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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask what is a 'troll thread'?

44 replies

BallsforEarrings · 07/02/2015 12:43

I've been here for 11 months now and I clearly don't get it? I thought a troll was someone being unecessary spiteful and winding someone up on purpose, yes I know a fair few on here do that but...

Now I am thinking it means that the OP made up the entire thread even if it is about trivia is that right? I know I am naive but that can't be true can it? Why what would they get out of that then it's not even a properly annoying wind up is it? Its just a thread like any other so - why would people?

Can anyone explain?

OP posts:
Glittoris · 07/02/2015 19:02

Agree Celticlass. If your child or partner had just taken an overdose would you 'really' hot foot it onto Mumsnet to discuss at length how devastated you felt. I doubt it somehow Hmm

Pipbin · 07/02/2015 19:17

That said when I was in hospital having a miscarriage I posted about all sorts of random shit, and the miscarriage, on mn as it took my mind off it all.

skylark2 · 07/02/2015 19:39

"could not believe that people actually replied to them giving out such personal Information about themselves"

I can't believe how much hysteria there is on here at the concept that somebody somewhere might have a random piece of information about you.

I'm a computer programmer. Oh no, should I rush off and namechange now? Unless you're posting something deeply personal and embarrassing, frankly so what if people who know who you are in real life realise it's you? They realise it's you because they already knew the things you posted anyway!

Celticlass2 · 07/02/2015 19:52

Up to you what you post Skylark Frankly I think people are very stupid, not to mention naive to post personal information about themselves!

BertieBotts · 07/02/2015 20:30

I find the personal info hysteria a bit, well, hysterical, too. What on earth do you think somebody is going to do with the knowledge that my name is Jane and I'm a nurse (or whatever). Firstly there must be hundreds of nurses called Jane. Secondly even if somebody figures out I'm Jane Bloggs of 52 Main Street, Southampton, what, are they going to write me a strongly worded letter? Come round and duff me up because of something I said on mumsnet? Confused I am genuinely baffled as to what people think the danger actually is.

Another common troll spotting tip is to watch the timing of their posts. I don't even mind saying this, because I don't think they could actually help themselves. It follows one of several patterns; either events keep happening way too fast, implausibly fast, ie as soon as they think up something new. Or they post some new and dramatic development only when the thread starts to move a bit slowly for them, like they have a stash of them. Or they will disappear entirely for a couple of days and wait for the "OP I'm really worried about you!" posts to start flooding in and then post 12-24 hours after this point.

ExitPursuedByABear · 07/02/2015 20:39

Sharing too much can be a problem. As has been recently proved.

Fairenuff · 07/02/2015 20:41

people being deliberately goady are just twats. Twats can be trolls though. You need a venn diagram tbh

Grin Showy

BertieBotts · 07/02/2015 20:50

I must have missed something...

Original poster
BallsforEarrings · 07/02/2015 20:57

I was never bothered about people knowing it was me (the RL me) Grin until someone pointed out that this could 'out' my friends, family and colleagues who might mind about it and that made me respect that a bit!

I'm still not too concerned though I can't think of anything bad that could happen and I could name change if I wanted to discus something private!

OP posts:
Glittoris · 07/02/2015 21:11

Pipbin but that's slightly different in your case (sorry you lost your baby Flowers ). You were on your own iyswim. But if your partner or child had just tried to commit suicide wouldn't you be too busy taking care of them rather than posting about it on Mumsnet?

Glittoris · 07/02/2015 21:14

Even if someone had your actual name and address it wouldn't really matter. But if that person was a spiteful person with an axe to grind they could cause you a lot of grief especially if they had other issues in their lives which meant they weren't 'well'.

They might be prepared to do and engineer stuff that wouldn't occur to 'normal' people.

usualsuspect333 · 07/02/2015 21:17

I think if you don't know what a troll is, you shouldn't be on the internet.

sarkymare · 07/02/2015 21:22

They might be prepared to do and engineer stuff that wouldn't occur to 'normal' people

Yep, and you wouldn't even be able to come onto mumsnet to tell everyone about the MN stalker who skinned your cat because everyone would think you was a troll. Wink

GiddyOnZackHunt · 07/02/2015 21:31

There have been a couple of incidents recently where stuff posted on MN has been linked to RL. One instance got quite nasty.
It's not about one bit of info but a trail.

comeagainforbigfudge · 07/02/2015 21:51

usualsuspect333

My concept of a troll is of someone who goes out of their way to antagonise an existing thread, call people names, post unnecessary cruel comments/memes etc.

Im not used to those intentionally starting threads on sensitive issues

I wouldnt think troll first.

Just a deep seated need for attention

Although I'm now thinking some people use their threads to test a plotline for their next novel.....

Original poster
BallsforEarrings · 07/02/2015 22:31

That's what I thought too, comeagain!

OP posts:
neme · 07/02/2015 22:39

Not another 'What is a Troll?' thread. Dear God, have you people never heard of Google. It's quite handy.

Original poster
BallsforEarrings · 07/02/2015 22:48

Of course I know what a troll is, neme, I said so in my OP but I have never heard of 'troll threads' it's not the same at all!

OP posts:
SirThomasMore · 08/02/2015 21:43

A troll - someone who presents a false persona in order to elicit emotion, money, stories from others? Neme obviously knows better than I.

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