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AIBU?

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Original poster

Why trolls make up threads on here ?

246 replies

Happyone8 · 06/02/2021 11:20

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 ??

OP posts:
CounsellorTroi · 06/02/2021 12:05

Another type of thread that crops up with almost suspicious regularity is flatmates with poor hygiene!

TheMoth · 06/02/2021 12:07

I think when I dip into mn occasionally, I don't notice as much. When I binge (hello lockdown), I notice similarities.

Phoebesgift · 06/02/2021 12:07

Wow! The thread about the lady who met her doctor date in a park was a troll? I must be so naive cos she seemed so genuine.

BrumBoo · 06/02/2021 12:10

@CounsellorTroi

Another type of thread that crops up with almost suspicious regularity is flatmates with poor hygiene!
Or 'I live in a flat and we've just had a forrin family move in. I hear them shouting at their kids in forrin, should I report to SS?'

Another one is 'Super Auntie', who has a usually feckless sister who can't cope with one/many children. Super Auntie is going to foster one/all of these children, whilst also pregnant/have their own brood. Plenty of opportunity for the old 'you sound amazing, op' validation.

WorraLiberty · 06/02/2021 12:11

It's the 'Live' threads that make me laugh.

They're so obvious and the OP has a million and one excuses why they can't do/ask something right now, that'd bring the issue to a conclusion. They're literally setting up a whole thread to run to 1000 posts right before your eyes.

But the excitable happy clappy posters, blindly squealing "UPDATE PLEASE!!" are even funnier.

And of course they're the reason attention trolls exist.

SarahBellam · 06/02/2021 12:12

I suspect many have real mental health or personality disorders. It’s a way to feel validated, get attention and support, and perhaps to distract them from their real problems.

73kittycat73 · 06/02/2021 12:13

Sometimes the trolls are really obvious though, such as 'snapped and farted'

Noooo, I loved that thread Shock It was a troll? Sad

VettiyaIruken · 06/02/2021 12:14

They do it for attention, or to scam cash, or to try to upset people mainly.

You can spot the repeat offenders (who's the daddy springs to mind)

If someone is having a terrible crisis and updating MN in real time (the police have just arrived, I'm in the loo typing this...sort of thing)

Basically if you read it and think that's bloody weird /not a normal reaction / reads like a bad novel, it's probably bollocks.

NuniaBeeswax · 06/02/2021 12:15

Don't forget the begging by stealth threads that usually involve the OP being a single mother of twins who has 37p to last the next three weeks but for various reasons cannot take any of the advice given to them unless it involves someone sending them cash. I wonder how much money people on MN have lost to these...

WorraLiberty · 06/02/2021 12:15

Some also start with a grain of truth but the OP probably gets carried away with all the attention and then they over-egg the pudding.

It's interesting though, seeing them trip themselves up.

CryingHelps · 06/02/2021 12:17

My post was deleted - didn't know what TAAT was, but do now.

lightand · 06/02/2021 12:17

I havent been on that long, and have been wondering the same thing.
The one a couple of days ago was even started by a name I already recognise, so thought that one had to be safe enough.

BrumBoo · 06/02/2021 12:17

@73kittycat73

Sometimes the trolls are really obvious though, such as 'snapped and farted'

Noooo, I loved that thread Shock It was a troll? Sad

Yes it was. It may have been funny/passable as a typo, but when she said it wasn't and became foot-stompy it was obviously bollocks.

As was SpanGran and Puddle Drama, along with many others. See CF/General Dramas in my list above. People enjoy the story too much to really care that it's obvious bull. Whatever passes the time I guess.

Asthesayinggoes · 06/02/2021 12:20

Actually I think half the troll threads are actually true but MN get sick of bored posters reporting inconsistencies that they just delete

thenightsky · 06/02/2021 12:20

As was SpanGran and Puddle Drama

I was very surprised to find the rainy puddles turned out to be fake. I was quite invested in it and felt desperately sorry for the OP.

SpanGran pushed it too far too soon and it became obvious.

Sadbadglad · 06/02/2021 12:20

The dating in the park with Dr. Book was in fact 4 threads long.

Keep up Wink

DianaT1969 · 06/02/2021 12:20

I wonder what's wrong with them. They are lonely and bored I suppose.

NoWordForFluffy · 06/02/2021 12:22

You can spot the repeat offenders (who's the daddy springs to mind)

I just hide these ones now as they're boringly predictable!

ktp100 · 06/02/2021 12:22

Was the deleted dating thread the one where she went for a walk with the bloke then he didn't message her or something and it went on and on for what seemed like no good reason whatsoever?

She was a troll??

Christ, people are weird, aren't they?!

TheMoth · 06/02/2021 12:23

It's the slight Mills and boon quality of some. The walking date one- he's always unavailable/ works long hours.
Ooh, must be a surgeon! ( never a long distance lorry driver or bloke in local factory on 4 on 4 off)
Yes, that's exactly what he does!

Also interesting are the threads asking how to spot a trollGrin

guinnessguzzler · 06/02/2021 12:23

There are a lot of very unhappy, disturbed and / or desperate people in the world.

ktp100 · 06/02/2021 12:24

@thenightsky

As was SpanGran and Puddle Drama

I was very surprised to find the rainy puddles turned out to be fake. I was quite invested in it and felt desperately sorry for the OP.

SpanGran pushed it too far too soon and it became obvious.

The one with the old people next door saying they had puddles on the yard was a troll too??!!

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttt?????!!!!!

CounsellorTroi · 06/02/2021 12:24

If it sounds too far fetched to be true e.g my ILs have bugged my house, it probably is.

MrsDoctorDear · 06/02/2021 12:32

@SarahBellam

I suspect many have real mental health or personality disorders. It’s a way to feel validated, get attention and support, and perhaps to distract them from their real problems.
I agree with this, they probably show other oddities in real life. They can't be normal.
ColdemortReturns · 06/02/2021 12:53

I got a thread deleted by MN for being a troll and a Previous banned poster Confused
Thread was completely real and I've been on MN for years. Anyone could search for me.
Just remember MN don't always get it right when they go troll hunting...