I also remember seeing a lighthearted, fun Christmas thread that you'd have thought could have offended no one derailed by an influx of real, vampiric, fun-draining nastiness. One poster joined by 2 or 3 others saying how offensive they'd found the content, although the thread title made that context clear and explicit. The one I saw was about fridges. I didn't post on it.
Child recently diagnosed with cancer: I saw the thread title of that one and didn't click on it, and am pleased I didn't. But given what posters have written above that seems to have been a particularly loathsome example. The older I get the less surprised I am by the depths to which some people will sink. But that sounds low.
The creepy fetishist threads might as well come with flashing red lights and bells on, they are so obvious. It surprises me how often people willingly supply them with the fodder they crave. Ditto the activists.
There are some good things about suspension of disbelief on certain threads, which are that if those threads are genuine this site has enabled some women to recognise their situations or relationships are not normal, that they are victims of abuse. Some may have been in genuine need or distress. Trolls or no trolls I'll continue to try to support those people. The worst that can happen is I'll be made a fool of, or someone will use my real, shared experiences of abuse to get off on, but if that happens I'm just text on a screen to them. They don't know no I am, ergo can't hurt me, and I might be able to help someone else.
That's an informed choice on my part. It isn't necessarily just about a site full of gullible users.