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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think some trending threads might be AI generated?

83 replies

Taytoface · 14/06/2026 07:42

Just looking at trending now. I am thinking at least three of the threads are potentially AI generated.

All of them are mumsnetty type topics, involving housing, education, parenting. All of them have lots of quite intricate details. High engagement from the OP with other posters. Can't figure.out the advanced search function too well, but seems like user names are relatively new.

Any other tips to spot the slop? It's one thing to waste time with a troll, it's a whole other kettle of fish wasting time on robot generated slop.

OP posts:
faw2009 · 14/06/2026 11:45

AWeeCupOfTeaAndAnIndividualFruitTrifle · 14/06/2026 09:53

Some people don't have the gift of brevity - or maybe don't want to be later accused of drip-feeding! This may also include neurodiverse people, who might have a 'must include everything' writing style that's maybe less common in NT people - but neurodiverse people are obviously still 100% people.

I do agree with you, though, when hours or even days go by and the OP never returns. Sometimes it's because the thread didn't go the way they hoped, meaning that "everybody is wrong and stupid"; but I concede that it may well suggest AI.

I still don't actually get the point of AI starting threads on a forum for humans, though. Is it just for AI to post, and AI to read and respond, and then there's no point in any of us being here at all? What does that achieve? Can AI 'enjoy' using MN? Why does it even need advice on anything if it supposedly already knows it all anyway?!

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I mentioned this earlier- one reason is so that human replies can be used to teach AI to write more naturally.
Another (my kids told me) for Reddit at least, is to get more karma and enhance the reddit profile, which can then be sold off to (I don't know who) to gain access to special reddit groups. Sounded so weird to me.

Differentforgirls · 14/06/2026 11:53

AWeeCupOfTeaAndAnIndividualFruitTrifle · 14/06/2026 10:42

It's very sad that we've come to a point whereby people who have competent language skills and/or take the time to check what they've written before posting are thus suspected of being 'too good to be human'. It doesn't say a lot about us as a species, does it?

Don't forget that not everybody posts using a phone - I read on my phone, but 95% or more of what I post is done on my laptop... and we now also have the edit function, for when you read back after posting and spot the typos that have crept in.

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It’s a bit scary actually if you write well then you must be a robot 😱

AWeeCupOfTeaAndAnIndividualFruitTrifle · 14/06/2026 12:18

I bet there's a MN user out there whose real name is Alexandra Imogen Sloppe - and she's going to get so upset and feel bullied and inexplicably hated if she happens across this thread!

Original poster
Taytoface · 14/06/2026 18:55

Interesting perspectives on here. I have never been one for troll hunting. I suspect some of the funniest threads on here over the years to be the work of trolls, but I have also been wrong RIP @catthiefkeith. I don't mind wasting time on someone with a good imagination and a distinctive writing style. Not something I think AI can replicate as yet.

OP posts:
Littledidsheknow · 14/06/2026 19:40

Taytoface · 14/06/2026 18:55

Interesting perspectives on here. I have never been one for troll hunting. I suspect some of the funniest threads on here over the years to be the work of trolls, but I have also been wrong RIP @catthiefkeith. I don't mind wasting time on someone with a good imagination and a distinctive writing style. Not something I think AI can replicate as yet.

I think some of the classics are very unlikely to be true, but you can’t say anything about the old favourites or you’ll get beaten up.

That said though, you’re right: at least there’s some “merit” in creative writing; there’s absolutely none in using AI.

BeatriceMontgomeryHoward · 14/06/2026 20:05

Taytoface · 14/06/2026 08:53

I have seen lots of anti immigrant sentiment being seeded on this forum and others.

Reform have the biggest election war chest ever collected.£100m. They will totally be spending money on spreading content on sites like this.

MN has long been viewed as an important platform for politicians, and has always leaned left. Imagine what a coup it would be for reform to shift the dial on here. They will be spending money on this.

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but then groups etc would have always done this, its just todays tech is better

LindorDoubleChoc · 14/06/2026 20:06

You reckon???

TheAutumnCrow · 14/06/2026 20:12

Sesquioxides · 14/06/2026 08:21

Oh I agree it's suspicious (and annoying) but I just don't know that it's necessarily AI.

The ones that are irritating me are the "I'm really young and it's clearly my first day on planet Earth and I didn't grow up with parents/grew up in care and WIBU to wear matching shoes/say hello to my MIL/cook and eat lunch at lunchtime/I did this obvious thing that you just don't do and anyone who has lived on this Earth for 5 minutes would know you don't do" and posters are either falling over themselves to placate the person or castigate them depending on the mood. They're just so tedious and I resent wasting time reading them.

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Yep. I could actually give you a list of those exact threads right now, but it’s probably against those good old ‘talk guidelines’.

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