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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask about ‘reverse’ and ‘trolls’?

69 replies

Naranja · 26/10/2019 09:26

I often see people say ‘is this a reverse’ in response to threads, what does this mean? Is it when someone is pretending to have an issue with their ‘DH’ but they are actually the DH?

And likewise people often say ‘this is a troll’ but I’m not sure I would ever notice anything is off - what are the things to look out for?? People say about the ‘poo troll’ etc - is that someone trying to get people to share private stories for their own pleasure? How can you avoid responding to a troll?

Also the biscuit (?) symbol some people post? What is that?

Are there any other MN things I should understand?

OP posts:
FavouriteSoul · 26/10/2019 11:00

I would have thought the poo troll is obvious and doesn't need pointing out, he's a grubby little perv who likes anecdotal evidence of faecal incontinence.

Original poster
Naranja · 26/10/2019 11:02

@FavouriteSoul I get what a troll would be and that’s just horrible - my question was more how would you recognise one, as I have seen some really graphic TMI posts and questions on here and sometimes people respond totally normally!

OP posts:
SafetyAdvice0FeedWhenAgitated · 26/10/2019 11:04

I now recognise one of the banned posters trolling. Unique style of writing.
The reverse thing. Sometimes it's just so ludicrous that people can't believe someone would really be in such a denial about being U.

theoriginalmadambee · 26/10/2019 11:11

@Naranja
I have had the same issue, how to spot a troll. Maybe I'm too naive?

What has helped me in knowing what to look out for, is reading the 'unmentionable' reddit thread. Great education in spotting trolls.

And beware of the begging threads, as I said I'm naive but didn't always spot those.

Densol999 · 26/10/2019 11:12

Im interested in all your points OP so watching and waiting

MuchBetterNow · 26/10/2019 11:14

Reverse is obvious, it's usually a situation where the op is saying something like "I smashed neighbours window but don't think I should pay for it" cue hundreds of posters saying "of course you should pay" then the op reveals themselves as the victim. Reverses are irritating and stupid in my opinion, fewer people do it now.

The biscuit is a passive aggressive little emoji saying "you're talking shite op".

Trolls vary, some are very obvious, others are plausible and draw loads of eejits into their fabricated nonsense, they're usually caught out by forgetting the age/sex/number of dc they've previously mentioned.

Trolls are pretty harmless in the main, if a thread is entertaining I don't really care about obvious storytelling, some people get really frothy about it. A lot of people on here are ridiculously over invested in the comings and goings of random internet strangers.

Original poster
Naranja · 26/10/2019 11:14

I worry that one day I will share something or I will provide some advice in good faith only to find out it is a troll or a journalist or something!

OP posts:
isabellerossignol · 26/10/2019 11:15

Poo trolls are often easy to spot because they will make some vage reference to being caught short and then ask everyone to share stories of times when they lost control of their bowels in a public place. Or a particular favourite is trying to get stories of teachers refusing to let pupils use the toilet, particularly teenage girls, and ask everyone to share stories.

Original poster
Naranja · 26/10/2019 11:16

@MuchBetterNow. That’s really helpful - thank you!

Still not sure I understand the point of a reverse - is it someone just trying to make themselves feel better then? I suppose each to their own!!

OP posts:
SafetyAdvice0FeedWhenAgitated · 26/10/2019 11:16

And beware of the begging threads, as I said I'm naive but didn't always spot those.

God yes! Especially now before Christmas.
Tip. Essentially it all boils down to the fact that you shouldn't just send money to strangers online unless it's an official cause with controlled account.

Original poster
Naranja · 26/10/2019 11:17

@isabellerossignol oh yes I have definitely seen some of those!! ‘When did you last wet yourself’ etc. I would never have thought of that being a troll, just someone being nosy or looking to share their embarrassment!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Naranja · 26/10/2019 11:18

@SafetyAdvice0FeedWhenAgitated it’s scary that people have sent money like that!!

