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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:
BronwenFrideswide · 07/02/2021 10:49

@BigBadVoodooHat

Did you refer to the crowdfunder and C&D, *@BronwenFrideswide*?
C&D Big, seems that is not allowed to be mentioned.
boredwiththeoldname · 07/02/2021 10:53

I was very surprised to find the rainy puddles turned out to be fake

Someone spotted an OP namechange fail which gave the game away I think.

Sadbadglad · 07/02/2021 13:03

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

User594022452 · 07/02/2021 13:20

People love attention, especially since social media lets you quantify that in numbers. I think many posters didn't really set out to be trolls but became addicted to the number of replies their threads were getting. It's been proven that each time we see a new "like" or some sort of social interaction, the brain releases a shot of dopamine. Looking forward to checking an app or forum after you've been away for a while has exactly the same effect.

Some threads start off innocuous but you can tell the OP is enjoying the engagement and starts posting uselessly short or terse replies to keep bumping the conversation. This might often lead to creating fake scenarios that guarantee a strong response. Other people get a kick out of "fake wasting" other people's time by getting them riled up. This is surprisingly common amongst young people on social media. You will often read the most horrifically rude or shocking comments under Tiktok, Instagram or YouTube posts. When called out, they will often say "Sorry my cousin/friend/brother took my phone and wrote that!". It's just a ploy to get away with behaviour that feels forbidden.

Original poster
Happyone8 · 07/02/2021 13:54

@User594022452 yes I think you’re right . I personally wouldn’t get any enjoyment out of a made up story . It’s good to get replies to a true one though - so get the buzz of having that . If I ask a question / make a comment it does feel good to get responses .
I guess some people take it too far and get kicks in strange ways

OP posts:
Gobbycop · 07/02/2021 13:56

No life outside the internet probably.

countrygirl99 · 07/02/2021 14:43

Years ago we had a horrible situation with a neighbour from hell that escalated hideously, though over a number of weeks. It was pre MN but if I had been posting on here I'm sure people would have thought I was making it up. TBH if it hadn't been happening to me I don't think I would have believed it.

Phoebesgift · 07/02/2021 15:59

I'm starting to wise up a bit. If your husband/child/parent had just died would you really post first to MN as often seems to be the case?

Donoteatthekittens · 07/02/2021 16:30

What else is there to do these days? We are all bored and fed up.

bruffin · 07/02/2021 16:47

@Donoteatthekittens

What else is there to do these days? We are all bored and fed up.
Except trolling on MN has been going on long before Covid in fact i found MN because of fetishism troll who turned up on other parenting forums. That was 14 years and they still popped up here last month
Hernameisdeborah · 07/02/2021 16:52

@countrygirl same. I've also known of some terrible situations where, if the people directly involved had posted them on MN, I know for a fact they would have been accused of trolling. I sometimes think people are too quick to call "troll" just because a poster's life doesn't sound like theirs.

RootyT00t · 07/02/2021 19:14

@Phoebesgift

I'm starting to wise up a bit. If your husband/child/parent had just died would you really post first to MN as often seems to be the case?
Unecessary post given that the most 'famous ' if you will thread on this on Mumsnet at present is not a troll.

Some people don't have anyone else.

Phoebesgift · 10/02/2021 19:50

Unecessary post given that the most 'famous ' if you will thread on this on Mumsnet at present is not a troll. Some people don't have anyone else.

^I am not obsessed with MN so I don't know what famous post you are referring to. How do you know the author isn't a troll?

Fuckadoodledoooo · 10/02/2021 21:11

Some people don't have anyone else

Yes to this. I've been on mumsnet on various registrations and names since 2006.

I've posted somethings where people have said "mumsnet was your first thought, wtf?"

I have no friends. No family outside Dh and the kids. I have no one but the Internet.

strawberriesontheNeva · 10/02/2021 21:22

I'm sure that some of the stranger threads are genuine, Even if they have been accused of being trolls.

EarringsandLipstick · 10/02/2021 21:31

I have no one but the Internet.

💐❤️

Hope you find MN a help when you post x

livefornaps · 10/02/2021 21:40

One thing I can promise you, @GeordieGreigsButtButtZoom, the story behind your user name was entirely true Wink

RootyT00t · 11/02/2021 20:22

@Phoebesgift

Unecessary post given that the most 'famous ' if you will thread on this on Mumsnet at present is not a troll. Some people don't have anyone else.

^I am not obsessed with MN so I don't know what famous post you are referring to. How do you know the author isn't a troll?

Because the person had accusations left right and centre and has verified it as she knows people on MN irl.

Incidentally ite been running for weeks which is the giveaway that it isn't - MN are hot on that.

BigBadVoodooHat · 11/02/2021 21:09

Incidentally ite been running for weeks which is the giveaway that it isn't - MN are hot on that.

Longevity does not automatically correlate with veracity. There have been countless fictions that ran to multiple threads and played out over weeks, if not months.

bruffin · 11/02/2021 22:38

And a poster saying they know the op in real life is meaningless. The could just be "socks" of the op. Ie the poster NC or using more than one account

CharityDingle · 12/02/2021 01:00

@BigBadVoodooHat

Incidentally ite been running for weeks which is the giveaway that it isn't - MN are hot on that.

Longevity does not automatically correlate with veracity. There have been countless fictions that ran to multiple threads and played out over weeks, if not months.

Or indeed years.
StillCoughingandLaughing · 12/02/2021 01:46

A big part of why trolls keep coming back is the ‘no troll hunting’ policy. Trolling should be a greater sin than calling out said trolling.

Bowlerhats · 12/02/2021 04:19

@SerialThreadHider

Actually in real life, a lot of people who appear "normal" and seem to be functioning perfectly in society are 'oddballs' on the inside. The only place they can come alive is online, where no one knows.

Online oddballs also include some of the posters here who go on and on about how they hate trolls, think they have mental health issues and are oddballs (Not referring to anyone here in particular, just something I've proven a few times).

Some of these people get off on attacking the oddballs like everyone else when they know they are one as well. Fortunately for them on MN, they can namechange to fulfill their oddball fantasies then change back to their normal and 'popular' name, acting as if it's the only username they ever post under.

Oddballs are everywhere and in different masks. They aren't always trolls though.

I'm an oddball myself but at least I'm aware of it

Couldn’t agree more with this, I have realised that the ‘troll hunters’ are often trolls themselves, it’s strange to be so invested in it- very important monitors of the internet.
bruffin · 12/02/2021 08:03

So ok to leach off someone's emotions, or prey on the vulnerable, which is what trolls do. Im not talking about posters who clearly have MH issues who cant be helped online., but keep coming back
But the grief vampires on here who "cant sleep" because of a strangers story on the internet are far worse than any "troll hunter"
They are virtual signallers who pat themselves on the back , tell themselves how wonderful they are for doing absolutely nothing

Sunshineboo · 12/02/2021 09:15

wait - was the sistine chapel screamer a troll??? i loved that story!