Why trolls make up threads on here ?

[Happyone8]

I’m fairly new to Aibu and have been on two troll threads recently. One was about dating and was three threads long , where I took time giving lots of advice over several weeks . Ends up it was someone making it up and she/he had several other threads running too. Another thread from someone else has been shut down this morning for a similar reason .
Just wondering why someone would make stuff up ? It must be so boring and pointless! Also now don’t feel like investing time to freeing advice as feel that it’s all made up .
Is there a way to spot these people ??

The dating one was a troll?!?!

The answer to the question is that they're sad / sick twats.

Quite often I find trolls have a certain style of writing. I didn't click on the dating one though.

Pathetic attention seekers mostly.

What dating one ? The one where the Op went for a walk and wasn’t getting answers very often?

It's lockdown, none of us are getting out of the house very much.

Because they are bored.

@FossilisedFanny

What dating one ? The one where the Op went for a walk and wasn’t getting answers very often?

She wasn't getting answers because she wasn't texting either!

My troll-dar is normally good. I'm disappointed if that was a troll and I didn't spot it!

I have wondered this myself. I suppose they find it fun or exciting somehow. I am terrible at spotting trolls unless they're really really obvious ones.

What dating one was a troll thread?

Also now don’t feel like investing time to freeing advice as feel that it’s all made up.

The internet is full of trolls, not just Mumsnet.

Honestly, if you feel like that then don't invest time. There are plenty of others who will.

I'm cynical about everything I read on here. Sometimes I reply, sometimes I don't but either way I don't feel as though I've 'invested' anything, as it's passed the time for me and that's the only reason I'm here.

Attention-seeking/boredom.

As for how to spot them: the rubbish ones can normally be spotted in the opening post. For the more convincing ones that run for a while, one thing that always tips me off is when new developments occur at suspiciously convenient times (i.e. when the thread is flagging and the number of replies is declining). Most trolls will usually slip up at some point too - I remember one thread when the gender of one of the children involved suddenly switched halfway through.

Boredom and attention.

@WorraLiberty

Also now don’t feel like investing time to freeing advice as feel that it’s all made up.

The internet is full of trolls, not just Mumsnet.

Honestly, if you feel like that then don't invest time. There are plenty of others who will.

I'm cynical about everything I read on here. Sometimes I reply, sometimes I don't but either way I don't feel as though I've 'invested' anything, as it's passed the time for me and that's the only reason I'm here.

I guess I’m quite new and didn’t realise you shouldn’t invest! I’m cyclical now though! I invested as I had had a similar predicament at this women’s age. I remember feeling the same so really wanted to support her.

Cynical

@CryingHelps

Was just about to reply on the 'overweight' child thread but it's been taken down. Guess that was a troll. I actually thought that his stomach skin didn't look like that of a young child, not firm, if that makes sense.

That poster has been here for years. Just an unwise thread I think.

This shouldn’t turn into a TAAT or it’ll just get deleted.

Because there are people on MN who will believe anything and trolls will get a bite every time.

@Happyone8

Ive been around a little while and you get a second sense about these things. Not all trolls are obvious, and generally It's not ok to out and out say 'I think this is bollocks', as it's unfair to someone going through a genuinely tough time. Generally though on these forums, the key factors to look out for are:

No posting history (yes they can name change but it's one to be wary of). To counter this, many will post something innocuous on baby names or the dog house a few days beforehand.

Cheeky fucker dramas - these aren't always trolls but many will exaggerate a situation. Further threads usually venture further for the truth. A favorite subject of MN 'cheerleaders' and text-response writers.

General dramas: obviously many people find themselves in times of crisis. The difference with trolls is, they'll go from thinking their husband is cheating, to filing divorce papers before lunchtime (as an example). A favorite of MN 'aunties' and 'handholders'.

Beggers - usually have 20p in their bank account, no nappies for baby, no family and any and every suggestion is turned down. Might as well start threads with 'here are my PayPal details'.

Anything to do with bodily functions, especially if it involves children. There is a prevalent troll who sometimes pretends to be a teacher, who likes talking about denying children the toilet.

Sometimes the trolls are really obvious though, such as 'snapped and farted' or 'Sistine Chapel screamer'. Or Beanie and her 'considerably richer than yaw' bollocks (I miss her).....