OP posts:
isabellerossignol · 26/10/2019 11:19

Vage reference! That should obviously have been vague reference Grin

SafetyAdvice0FeedWhenAgitated · 26/10/2019 11:22

@Naranja it is. They always say "well I rather lose fiver than ignore it and risk that OP is genuine". And so scammers come back. Because every time they make up a story about boyfriend not wanting to be a dad/having 13p on leccy/having half a tin of tomatoes till February etc, they can get hundred good souls to "help". So day of "work" and they end up with £500+...

Yes, there are really people who are in a shit situation, but best help is to direct them to a proper and long term help

Koloh · 26/10/2019 11:24

Urgh, the school toilet troll can be really persistent. You get to spot him quite easily.

You know where you see threads that are started, like, the OP claims some embarassing bodily thing has happened to them and then specifically asks MNetters to share similar stories to make them feel better? That's a strong hint it's a perv. Other ones ask for stories about children, which is so so horrible and I do wish some MNetters were more circumspect/savvy there.

A common and much less grim type are the hot button trolls. They are usually regulars and know the things that set MNetters off and just start contrary threads, claiming to have used a disabled toilet to change their baby, or committed some kind of parking or queuing transgression. Or exaggerated some crime of their MIL.

Then the other most common ones are fantasists. They always have twins!

isabellerossignol · 26/10/2019 11:27

Still not sure I understand the point of a reverse - is it someone just trying to make themselves feel better then? I suppose each to their own!!

I think the point of a reverse is for the poster to convince themselves that they are right. They can embellish the incident with things that they have no proof that the other person was thinking. So someone can ask 'AIBU to refuse to look after my niece whilst her parents are in the SCBU with their newborn, I'm tired and I just can't be arsed' and everyone will say 'that's awful, YABU, I'm glad you're not my sister'.

Whereas if they were honest and posted from their own point of view it might turn out that there actually is a reason why the sister can't help and at no point did the thought 'I'm tired and I can't be arsed' cross her mind.

FavouriteSoul · 26/10/2019 11:51

I think the begging threads have had their day now, because MNHQ tend to step in and point the poster in the direction of their web guide to coping with financial hardship and then delete the thread. The 'good' old days of Mumsnet, when people would clamour to send gifts, online shopping orders and money to supposedly impoverished posters are over, I hope.
That still doesn't stop people trying.

Incidentally, I have no electricity, no food in the cupboard, the freezer is broken, my toddler twins are cold and hungry, I have 35p to last me til January, and I have no friends or family or neighbours. What can I do?

bruffin · 26/10/2019 11:56

What can I do? Then when suggestions are given then they always have a reason why its not possible.

SafetyAdvice0FeedWhenAgitated · 26/10/2019 11:56

@FavouriteSoul sadly I don't think the days of them are over.

I was SO tempted to create one of these few months ago and then tell people how much money I actually could have collected, just to show how easy it is🤷 Didn't dare though. Don't want a ban. But I think it could really open someone's eyes

FlyUpAndDieWitch · 26/10/2019 11:57

FavouriteSoul Pm me and I'll send you my card details and pin hun.

The only way I've improved at troll-spotting is just, well, having been on MN for so many years.

I used to enjoy the MIL threads, as my own is - ahem - challenging, and it made me feel less alone.

Now, though, I don't bother clicking on them, as nine times out of ten, they're just bollocks.

'My baby is two days old and my MIL has taken him to live with her and my DH says it's normal, and she also called me fat and did a shit in my fridge'.

Of course she did.

FavouriteSoul · 26/10/2019 12:04

she also called me fat and did a shit in my fridge

But my MIL actually did that, @FlyUpAndDieWitch Grin

MuchBetterNow · 26/10/2019 12:15

There's a persistent troll who starts threads in AIBU frequently and is called the "popular" troll as they always ask "my dc are very popular but I know others aren't, why do you think that is?".

Most people are wise to it now and the thread gets deleted within minutes.

Original poster
Naranja · 26/10/2019 12:18

I actually googled the reddit thing after a previous poster mentioned it - this is a whole new world!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Naranja · 26/10/2019 12:19

And I am going to be on the look out for trolls and reverses now!!

OP posts:
TheQueef · 26/10/2019 12:21

I'm shit at troll spotting.
The goady ones always drag me in Angry

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