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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder why people post troll threads

84 replies

Dishwashersaurous · 19/09/2022 20:28

Just that really. In amongst the people cheering themselves up, asking for advice and sometimes changing their lives.

Why do you think that people actively make stuff up in order to get a bunch of strangers to comment?

OP posts:

PearlWithTheGirlEarring · 20/09/2022 10:42

OneTC · 20/09/2022 10:24

A better question would be why you all care though.

I read stuff other people write on the internet because it's a chill way to pass some time. I've never felt "invested" in a thread because the random, very likely fictional, wittering of strangers in the internet means very little to me beyond that. I don't care if they're real or not, it makes no difference to anyone.

Even the stuff that might be real is the presentation of one side of the situation who already feels uncertain enough that they need the validation of strangers, in a community where name changes and some details being changed in the story to hide ID are all accepted. So even the stuff presented in relatively good faith is biased dramatised nonsense

And that’s great. That’s how you deal with it, but that’s not true for everyone who reads here.

People are gullible, people send money, they give more of themselves to the troll than is healthy thinking they are being helpful and supportive.

some share personal details of their own lives, their children’s lives, often innocent but often playing right into the hands of the pervert that posted it under the guise of a genuine poster needing help and advice.

that’s why people care

AbcMurders · 20/09/2022 10:54

@10HailMarys

The munchausen theory rings true - unfortunately I know someone irl who dramatises (lies) for sympathy and attention constantly. Stands to reason they prob post online too - sad.

TrashPandas · 20/09/2022 10:57

PrincessofWales · 20/09/2022 10:37

There's also a big difference between being a troll and just having a differing opinion to the majority on a thread. I think Mumsnet is too quick to delete and block posters who are just expressing an opposite opinion if that's done in a respectful and polite way.

I've been here about 10 years and never seen anybody banned for disagreeing in a polite and respectful way. Can you give some examples?

PrincessofWales · 20/09/2022 11:05

TrashPandas · 20/09/2022 10:57

I've been here about 10 years and never seen anybody banned for disagreeing in a polite and respectful way. Can you give some examples?

Show quote history

I've seen plenty in the 10+ years I've been here.

There was one post shortly after the schools returned from the pandemic posted by a teacher. She was 'exhausted' and one poster politely pointed out that as an NHS worker in critical care she was possibly exaggerating as schools had had months off. The poster disappeared and her posts were removed. She was one of the few posters with a differing opinion to the majority on the thread who were all teachers. She wasn't impolite.

Step mum posts always attract differing opinions. It happens less now as I think MN were pulled up on it, but there was a very anti step mum feeling a year or so ago where step mums posting their experience, etc were deleted.

That's just two examples, I've seen lots more.

AnneBoIeyn · 20/09/2022 22:00

Covid gave plenty of trolls the opportunity to shine. The covid board was full of them for months, telling us we were all going to die and that if we put chocolate in our shopping baskets we were as good as murderers. I think it did start off as genuine worry for some, but for a few it was downright trolling all along - I know that one in particular was banned. She was awful and said some genuinely upsetting things. She tried to return several times but was thankfully banned each time. I think she's given up now.

TrashPandas · 21/09/2022 09:20

PrincessofWales Not convinced - the anti-stepmum trope doesn't stand up to scrutiny and nobody would be deleted in the circumstances you describe.

PrincessofWales · 21/09/2022 09:55

TrashPandas · 21/09/2022 09:20

PrincessofWales Not convinced - the anti-stepmum trope doesn't stand up to scrutiny and nobody would be deleted in the circumstances you describe.

@TrashPandas

That's your opinion. Why would I lie? What a silly post.
Just read the step parenting forum if you don't think it stands up to YOUR scrutiny.

PrincessofWales · 21/09/2022 10:00

@TrashPandas I'm annoyed I've risen to your bait. The End.

Inklingpot · 21/09/2022 12:57

Because they get attention from hundreds of credulous MNers breathlessly demanding updates ‘even if it’s a troll because I neeeeeeeeed entertainment and closure’.

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