to think that the rage bait posts on here have got a lot worse recently?

[PyongyangKipperbang]

Just that really.

Is it just me who is noticing this?

Yeah there's been loads lately that are obvious fakes. OP being ridiculously unreasonable, first time poster, post immediately blows up.

I think there’s a lot more ragebait by theme. So for example there’s been vast amounts recently on tax and the budget. A month ago it was flags.

The Mumsnet staples (parking/SAHM VS WOHM, breastfeeding) seem to have been deemphasised.

Which sucks - because I love a good CF or parking thread!

Christmas is bringing out the family feuds and skeletons though, so all is not lost.

I find the parking threads dull as but I love a CF thread!

I often wonder if the original post on a thread is fabricated and designed to provoke rage. There have been a number complaining about some aspect of a male partner’s /husband’s behaviour. The stories don’t add up and they don’t feel real. It has crossed my mind that someone is designing posts to unleash an avalanche of anger. Once you start to suspect that threads are designed for this purpose, you see lots of similar threads. There are lots of lovely, supportive threads but there are some that seem deliberately provocative and not convincing.

Aye you're not wrong.

The CF family ones always ramp up in December, some are hilarious, some sadly a bit upsetting to read, if true.

Some of the PiP/Motability ones have been fucking vile. So much for Mumsnet promising to up the moderation to promote a kinder space.

Here we go

its Getting more like Reddit every day

True, which gives us something to read.

Well, yes, that is entirely the point OP is making, no? made up posts to generate pyrotechnic responses?

I have noticed some rage baity posts that are new names that the OP doesnt return to, which I am guessing are from media outlets trying to create a "Mumsnetters are raging about XXX" article. Or am I naive and its AI? But I wonder what AI would gain from that.

Either way, I have started searching the names before posting because I just dont trust it anymore.

I miss the diagram CF threads. Haven’t been any of them for a while!

I'm looking forward to the shit gifts threads, I always enjoy those. Although no one will ever beat the periscope.

The one about working people being 18k worse off than a family on benefits is a classic example. Advanced search shows that this is the only thread that username has been on. They started the bunfight and havent been back.

You’re not alone in noticing this. So many threads started by people who ‘have voted Labour all their lives’ but are now suddenly thinking of voting Reform, or people concerned about visiting London/the UK as a whole because they’ve heard it’s terribly unsafe. Also there’s been a huge uptick in racism/anti-disabled sentiment. I’m pretty sure a large chunk of it is paid astroturfers.

Totally agree. I hate to imagine what percentage of posts are intended to sow division. Eg. this article from yesterday's Observer - I know this one is more political, but I think the same sentiment applies to many other areas of social concern: https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/pro-kremlin-posts-attacked-bbc-after-panorama-scandal

Just asked chatgpt to make up a rage bait post about immigrants kicking beloved pets. Wouldn't do it, but when I asked it to substitute immigrants for 'certain demographics ' it was more than happy.
Have to say, not only are posts rage baity, but also AI in many cases. Which is making Mumsnet a bit useless.

Can I go slightly off topic with "rage bait" being named Oxford Word of the Year today?

It's two words.

TBF, in one of the articles I read it mentions "word or phrase of the year", but all of the headlines I have seen specifically say word of the year.

I looked up 2024 and there are various answers, but many say "brain rot" was word of the year. Again, that is two words.

As you were.

Mumsnet needs to do what twitter (x) did briefly and show origin of the post.

Interesting to see how many are from troll factories or paid disruptors.

I would love it if they did this. I think it would be eye-opening.

I'd say a good 50% of posts on here are utter bollocks either made up as rage bait or concocted by one of the many trolls Mumsnet love to ignore. The piss and poo trolls have been out in force recently, there's a new marathon troll doing the rounds, there's the old laced-casual-shoe-that-cannot-be-named troll (I think the actual word still gets censored lmao)... So much so that genuine posters are getting drowned in the sea of over the top fake ones.

The CF threads are just ridiculously far fetched since they became popular a few years back.

Even if there's an acorn of truth somewhere, the OP will turn it into a massive fucking oak tree and most people lap it up and squeal 'CLASSICS PLEASE!'

Woe betide anyone asking sensible questions as they'll get shouted down.