The biggest rule is just be wary. No one has to be honest on the internet, no one owes you honesty. Never share anything you aren't comfortable with just to be kind, never give money, and always report if you have any incline it's not true.

@NuniaBeeswax

Because there are people on MN who will believe anything and trolls will get a bite every time.

100%

[quote BrumBoo]@Happyone8

Ive been around a little while and you get a second sense about these things. Not all trolls are obvious, and generally It's not ok to out and out say 'I think this is bollocks', as it's unfair to someone going through a genuinely tough time. Generally though on these forums, the key factors to look out for are:

No posting history (yes they can name change but it's one to be wary of). To counter this, many will post something innocuous on baby names or the dog house a few days beforehand.

Cheeky fucker dramas - these aren't always trolls but many will exaggerate a situation. Further threads usually venture further for the truth. A favorite subject of MN 'cheerleaders' and text-response writers.

General dramas: obviously many people find themselves in times of crisis. The difference with trolls is, they'll go from thinking their husband is cheating, to filing divorce papers before lunchtime (as an example). A favorite of MN 'aunties' and 'handholders'.

Beggers - usually have 20p in their bank account, no nappies for baby, no family and any and every suggestion is turned down. Might as well start threads with 'here are my PayPal details'.

Anything to do with bodily functions, especially if it involves children. There is a prevalent troll who sometimes pretends to be a teacher, who likes talking about denying children the toilet.

Sometimes the trolls are really obvious though, such as 'snapped and farted' or 'Sistine Chapel screamer'. Or Beanie and her 'considerably richer than yaw' bollocks (I miss her).....

The biggest rule is just be wary. No one has to be honest on the internet, no one owes you honesty. Never share anything you aren't comfortable with just to be kind, never give money, and always report if you have any incline it's not true.[/quote]
Thanks , that’s really useful Information . I’m an oldie , who’s been through their fair share of life issues so always happy to support someone . It’s surprising when I find it’s made up . I saw trolls as people who like to write rude comments and upset people - rather than make stories up I guess !

For those saying some people believe anything - I really don’t . The threads seemed like valid relationship issues I’ve encountered myself- why would I think they were made up ?
The only dubious thing was the person would say they weren’t going to text the guy and then a few updates later text him . However , there were a lot of people goading her to text the (flaky ) guy , so made sense .

I read aibu a lot, and I have noticed over the years that threads seem to appear with astounding regularity that all seem to have a similar theme and key points, but the setting is alway different. Such as the woman who was the only one not invited out of a group of 6 friends. Sometimes it's school mums and sometimes it's at a volunteer job. There are others too. Obviously I know that people do experience the same problems in life but there is some thing about this scenerio and how it's written that doesn't ring true and the op never gives satisfactory answers to questions that could help to resolve the situation. I can't be the only one who's noticed this?

I saw trolls as people who like to write rude comments and upset people - rather than make stories up I guess !

Forums are an excellent place to test out novel ideas, relieve boredom or just be a general wind-up merchant.

Tolling is a shit thing to do, though there is a sense of vindication when a thread gets deleted and you think 'I knew it' .

"For those saying some people believe anything - I really don’t . The threads seemed like valid relationship issues I’ve encountered myself- why would I think they were made up ?"

I could make a vaguely reasonable sounding post that the sky was green and I could guarantee someone would believe me. Look at all the recurring trolls on here; pee/poo trolls, period trolls, greedy fat husband trolls, popular teenage daughter trolls... I could go on. But these threads always get pages of replies every single time. You personally may not fall for them but clearly there are many who do. It's just one of those quirks of the Internet.

I was a volunteer for a long time with a well known telephone help line. There were hundreds of troll type time wasters, some really abusive. Luckily the volunteers are very well trained to spot these callers and are advised to end the calls. I think such people like to waste the time of people who have lives, as they certainly do not. There are some nasty people out there, but plenty of good ones too.

Had my suspicions about the dating one. Just enough info to keep people hooked. Then nothing. Then a teeny bit more.

I used to like the Sharon ones.

I guess I’m quite new and didn’t realise you shouldn’t invest! I’m cyclical now though! I invested as I had had a similar predicament at this women’s age. I remember feeling the same so really wanted to support her.

But it passed the time for you, no?

Let's face it, if any of us had any pressing engagements we wouldn't be posting right now.

Just look at it as 'What can Mumsnet do for me?' rather than the other way round, then you'll always get something out of it.