To hope to start an AIBU thread when it's not suggested I'm a journalist/researcher?!

[Liketochat1]

Is this a completely unrealistic ambition of mine?! Is it just a process people have to go through as some people on here sure are suspicious? What on earth's happened to make you so cynical?!

Maybe start an actual aibu then?

Journos and trolls and Matthew wright researchers are what happened to make people cynical.

I have never once been accused of being a journo in 8 plus years here.

Maybe look at your style?

I don't have a clue about your threads, so can't answer that. But generally I think it's the way an OP is worded. Anything that seems designed to spark debate on a subject but which the OP does not themselves appear to be involved in/giving opinion on - seems odd. Starting a thread and not being part of the discussion screams researching. So, not coming back or coming back to throw something new into the discussion but not interacting with posters who have already commented, etc, etc.

And then the exact same topic appearing in the press a few days later, of course

What Hecate said.

I got accused on a fairly inoccuous thread. I also got a post moved to media when I was genuinely asking for help with my coursework.

Ah well, I had got enough info before it got moved to the graveyard.

On the plus side, I am flattered that my spelling and grammar were considered good enough for me to be a journalist

You need to change your posting style or certainly put your posts elsewhere liketochat1. You never ask an AIBU, you just ask lots of questions about a current news story to canvas opinion, like a journalist would.

That is giving you the benefit of the doubt that you don't have some ulterior motive.

If you are a journalist, you need to be more sneaky to pull the wool over the eyes of these clever people.

If you're not a journalist then post in news if you want to talk about the news and post here if you want to know if you are being unreasonable.

Simples

I've had a few accusations too. Sometimes I get this idea about something and would love to share stories but I ask too many questions in my OP and people think I'm writing for a paper.

This site is crawling with journalists.

Is this an example of what you do then? ask something then bugger off, never to be seen again no wonder people are having a pop

Op are you a journalist or a researcher?

Hang on, Is this a double bluff OP? Very clever

Liketochat1 is a totally lame username Nobody who's a genuine poster would have a username like that

Make you profile public and put something interesting on it maybe? That would make you more realistic IMO.

Change your username to something like IWouldLikeToChatButICantReallyBeArsed

Does it matter if someone's researching?

I don't see why it's a problem. As long as it creates an interesting read, it's fine by me whatever the reasons people have for posting.

If you post in AIBU, you have to ask a question to which there are two possible responses, ie you are being unreasonable or you are not being unreasonable.

I would've thought a journo could easily have worked that out, along with any other member of the population with more than one brain cell.

And if you really do "liketochat", then hang around and chat! (But if you've got a deadline to meet, we do understand [hwink])

You do start contentious threads though. It's no wonder people are suspicious.

i think it does matter. If they pretend that they are experiencing something in order to get people to share their experiences, instead of being honest, then that's wrong. I might share information with someone if they presented themselves as being upset, or scared, or whatever, that I may choose not to do if they wanted to quote it and use me for personal gain (an article for which they get paid)

Deception is wrong, imo. If they want to gather opinions on something so they can write about it - be upfront about that.

Why lie to people?

I am not saying this is the OP, just answering freddo.

it's because you start contentious threads, sometimes have a couple going at a time, and seem to have little personal investment in what you want to discuss.

You may or may not be unreasonable depending on what the thread is about.

You'd be better off actually just starting a thread and seeing, rather than asking us if you are unreasonable to hope.

I am a journo, but have never been accused of it on MN.

Kingsfold

we should watch you, the quiet ones are the worst.

forgot this: [hwink]