Is it just me or AIBU to feel paranoid at recent number of troll posts? ^Thanks^ media press!

[bimbedybam]

Just don't know who and what to believe anymore on here.

I sell cocknoodles. They not only clear your cupboards (and haunted offices in old mills) of all sorts of demons but they increase fertility and make you prettier and thinner.

Just text "I'm a mug" to 8008135

Apropos of nothing, but ScottishMummy you're back! Although I suspect you already know this.

I can sob about my guttering if you want Honey.
In fact I can sob about it on command.
Proper hot tears of red-faced rage tinged with genuine sadness.
It's quite a skill.

(Did I mention that it's still in my mother fucking front garden?)

I am bereft,I cannot chose between the sumptuous la prairie range
Please send me money or the ponies won't get fed
Fanks

Would that be your Apple Mac Laptop, Honey? Well done Microsoft!

I only have fake Baileys.You should all send me money so I can buy the real stuff.

Oh god Usual are you ok? PM me and I'll e-mail you my Tesco Clubcard Vouchers.

I have missed you too, you disgrace to Scotland.

"Not all trolls are created equally,and I suppose that's the rub"

Although your literary allusions are a bit highbrow for me.

Welcome back

I only have fake baileys too.
We should start a support group.

Only mine's Honeycomb flavour so I can't claim to be too sad about it!

Do we fund raise to get the gutter fixed or your landlord tarred and feathered.

Oh SM, poor you having to choose between budget face cream or skinny ponys

Either or Honey. Either or.

I have a perfectly good gutter but the problem is, I woke up this morning and found my house had been stolen from underneath it

Please can you all send me wads of cash?

Oh yes and I'll need the house to be in Florida cos the cold weather's giving me piles.

I think you need to set up a separate appeal, Worra as you will need a new car to get around out there.

I'm seeing one at the moment that screams "needs the oxygen of attention to live" and completely perplexed by the fact that no one appears to see it. Utterly ridiculous but issues just about plausible enough to squeak through.

Not a troll but not not a troll iyswim?

you won't see what I mean it doesn't make bloody sense

You would be surprised...

I sent a PM to someone once who posted about a strange and terrible situation they were in, which unfortunately, I had also found myself in some years before. Sent my support, what I had found helped me, who to speak to, etc.
They replied and what they really wanted was my story, my story in detail. It just didn't smell right at all and I felt really uncomfortable.
But, I'd probably do it again, because the next person who posts with that story might really appreciate that help.

I wouldn't send money, not ever.

Do not talk to me about piles

In unrelated news the light bulb in my lounge has just gone.
I think new ones are about a fiver.
Cash or paypal is fine.

Randall I think you need a JustGiving page for your lightbulb to be honest. Get another MNer to do it for you, whack on a few quid for their commission and tell people that you are donating the surplus when it quickly exceeds the amount you need.

I really cant tell whether Im incredibly naïve or you are all suspicious and cynical.

Maybe a bit of both.

Hang on - by that reasoning, isn't the entire Christmas appeal thing just all a trolling opportunity? Everyone is always enthusiastic about that

I have real Baileys. You bunch of poor people. (It was my birthday yesterday, it's an annual treat)

I think it's a lot of both!

People nominate posters for the Christmas appeal.

You wouldn't nominate someone with no posting history.

IME the Christmas Appeal isn't a trolling opportunity. Usually the nominees are nominated because they have a full posting history and have been helpful to other people.

It's the "Mumsnet Equivalent of the Coca Cola truck" threads saying that xyz has happened and there will be no Christmas dinner or presents which tend to get people to send money in droves. I've done it.

The christmas appeal could be an opportunity to troll but you'd have to put quite a lot of energy in if you waned to build up enough of a back story.

Plus I think if you offer to donate it's a risk you accept as unavoidable. well I do anyway. I think the good it does far outways the small chance of it being exploited.