To bring up the subject of troll hunting *again*, and look for input please from MNHQ?

[WhereTheFuckIsMyFuckingCoat]

I've read so many threads in the past couple of weeks that have been absolutely drowned out by troll hunting. Someone mentioned that they thought troll hunters were ruining Mumsnet and I couldn't help but agree.

I've been here for years, and this comes up fairly regularly, and every single time mnhq come back with the same response - troll hunting is NOT allowed. Report, and move on. It's not hard to understand, and what's even more fucking irritating at times, as it's often (not always) the same old names doing it over and over, like they think they're above the rules.

@MNHQ, are there actually any sanctions for people who continually do this? I know posts get deleted but it doesn't seem to be any deterrent, and even sometimes ends up in the whole thread being zapped, even in cases where HQ have stated that the OP is legit but the troll hunters with their smart assed, 'I'm so clever with my trolldar' comments have made it unsustainable. How is this fair?

I've been on the receiving end of mild troll hunting, and it's really fucking hurtful, particularly when the reason I've posted is because I'm upset to start with, and looking for advice or support.

So why do people seem to think that the rules don't apply to them? Arrogance? A need to be 'right' or not (god forbid), 'gullible'? Should there be a 'three strikes and you're out' type approach? I honestly don't know myself, but I just think it's horrible to see OP's with what could easily be a real, fucking horrible life situation, be shredded, when it's so easy to report and scroll by.

And before people come along to defend their right to troll hunt to 'save' vulnerable posters from giving too much of themselves - aren't we all adults, who can choose how much of our lives we wish to divulge without the need for knights in shining forum armour coming to our aid? (That's ignoring the fact that MNHQ's job, which they carry out regularly, is to remind us of exactly that).

Too many people call troll on someone who disagrees with them- theyre wrong.

Ive been called troll amongst many other things simply because i have a different opinion

Ive been called troll amongst many other things simply because i have a different opinion

So have I. I just take it that I am right, because the "troll hunter" can't find any argument to show me I am wrong. Take it as a compliment from a muppet

Couldn't give a flying fuck either!

It's just the internet..... why get so over invested in it? There's a working off button

Hello OP, and to everyone who chipped in on this thread.

To answer some of the questions raised- we will ban persistent troll hunters- and have done so on many occasions. Usually if someone is breaking Talk Guidelines on a frequent basis, we get in touch to kindly ask that they stop it. If they carry on regardless of that, then we think it's time to go. We try and be as fair and measured as we can be as we know even the most well behaved poster can have an off day.

Troll hunting is irritating, and we don't allow it for good reason. If an OP is having a tough time of things, having someone doubt them on a thread can be pretty horrible. On the other hand, if they are a hairy-handed bridge-dweller, they may enjoy the added attention.

We always say, if you think something is off, then report it and we'll have a look- and of course, if you spot someone troll hunting, let us know.

Trollhunting will continue because MN is rife with trolls. And excessive trolling will continue as long as the name-change option exists. Removing that facility won't bring an end to trolling (because it's the internet, after all) but it might curb the sheer number of trolls. The ease with which PBPs manage to reappear is another issue that needs to be addressed (and I'm sure MNHQ are working on that).

I don't think I have ever engaged in trollhunting but I have certainly reported many dubious threads (and I have fallen for fake threads more times than I care to count). Alas, there are also obvious fantasists whose threads are allowed to stand because it's truly impossible for MNHQ to know whether user123456789 is who she claims to be. I find it annoying when MNers post things like "I don't care if it's a troll, the thread is so entertaining."

I'm likkiilloo from earlier but have name changed and can't get My old name recognised .... which illustrates the point I'm going to make quite well...

I've never been called a troll. I feel I'm missing out 😂. I'm not a particularly opinionated or angry poster so maybe that's why.

One thing I think would possibly help a little is if MNHQ made it impossible to change names mid-thread. I don't understand why they wouldn't as I can't see any reason why it would be done other than unintentionally or for trolling purposes

I am going to say there is a place for troll hunting. In very rare occasions. I am thinking in particular of the night that we had one troll who went through behaviour topic saying that the parents were to blame that they didn't care enough and should buy help from a particular org. Also the night when someone went through bereavement saying that it was the parent's fault that the child had died. It was horrific and quite frankly if I and others hadn't posted on the the threads following the trolls then there would had been an awful lot of upset people. It was before night watch and the newer policies with overnight mod-ing of the boards, and it took far too long for those posts to be removed

With the best will in the world MN can't remove all posts/threads that require it immediately and there are some very vile repeat PBP who like to upset people. I don't agree with general troll hunting but there are a few odd occasions when more harm is done by not saying something than by saying something. But there is a way to do it. none of this Harry Potter style running into a thread shouting troll nonsense

As for the same people reporting, please remember that there are a lot of posters who have been here decades and have seen the damage that various trolls have caused particularly in sensitive topics such as SN, bereavement etc. We are sick of seeing the same ammo, having to watch the same trolls suck in vulnerable posters (eg abuse victims). And yes a lot of the trolls are PBP and keep coming back.

However, as previous posters have mentions who now have more problems with spam bots, political posters etc and that is going to challenge mn and leave a lot of people frustrated in the mean time. But then again they have dealt with the issue of MN forums being used to practise book plots and invasions by other forums. It just takes time and posters get sick of people with ulterior motives making mn an unpleasant place to be.

