AIBU to think that MN need to come up with a way to stop fake posters?

[bbcessex]

It really is getting boring. Dull, dull, dull.

I'm not clever enough to work out a formula myself, but would removing the name-change function stop trolls being able to hide so much ? I appreciate this may have a negative effective on those who wish to remain anonymous, but maybe the upside would be worth it?

Another option - would having a flag that said "first time poster" help on an OP? or the number of posts an OP has made?

Too many times recently I read an OP and watch many posters fall into the abyss of answering honestly to a thread that has all the marks of a hairy keyboard sad twat.

If it sounds too far-fetched to be true, it probably is. Just don't get too invested in it.

I don't understand why people get so wound up. If you think somethings amiss, report and move on. It's so tedious watching troll hunting on threads.

Some people do have unusual lives and need advice and don't need to be called a troll. Some people are trolls, and by winding everyone up, are getting what they want.

mrsrisotto do you also enjoy bereavement trolls?

It's quite insensitive to make out that trolls are fun. They're not all daft threads.

The ones yesterday about sexualisation of children was totes hilaire, right?

I think name changing should only be allowed with special permission from HQ. You should need to message them and explain exactly why you need to name change. It might not solve everything but it would be a start.

I don't think anyone is 'wound up' more fed up.

I feel sorry for them. They lacking something in their life. Their posts are more about them than anything else. The advice given might help a lurking so i will always respond even if i suspect its a made up situation. Do agree that nc should not be allowed. Not sure what mnhq can do about it really.

I'm on other large forums and they still have trolls. They will simply re-register with a new email address and go at it again, removing the name change function will not stop them.

I agree with the pp who said people enjoy being outraged by trolls. Instead of reporting and keeping it moving, each troll thread will spawn 5 others asking for details and whatnot. THAT is why they keep coming back, they enjoy the reactions.

The 'what happened to the thread about....' threads are really tedious now. If the thread has disappeared chances are it's been deleted.

I don't think taking away the ability to nc is the answer though.
I've posted a couple of sensitive issues under ncs/responses under ncs as anonymity is v important to me. I'm quite sure a few people close to me in RL are on here & I don't want myself outed. That's part of the attraction of MN to other forums.
I'm still fairly new here & disgusted really at some of the posts that turn out to be trolls but there has to be another route to solve the issue

Perhaps by phone verification or verification by credit/debit card. A minimal charge like 1p.

It's too much effort to get new phone numbers and credit card just to troll an Internet site.

Banning name changing won't make a difference. New email address, a different way of getting on mn (phone/laptop/computer) In theory a troll can be running several account simulateanously and looking like they are posting such that they can't be namechanging between. It is not difficult.

Also the how many posts you have made won't make a difference there have been a good number of long game trolls who have been posting for months and years before their colours show. And I can recall a good number of them, sorts of people who posters are still shocked that actually the poster was banned for that reason because mostly the poster seemed pretty ok. And that is besides the others whose long game is low level offness before their big whoha.

The only thing is to stop engaging, report and report again and again if needed. Also to be educated that trolls do exist, that they will prey on your emotions and responses like vampires and that you can't varify who you are speaking to so to only be invested as much as you can afford to lose (time, emotional connection, concern etc).

HQ can and will remove people. I have reported people who have ended up being banned and who have required posts deleting.

The only thing that I think could be differently is the locking instead of deleting of threads for a fixed period after the thread identified as false with such a notification. Would give people enough time to catch up if they are over invested and thus stop some of the tats. BUT some of the topics can be so vile that immediate deletions with no holding period would be essential. HQ are in a difficult position but the only thing that I have seen changed in the last few years is that people feed the trolls so much more. Back in the days when fields were green troll threads were less obvious because people did not feed them in the same way. Now whether that is because we have long termers feeding the immediate action trolls I don't know. But not feedin them does make a difference.

I'm upset. My bridesmaid thread was deleted, presumably because someone thought I was a troll. I am certainly no troll. That thread was important to me for reasons that I had not had chance to explain yet on the thread. The thread was pulled with no warning. I posted under a NC to protect my identity, and there is more to explain.

I think my account may also have been suspended, and I have just reregistered under a new email so I can post. I am hoping that does not irk MNHQ further.

I have emailed MNHQ to ask for both my account and thread to be reinstated.

I actually was caught out quite badly by one of the troll threads yesterday which was embarrassing and hurtful. I would never start a troll thread.

So, What I'm trying to say is that just because something gets deleted doesn't mean it's not true. The truth is often stranger than fiction, as they say. I hope my thread can be reinstated and I can clarify further on there rather than hijack this one further.

Also banning IP address not just email.

Having to identify an account with a card would stop a lot of people, ditto with mobile no. I don't have a mobile. I will not be getting one. I do not want my card details registered, especially in the wake of Jeffery.

Unfortunately the sheer traffic a forum like this gets will mean it attract alsorts. If you don't like it leave. There's loads of other parent forums.

I'm pretty new on here and from what I've encountered so far wouldn't trust any one to be telling the truth. Lots of unusual posts and bitchy comments.

I do love it and actually a bit addicted as a bit of 'gossip' while drinking my cuppa etc bit probably the least friendly or helpful parent forum I've been on!

IP addresses are easy to change. VERY easy to change. My 10yr old can do it. Takes 5 mins.

So what terribly important info did you want to dripfeed, then bridesmaid?

Mymble, please don't be narked at me. I do have clarifications to make, it's not a drip feed, and believe me, I am very grateful to everyone who posted on the thread.

But I really need to do it on the actual thread, not here. I hope you understand. Sorry.

No I don't understand what you're doing, to be perfectly honest and I'm obviously not the only one who is suspicious of your motives here. The ease with which you have re-registered proves the point really. If NCIng is banned, people just do this...

The only thing that I think could be differently is the locking instead of deleting of threads for a fixed period after the thread identified as false with such a notification.

I agree with this. Even if it was just for a short time. It would stop all the 'what happen' threads and hopefully some of the place marking for delation messages. Could they all be corralled into one thread until midnight that night? It can be annoying for those of us who work and can't MN during the day. Everyone talks about threads and you feel rather left out.

Bridemaid before it was deleted i suggested you needed to do more than just offer a catch up. You need to apologise to her and give her time if you want to save your friendship. Its up to you to try and sort it, if it can be.

Just as tedious as the trolls are the gullible fools who are dreadfully busy sending food hampers and arranging meetups with hairyarsed truckers and then get irate when their idiocy is shown up for what it is and they go all shrieky about trollhunters being worse than trolls.

In what kind of parallel universe?

If I was making an utter tit of myself giving out my credit card details and offering sofas to someone who was obviously a lying faker then I imagine I'd be grateful rather than bitching about trollhunters tbh.

I don't think Taats about trolls should be deleted. I think trolls should be named and shamed on a sticky and all their incarnations listed.

Fucking dementors.

I agree threads should be Iocked and left to stand. There is one person (and more, I'm sure) who keeps reappearing on various new NCs but posting the same style threads/identifying info but as the previous threads are deleted, it's hard to refer/prove.

Same with personal attacks, disablist/racist lannguage etc - should be condemned/commented on by MNHQ but left to stand, IMO, so people know peoples' true colours!

I agree threads should be Iocked and left to stand. There is one person (and more, I'm sure) who keeps reappearing on various new NCs but posting the same style threads/identifying info but as the previous threads are deleted, it's hard to refer/prove.

Same with personal attacks, disablist/racist lannguage etc - should be condemned/commented on by MNHQ but left to stand, IMO, so people know peoples' true colours!

Duplicated posts should, however, be deleted