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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To ask how to spot a troll thread

126 replies

Teacakeandalatte · 13/10/2019 11:18

I'm sick of wasting my time on threads that get zapped, how do I spot them? I know about the poo troll and the toilets in schools one, but give me some tips on advanced troll spotting.

OP posts:
Shessobrave · 13/10/2019 21:15

@Hurryharry33 I was just about to post about my bladder issue which is becoming a reall issue. I'd better not! I'll be labelled a troll for that too!!@BalloonSlayer Absolutely spit on there I think, in some cases. I've often wondered that

Patroclus · 13/10/2019 21:15

A good way to look at it is in the same way TV soaps dont stand up in real life. People never seem to actually be at work, have endles money and get away scot free with things like punching people or other dramatic events. They also try and create a 'lovely' persona thats actually grating as fuck but people are too polite to say.

Original poster
Teacakeandalatte · 13/10/2019 21:15

Obviously there are some people who are genuine, like the person I mentioned in my op who I happened to know through a FB group, they were going through a dramatic situation with lots of updates and people thought it was a troll. And I can believe there are some people who turn to MN with a namechange when they have an embarrassing health issue that they are too scared to google.
Its so annoying that these people who really need support get lost amongst the trolls and fantasists. I used to think yeah its worth posting even if it seems weird as you never know, but now I feel I am just sick of being suckered yet again and must be more suspicious and careful.

OP posts:
Shessobrave · 13/10/2019 21:18

@Grimbles How do you know they're trolls? It's a common issue and perfectly viable to be turning to MN for advice. My child is often aggressive for a 4yr old and I struggle with her. I nearly posted about it the other day in fact. Glad I didn't now!

CaptainKirksSpikeyGhost · 13/10/2019 21:21

How do you know they're trolls?

Normally the story is the first or second thing they post.

TroysMammy · 13/10/2019 21:23

I usually find the title doesn't give much away. I watch these and when they get zapped I can't for the life of me remember what the thread was about.

Shessobrave · 13/10/2019 21:26

Again, how do you know they're trolls?

I recently joined MN after leaving 3 years ago. I joined specifically to post about my 4yr old who has become aggressive & violent. I chose not to in the end but I am not troll! I'm a mum of one and MN lurker of many years!

You need to be really careful saying things like what you have on this thread. If I had posted about my DD, you'd have presumed troll. You cannot declare anyone who's first or second thread on MN is about a violent child is a troll! It's outright speculation and incites troll hunting. When you're an innocent person genuinely seeking support and you get accused of lying about what is hurting you, it's very, very upsetting & hurtful

AnyFucker · 13/10/2019 21:29

@Balloonslayer that is a very compassionate post

Grimbles · 13/10/2019 21:38

@Shessobrave

They usually follow the same pattern, a teenager hitting one of their siblings and the OP. The same turn of phrase and drip feed tactics are used constantly.

The fact that they get deleted for being a PBU is a giveaway as well.

BillHadersNewWife · 13/10/2019 21:44

Brave posting about a violent child is not a red flat for Trollism.

Also why would you be hurt? It's not personal.

BeneathTheMist · 13/10/2019 21:45

this looks good

AdaColeman · 13/10/2019 21:47

The problem with threads about spotting trolls, is that in effect, they become a handbook for "How to be a successful troll for dummies"!Wink Wink.

SittingAround1 · 13/10/2019 21:50

I quite enjoy the outlandish troll threads. The most recent one that I saw was an African (unspecified country) woman asking if it was ok if she wore a Massai outfit to an English wedding even though she was not of Massai origin.

She didn't get deleted until she mentioned going in bare feet
(I told her to go for it).

MNHQ
HebeMumsnet · 13/10/2019 22:06

Evening, everyone. We just wanted to pop by with a link to MichaelMumsnet's post here about troll-hunting.
We're always happy to have a look at threads behind the scenes so we wouldn't encourage people to call out people they think are trolls on the boards. Best way to tell is always just to hit the report button so we can have a look ourselves. Thanks.

NerrSnerr · 13/10/2019 22:16

I forgot to mention, I saw the plimsoll troll over on Facebook the other week. That was some weird dude.

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 13/10/2019 22:28

BalloonSlayer that is so sad and I think you are right.

It is hard though, to tell. A few months back I posted a lighthearted whinge about the drudgery of parenting 3-under-4.5.... and yes, including twins, real ones! - and got troll hunted by someone who claimed that all the things I had described couldn't have happened in one day.

It was odd, as others then chipped in to defend me and a few made kind comments along the lines of 'do give us further updates' or 'I'd read more of your writing' or similar. I can see how that would go to someone's head and they would be tempted to spin out the attention.

The twins thing is weird, though, I mean loads of people have twins - I think my obstetrician said it was something like 1 of every 68 births is twins now? Can't remember but it was well over 1% so when you think how many MN users there are, say 12m or so, a minimim of 120,000 would have twins so not a small number.

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 13/10/2019 22:29

Sorry but the plimsoll troll?! What the hell did I miss?

CaptainKirksSpikeyGhost · 13/10/2019 22:30

The Ugg boots guy hasn't been around for a while.

BeneathTheMist · 13/10/2019 22:31

oops sorry wrong thread!

Perpetuallyperplexed27 · 13/10/2019 22:31

I posted a genuine thread about ibs issues and got accused of being the poo troll....crazy times.
Ultimately it's an Internet forum. You can never be totally sure that anyone is who they say they are or what their motives are. So always take with a pinch of salt.
I do think people are overly suspicious though. And also believe that talking about taboo subjects such as ibs is far more important that focusing on the very slim chance that some strange person is getting off on the tales of bowel trouble Confused even if it were the case it's not really going to affect any posters is is?

NerrSnerr · 13/10/2019 22:32

The plimsol troll was someone who'd ask about school shoes and how to buy ones like the ones in the picture. The picture would be of battered old plimsolls.

CaptainKirksSpikeyGhost · 13/10/2019 22:33

it's not really going to affect any posters is is?
I do think people are overly suspicious though

Well the result of one is the cause of the other.

Perpetuallyperplexed27 · 13/10/2019 22:37

@CaptainKirksSpikeyGhost I'm wondering why they are overly suspicious though? Say for example you shared an experience about your ibs issues and the poo troll was in fact reading and enjoying. Would you ever know? Would it even matter? The vast majority of people aren't poo fiends and I found it really sad that people's minds immediately jump to something sordid and suspicious. This makes genuine people afraid to post and makes taboo subjects feel even more taboo.

CaptainKirksSpikeyGhost · 13/10/2019 22:39

Would you ever know? Would it even matter?

I wouldn't want something about me or a child being used as wank fodder no.

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 13/10/2019 22:42

Thanks Nerr. Weirdo!

(Him not you)