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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Fuckadoodledoooo · 06/02/2021 12:55

Boredom.

Attention seeking.

Like to wind people up.

Sadbadglad · 06/02/2021 12:57

There was a troll just 2 mins ago. That was an easy one to guess.

Who is telling the truth on the others.

Fuckadoodledoooo · 06/02/2021 12:59

I take most things people say on the Internet with a pinch of salt.

"The how much did you earn at age 25" thread made me laugh.

So many saying they earn big bucks when you know it's Linda from the co op trying to make herself feel better on a forum for a few seconds saying she earns 100k a year.

grannyinapram · 06/02/2021 13:16

I've had threads deleted for being a troll and even had my account blocked too. It was a really bad moment for me which didn't help having the thread deleted.
Basically people were bashing me because my problems were so shit that I must be lying (which is what abusive people want others to think)

lots of threads that people think are trolls probably aren't.

mamaoffourdc · 06/02/2021 13:18

Wow - puddle and book date guy both were trolls!!! 😳😔

Original poster
Happyone8 · 06/02/2021 13:25

@Phoebesgift

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.
Yes apparently!
OP posts:
Original poster
Happyone8 · 06/02/2021 13:32

It’s interesting that some people aren’t trolls and having threads deleted . I guess mn are looking for inconsistencies in posting - but some people change details to protect their identity ( ie number of kids etc)

OP posts:
BigBadVoodooHat · 06/02/2021 13:57

@NuniaBeeswax

Because there are people on MN who will believe anything and trolls will get a bite every time.
This is exactly what I was going to say.

There was a thread yesterday that was clearly utter rubbish from the very first post, yet the vast majority of people apparently took it at face value. Lo & behold, it was deleted as it was fiction.

My MIL has a similar lack of critical appraisal. She believes literally everything she ever reads online, and cannot fathom that some things on the internet might not be true. Hmm

BigBadVoodooHat · 06/02/2021 14:13

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.

New to MN, or new to the internet altogether?

FlyingByTheSeatof · 06/02/2021 14:17

This is probably a troll post, no offence OP, but if you are one of the main culprits please stop.

AlexisCarringtonColbyDexter · 06/02/2021 14:20

I'm guessing its boredom and attention.

I find it utterly pathetic that people are so lacking in friends, family, social contacts or constructive things to do that they resort to lying as their entertainment.

Makes me SO grateful I am not them- pathetic, sad little creatures

Original poster
Happyone8 · 06/02/2021 14:21

@FlyingByTheSeatof

This is probably a troll post, no offence OP, but if you are one of the main culprits please stop.
You are really cynical Grin no I’m not , you can see my history . That would be irony though if I were . I’m not on the internet much to pp but been a few months posting on aibu. I guess I don’t get the troll thrill of made up stories . I can kind understand them being mean and twisted . Also , the troll ones , as I mentioned are things that happened in my life so no reason to feel they were over exaggerated and obviously made up
OP posts:
AprilThe8th · 06/02/2021 14:43

Anyone commented on the eating meat should be banned one? That's gone now too 😁

x2boys · 06/02/2021 15:27

I think some threads do have a grain of truth in them ,but are massively embellished ,so the truth is nothing like the scenario the Op is describing .

Sparklingbrook · 06/02/2021 15:27

I take everything on here with a pinch of salt. I mean this is the place Penis Beaker was lauded as the most hilarious thing ever. Hmm

Don't get too invested. As a newbie I was a bit surprised when a thread I was following avidly over a few days just disappeared. If i saw that thread now I would know straight away it was all cobblers, you do get a feel for it.

Mostly people on here are just mucking about on the internet especially in AIBU.

MindBodyChocolate · 06/02/2021 15:34

Omg, what was ‘snapped and farted’??!!

Sparklingbrook · 06/02/2021 15:34

@MindBodyChocolate

Omg, what was ‘snapped and farted’??!!
A load of really unfunny old cobblers.
Hernameisdeborah · 06/02/2021 15:36

@ColdemortReturns

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...
Agreed. I know there are lots of trolls on here but I know of at least two people who lost support at very difficult periods in their lives due to false accusations of troll hunting.
Hobnobswantshernameback · 06/02/2021 15:37

The dating one was obvious from the start
And anything that turns into a three thread saga is invariably a pile of screaming horseshit
The critical thinking bypass surgery some posters seem to have had is quite frighteningly effective

FabbyMagic · 06/02/2021 15:37

@AprilThe8th

Anyone commented on the eating meat should be banned one? That's gone now too 😁
Oh did message say troll or just cos it was getting really argumentative? I saw it earlier but didn’t comment
OneMoreWish · 06/02/2021 15:38

I can't believe snapped and farted was a troll !

I laughed out loud so much reading that read - mostly from all the comments from other posters.

I don't care if a troll did start that one the humour from other posters was infectious and I've read it again since when I wanted a giggle

Hernameisdeborah · 06/02/2021 15:39

Don't get too invested

Yep, I think that's a golden rule here!

Sparklingbrook · 06/02/2021 15:40

I didn't read snapped and farted as it happened so to speak, but on the advice of some here a few months later I read the whole thing. Didn't crack a smile, and didn't really understand it. Confused

Maireas · 06/02/2021 15:43

There were three recently, attacking schools/teachers purporting to be from concerned parents, but the details were clearly wrong. One was complaining about something that hasn't been done since last March. They get a lot of people jumping on - - the teacher is terrible, the school is terrible etc. I can usually tell the anti school trolls.

Hobnobswantshernameback · 06/02/2021 15:48

And trolls make stuff up because people believe them and keep begging for updates and waving their Pom poms
The hysteria on some threads and the competitive "I care the most" behaviour it's no wonder the trolls enjoy spouting their bollocks
Yes, some people's lives are chaotic and difficult
But if it reads like a soap opera, is updated more often than a soap opera and has cutsie character names like a soap opera
It's probably bollocks

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