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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Fucking Cunting Trolls

281 replies

MsHooliesCardigan · 03/09/2017 18:42

In the past week, I have posted on threads about someone's 15 year old niece taking their own life and today somebody wanting to give their 4 year old son up for adoption. They both turned out to be trolls. I love Mumsnet, I really do and I have seen many situations where those in genuine need of support have been massively helped. I have PMed a Mumsnetter at 4am asking her to call me if she wanted to talk after she had been assaulted by her DP. She did and we subsequently met up.
I have had a huge amount of support myself from Mumsnet but I am getting really weary of it now.
I work in mental health and it's something I feel really passionate about which is why I was drawn to the threads I've mentioned.
I know that there isn't much anyone can do about it and I think MNHQ do their best as both these threads were taken down pretty quickly.
Just needed to rant Angry

OP posts:
ChardonnaysPrettySister · 03/09/2017 20:08

It's bullshit all over Active. That or lots of wannabe writers.

I'm only ever posting on S&B and some threads where I can "recognise' the OP. Not getting invested.

Fruitcocktail6 · 03/09/2017 20:09

Sorry if it's a stupid question but how do MNHQ know any poster is a troll for sure? Like what tests do we have to pass to be considered genuine?

DixieNormas · 03/09/2017 20:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RonSwansonsMoustache · 03/09/2017 20:12

People get too invested in what they read on here Confused

Walkingdead11 · 03/09/2017 20:13

Well to be so attention seeking surely denotes being not well in the head? To require that kind of attention.

Bluelonerose · 03/09/2017 20:13

Sadly that's the way some people get their kicks. I think everybody has been taken in by a troll at some point or another especially if its something close to your heart.
The only thing I can say to make you feel anyway better about it is somebody out there will be going through something similar to what the troll is posting about. Your advice/comments could help someone actually going through it.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 03/09/2017 20:14

Ron (& posters upthread) what do you suppose is the worst that could happen if you give someone your phone number? They might talk you to death?! There's 'sensible' and there's 'paranoid & fearful'. I've met quite a few MNers & now have some lovely RL friends because of that. It's madness telling people they shouldn't do that.

MissHC. Don't go. They piss me off enormously too, but we can't let them win & the more people who go, the worse it gets. Us ninntrolls need to stick together!

PBP doesn't mean they're definitely a troll, but I'm sure they mostly are.

Pandora. It's not people from Reddit. FGS. They've mostly been banned trying to prevent the bloody trolls. They're pissed off because they don't want people to be hurt, they're decent people trying to HELP. They're not going to be starting troll threads. Some of the threads are a bit 'off' re people naively posting on threads that in their opinion are clearly trolls, but that's about the worst of their 'crimes'. There are other groups of people who troll here for kicks.

MNHQ
RebeccaMumsnet · 03/09/2017 20:15

@Fruitcocktail6

Sorry if it's a stupid question but how do MNHQ know any poster is a troll for sure? Like what tests do we have to pass to be considered genuine?

You rang? Grin

Lots of things Fruit, we don't like to advertise what they are for obvious reasons but things like email addresses, posting history and many other things.
Sorry to not be more useful but we try not to write the How To Troll Guide on the boards Grin TSSDNCOP

RedLassie · 03/09/2017 20:15

msHoolies I'm the one that you met up with me and dd and I can never thank you enough for it Flowers. I wasn't ready to talk to family at that point and the support and help and tea you gave me was a nice point in the shittiest time of my life.

Keep being the compassionate, lovely woman you are and don't let this sort of shit grind you down.
I read the adoption one too but didn't post. It made me so sad to think a 4 yr old wasn't wanted and I remember your work is with similar women with problems.

Thanks again

MynewnameisKy · 03/09/2017 20:16

I am just glad both those threads were trolls.

RonSwansonsMoustache · 03/09/2017 20:17

You can trace all sorts using a mobile number - including location once you've communicated on the phone. Sure, once you've spoken to someone a few times and established they're genuine, there's nothing wrong with swapping numbers - I met my DP online and I've made plenty of friends through online forums.

I just think people need to take basic precautions. You have no idea who you're talking to and however nice and genuine they might seem, there's always that risk that they're not.

It's just words on a screen. Don't get too invested in a story where you don't know the poster, and have no concrete proof of any of it. Anyone can make up a believable story and write a thread about it.

Weebo · 03/09/2017 20:17

I love a good conspiracy theory.

Maybe it's someone trolling MN so they can try and frame the people from Reddit for trolling! It's the perfect crime.

The reckon is certainly chinny.

Changeschangechangeagain · 03/09/2017 20:17

I understand the troll hunters. It made me feel foolish to believe the OP. I wasted my time.

Not wanted to be taken in again is logical.

I'd hate an OP be really in need of support and not able to get if because people don't believe what they are reading.

DixieNormas · 03/09/2017 20:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MadnessAbounds · 03/09/2017 20:19

I'm over on reddit, and I don't believe anyone who is active on there is trolling MN. No one who's been banned is being bitter or twisted, but a lot of people are seriously fed up with the trolls over here, and it's nice to be able to call them out on there.

A lot of people are getting much better at troll-spotting as a result, and maybe that will cut down the number of people who get over-invested in the attention-seeking crap on here.

DagenhamRoundhouse · 03/09/2017 20:20

Why on earth would someone do this? It would never occur to me.

surferjet · 03/09/2017 20:21

I genuinely believe that people who troll about the death of a child should be reported to the police. It's beyond repulsive & I feel so sorry for the posters who respond.

PurpleDaisies · 03/09/2017 20:22

surfer its morally reprehensible but what would the police do? What law has been broke?

endehors · 03/09/2017 20:23

It's certainly an eye-opener over on Reddit isn't it, Madness.

healthyheart · 03/09/2017 20:25

Thanks kimlek

DavetheCat2001 · 03/09/2017 20:30

Does anyone think that people spend too much of their time thesedays getting embroiled in stuff on an internet forum?

What did people do with their evenings pre-the net?

I am as guilty as anyone of probably spending too much time reading threads on mn, but I don't tend to get involved. I just turn off my laptop/ phone if I feel myself getting drawn in.

surferjet · 03/09/2017 20:35

Well they should be reported to someone! social services maybe? Lying about the death of a child is more than trolling imo.

CockacidalManiac · 03/09/2017 20:36

Reprehensible as it is, lying is often not illegal in itself.

Barbiessharpfeet · 03/09/2017 20:37

Oh hi social services someone made up a child and pretended they died.

That would be bizarre.

PurpleDaisies · 03/09/2017 20:39

Well they should be reported to someone! social services maybe?

What would you expect social services to do? Again, trolling about dead children is absolutely awful but what law has been broken?