hard earned wong, or sympathy for a vampire dh draining the blood of his infants nightly, are not a Good Thing and should be swiftly dispatched, can't we keep the very funny and obvious ones, like yesterday's Yerp Pedophiles for eg?

They are FUN. Everyone knows they are not entirely the ticket, no one is taken in and most important of all we all get a good larf.

Hully, poo and fanny is just not funny. At all.

Only someone less evolved would find poo and fanny funny.

I for one did not enjoy reading about poo and fanny. Oh no.

I love trolls. They make such good toys. For every game they play, I have 10 more.

"Poo and Fanny is just not funny" is that by Mick Inkpen?

One day I'll come on here and find a thread that hasn't been done for a fortnight

If I'm honest I don't like the whole 'name change' thing either, I find it a bit shady tbh, as soon as someone says they've namechanged I tend to take what follows with a pinch of salt, unfair probably but I don't see the need for it. I think if you change your name it should alter your profile accordingly and change your name on all your posts like it does on every other forum I've been on.

It's one of those John and Jane ladybird books I think.

John can see a poo. John plays with the poo.

Jane can see a fanny...etc

It's kind of like the difference between telling your child a lie and telling it a fairy story, innit. If you're so fixated with everything being strictly accurate that you ban fantasy, just in case your child might get confused, he/she will miss out an awful lot of what makes childhood fun. Actually, an awful lot of what makes adulthood fun as well. Most of the best films, for example, are completely made up. (Some of the rest would be better if they didn't muck about pointlessly with history, mark you, but that's another moan for another day.) The point is you know they're made up so nobody is deceived.

Re. The Poo Troll.

This is just someone who creates threads about various poo-related disasters, right?

Well lets face it, its quite funny isn't it?! Is it causing any real harm?

I always miss the interesting threads though... :(

I think the obvious trolls are normally so extreme in their posts that it can be funny. Leave those on there to cheer us up. BUT the ones who are taking mick out of others probs need to removed pronto. p.s-thanks for good advice earlier hully and believing me :)

Mumsnet is quite different in its approach to trolls than the other forum I used to post on (not a parenting forum).

On the other forum, most troll threads were treated with humour rather than moaning and sniping. Everyone would pile in, take the piss and a good time was had by all.

usualsuspect is there a device for prodding trolls (hm wonder if brabantia does one?)

AlexReidsLonelyBraincell great image of zombie hamsters heading towards the veg rack.

I agree with Hullz about the amusing trolls, like the guy from yesterday. He was just so, BARKINg and obviously on a mission, posting the same thing all over the internet.

obviously, the emotionally and financially vampiric ones suck

I love a good poo troll, I have fond memories of afternoons wasted refreshing threads to see if clean clothes did get dispatched to train stations in time to save a fellow MN'er.

Didn't bother me one jot when it was revealed to be completely fictional although. Did feel for the poor MN'er who went to help.

MN could be just one large troll for all we know. A busy troll albeit but you get my drift.

I think people get annoyed when they feel like someone has taken advantage of their gullibilty good nature and get angry cos they are embarrassed.
The funny made-up posts are great though, and give posters a chance to showcase their cutting sarcasm creativity :)

pissy there's a bit of me that thinks MN is really a 15 year old spotty geek and we are all part of a GCSE Experiment...

Its all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

I am very wary of stories that seem too OTT. As part of another group I that discovered we had had a troll in our midsts for 3 years. Her story sounded perfectly plausible. People had sent her gifts for new babies that didnt exist, received Christmas cards signed from her and all her "children". When it was discovered I felt violated and unbelievably stupid.

thank fuck for Google or we would never have found out

My opinion is this. If there are too many troll like threads then eventually Mumsnet will be seen as a place for trolls and silly subjects. And sensible people will no longer bother. And folk needing advice who are genuine may even be mistaken for trolls by some. So no, I don't think this troll business is funny or a good idea. Sorry to be an old misery!

I missed Yerp peadophiles - what was that all about?

I miss most things, normally strolling in to find a trail of grey (message deleteds) if there's any thread left at all, that is.

I agree Hully. We all enjoy the chance to have a give a good old collective kicking to someone who is on a massive wind up, and as long as we all know where we stand (and we usually do) then I think the troll is happy, we are happy, everyone is happy. Win-Win.

Some days they are the only threads worth reading round these parts.

Here you go Fenton. It's AMAZING

And not deleted

The thing I have noticed is that most trolls post about something (in a very extreme way) that some people can identify with. Once you take all of the bullshit away sometimes there is advice from a mnetter that can actually help people. Obvs if you are being a horrible troll DELETE. And really, most people alter small details about themselves so they wont be outed,

Its all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

That has just made me hoot.

Ooh thanks, Abs, - Doctorbeanjuice? it's funny already

wait til he starts on about trampolines

And space hoppers

Your British morals are as bad as your teeth

oh sweet peter