To ask - what the fuck is the matter with people who do this?

[ClairDeLaLune]

The thread about the infertile son threatening to kill himself and others - it was a troll. What on earth is the motivation for making stuff up like that? It was a really upsetting thread that many people spent time commenting on and trying to help. It addressed mental health issues and could have been triggering for many. Just why do people do this?

• I find it fascinating too, there is a site I use for local information which has the most horrendous troll on it. When I was on the receiving end of their threats and bile I did quite a lot of reading about the psychology of people who do this and there is definitely a link with the "dark triad" of Narcissism: A pathological form of self-love that can lead to shame-driven rage
• Machiavellianism: A style of interpersonal strategy that involves manipulation, deception, and self-interest
• Psychopathy: A trait that is often studied in forensic populations, such as prisoners and mentally disordered offenders . Of course people like that have been around for centuries but the internet and social media have given them a whole new playground. They can assume multiple identities, hound and bully people, manipulate and con them and all form the comfort of their own home.

Maybe some people never get past the pre school role play stage. My kids are constantly making up scenarios and getting me involved, so I guess some people regress back to that stage later in life!

Oh crikey! I see. Goodness. Well, I have no idea then! And will read the thread with interest!

I agree to an extent......if I posted aspects of my life on here people would accuse me of trollery.......I wouldn't even bother posting for support. I rely on my dark humour to.get me through......couldn't even make money by writing it down and sending it into Eastenders as a potential script. It would be rejected for being too far fetched 🤣🤣🤣

I do think the troll posts are pretty obvious tho. The more outlandish and dramatic.they are the more likely they are to be fake. That and the large gaps that occur as they sit their rubbing their thighs over the attention they're gleaning off strangers.

I didn't see the thread in question but I have noticed a lot of weird threads recently (more than usual!). Either it's AI or some other kind of training of 'bots' or '50c army' type scenario.

And of course people are fucking weird. Some of the stuff I read on here I find disturbing on a really subliminal level. There are a lot of borderline crazy people out there.

I think it's safest to just assume everyone is a troll, and then post accordingly. Never give too much of yourself online. No poster, real or otherwise, deserves you sharing more than you would want to share on the school run. But if you do choose to share, you may well help someone reading even if the OP is a load of bollocks.

It was completely unbelievable, even aside from the highly unlikely extreme reaction on "his" part, a lot of posters asked for details of what type and pointed out there are lots of different options for men, and questioning what he was supposedly told for various reasons as it wouldn't have been done or said that way, and they were all ignored.

Attention seeking sympathy junkies. On one of the groups I found a particularly good resource, we had one poster constantly wanting soothing, sympathy, threatening to end it all, needing somewhere to live, often 2am monologues. People were really kind and patient. A few long time members/posters of the group private mssgd me to say don't waste time or sympathy and to do post history check (didn't know at the time you could) I was shocked to see loads of contradictory posts over many threads, same name but completely different person/circumstances. I think social media really feeds this type of manipulative person, a constant source of supply. Most people kindly share their experience but not everyone is who they portray themselves to be and far from honest.