Pynk - it is called sock puppetting, it is banned. There are cases where it is has been allowed when it is a genuine name change and not meant for ulterior purpose. But the name change is generally owned in those cases.

Can I just ask - in the case of funny trolls (like Sharon and the wasp) why do they a) get reported when it's clearly a joke and b) get deleted when they're doing no harm?

I really miss the days of daft threads that just got funnier and funnier with each reply. These days it's a case of who can report it first - reminds me of little kids running to the teacher because someone's having fun and they're not involved!

I laugh to myself about the sanctimonious and self righteous posters who jump to call troll and to report posts which they personally disagree with. I recently had people accusing me of being a troll or being a man posting in stealth just becuase my opinions went against the prevailing accepted mumsnet norm. I have been accused of being goady and had my posts reported for being "aggressive" simply becuase I dared speak my mind and put forth an opinion. I have had posters "speak" to me in a condescending manner and cast passive aggressive aspersions on my relationship with my partner. Did I report or get butt hurt about it? No, because it's a internet forum and these opinions mean fuck all to me in the larger scheme of things. I take what I find useful and engage in debate which I find to be stimulating or challenging. If I receive good advice or manage to advise someone which they find helpful, all the better. But it is an annonymous internet forum at the end of the day and so no point getting iverinvested. It's just equal parts irritating and amusing to see the self appointed head girls tripping over each other to troll hunt or report someone for daring to disagree with them or take the wrong "tone".
I have posted on troll threads before as they are very believable sometimes and when the thread gets pulled I just have a little laugh to myself and forget about it. Why get so invested? I come ON MN sometimes for a short break between stuff I am doing. Got no time to be thread policing and reporting. Those who do must have a lot of spare time on their hands

The only emotion I can muster after getting invested in a fake thread is slight disappointment. But it's like I've been involved in a really great book, fun story, cliff hangers, drama! It's not like I've sent money to a Nigerian prince or set up a direct debit to a scam charity.

Some threads have been epic adventures! I'm mostly impressed by the skill and attention needed to keep so many hooked.

It's just equal parts irritating and amusing to see the self appointed head girls tripping over each other to troll hunt or report someone for daring to disagree with them or take the wrong "tone"

Me too, I get so fed up with the triumphant reporters or bossy boots on a thread. Just leave the thread if you don't like it.

Today 07:44 ClopySow

I report troll hunters more than i report suspected trolls

That's daft. Maybe if you report suspected troll posts there would be less troll hunting because troll posts would be zapped!

People have a bee in their bonnet regarding troll hunting when it should be the trolls that piss them off.

The trolls are ruining the site. I'd say most troll hunting posts are probably right.

I think I'm finding some of the troll hunter hunters as sanctimonious as the troll hunters.

This

Could it be any clearer?

BeckyMumsnet :

"Troll hunting is irritating, and we don't allow it for good reason. If an OP is having a tough time of things, having someone doubt them on a thread can be pretty horrible. On the other hand, if they are a hairy-handed bridge-dweller, they may enjoy the added attention.
^
We always say, if you think something is off, then report it and we'll have a look- and of course, if you spot someone troll hunting, let us know.^"

Yet a mere three post later someone says "I'm going to say there's a place for troll hunting". Really?

Yes, really, I agree with Einstein. You couldn't have rules saying trollhunting is permissible in some circumstances but not others so it has to be against the rules, but I have no issue with it. I don't report many posts but I'm going to keep reporting the trolls rather than the hunters.

I guess a possible solution for those situations where HQ are unable to respond quick enough to deal with disturbing threads like some of the examples given in above posts would be to assign two counters that track reports, one for posts and one for full threads. This counter would be invisible to us but once a set number of reports have been made (we wouldn't know the number) then the thread/post gets temporarily hidden until HQ can deal with it and decide if it is something needing to be removed.

The trollhunting might diminish somewhat of certain posters didn't jump straight in with the "been thinking about you all night" baloney when it's obvious something isn't right. I think some posters don't even care if it's fake or not. They just love getting wrapped up in a drama and that's why troll hunter get fed up and start posting.

I really miss the days of daft threads that just got funnier and funnier with each reply

I remember a Baby Name thread a few years ago, where a pregnant lady was asking which name people preferred for her DS:
Sean, Daniel, or Balonz.
I was crying laughing

Balonz from Farnham, I remember thst one

Wherethefuckismyfuckingcoat

So in circumstances which I described; where bereaved parents were being told it was their fault that their child had died you don't think anyone should post "ignore poster name they are posting similar on multiple threads, they have been reported, sorry for you loss." or something to that effect?

It is technically troll hunting and thus banned. But imo should be allowed.

Hackmum thanks for the explanations (I didn't know either!)

I'm still puzzled - what would someone get out of posting a fake post (say, about a cake?) and how do you know it's fake?

Surely Einstein, in a situation like that, you could drop the bereaved parent a PM? You've let them know what you think but haven't broken the talk guidelines?

Tapandgo, attention, I'd imagine.

I love the funny threads even if they are fake.
One thing that annoys me is accusing the OP of drip feeding. People want the updates but if there is the slightest bit more info then the drip feed complaints com
e out. Often it's clear the first post left out some detail so as to remain anonymous but this turns out to be relevant so the OP explains.
I also hate that creepy, stalkerish advanced searches some do of posters previous threads. It's mumsnet not the KGB.