Are there a lot of fake posts at the moment?

[Ticktockk]

Is it just my overanalytical brain? So many posts at the moment read like the crap clickbait stories that pop up on Facebook. Is it just because so many people are using AI to write their posts? Some even come across as downright unbelievable.
I can’t tell if I’m being ridiculous or if people are weirdly making posts to get comments. Which seems odd on mumsnet. Or maybe trying to get ideas for their next online novella?!

The poverty begs annoy me the most as there's always some sucker offering to send them money .

This. And so many people fall them. Either that or they suspect that are fake and are happy to engage anyway.

There are lots of phishing posts.
How much do you earn? Etc
The MumsNet AI is building comprehensive profiles on us.

YEP!

The trans father one?

I feel like that's got loads better though I may just be missing those threads.

They used to be regular as clock work on a Friday evening/weekend so the OP could say the usual suggestions couldn't apply because the food banks etc weren't open.

Some were really inventive, organised and prepared about it.

I have genuinely never seen this in all my 19 years of being on Mumsnet. Not accusing you of making it up or anything. Maybe the titles of those particular threads don’t draw me in.

As regards the poster mentioning that dogs shitting in cafes/shops must be made up, I have seen this happen, so it’s not necessarily fake. But I wouldn’t start a thread about it. Partly because I don’t want to be accused of making it up and partly because my first thought usually isn’t ‘Must start a thread on Mumsnet.’ Also I don’t want to be labelled a dog hating loon, when I’m really not.

@5128gap I started a thread recently about uniform rules and school letter home re short skirts. I rarely start threads if ever let alone post though have been on mumsnet for years and years. Not sure if that’s the one you were referring to but the frothing over “arse cheeks” and similar language from poster after poster was quite something. I don’t think I’m brave enough to start another after that experience but quite a few posts were deleted by the moderator.

On the subject of this thread, I’m rubbish at spotting AI or fake posters.

I do get that some posts will be fake, but equally, sometimes someone replies “this definitely didn’t happen” in response to the most uncontroversial OP.

.

More fool them, since so much of it is fantasist bullshit.

Yes, always a giveaway. There’s one I just read where OP hasn’t come back in over 24 hours, quite clearly started as some kind of racist rage bait.

Which is that? 👀

Can’t remember the title but OP is asking why her neighbours don’t want to be friends with her when she’s invited them for dinner, made food etc, then threw in last line that she’s not white. Feels slightly off when OP hasn’t bothered to return after the opening post.

I’m annoyed that Ive just fallen for one where op hasn’t come back. Looking back on it it’s obvious is a fake thread. Hey ho. Nobody is forcing me to be on here!

I treat mumsnet as entertainment. When I have free time and there isn’t much on Netflix I want to watch, I come on here to read all the dramas. I think at least 80% of AIBU is fake. As long as you’re not naive enough to actually believe it, treat most threads like you would a drama on tv.

The begging threads were rife. They weren't called begging threads of course, it was always can't afford Xmas presents for the kids. Or no food in the house, what do I do? Or desperate, please help.

You always knew they were begging threads because the OP always had an answer for why every reasonable suggestion was impossible for them. And they'd say 'not begging, just want advice' then you'd see posters saying 'DM'd you OP'.

And there was once a thread which was deleted after a few dozen posts because it would have just encouraged more begging but it was titled something like 'MN says not to give more than you can afford financially or in any other way so why the anger about MN posters choosing to help people?'.

Which was full of people taking about the times they asked for a posters bank or PayPal details and sent them money. Some a tenner or £20, some more. The most I saw was £500 and there was someone who said they paid for groceries to be delivered to a stranger on MN for months.

There was also a knownbposter who said she was a sex worker and would post things like 'really don't want to have to get a punter' and people sent her money and a couple lived locally to her, DM'd her and reported they'd gone to pick her up and fed her, let her shower and get changed in their house. That was years back. Poster called longsocksandhighheels or similar.

The prevailing attitude was they'd rather take the risk of being conned out of money than be in the position to help someone in need and not, in case they were lying.

However, lots of posters started to alert others on threads that had classic red flags for begging so it became much harder.

MN always took the line of not deleting the threads even if they were reported and just posting the we can't say if OPs are genuine or not so remind posters not to give more than they can afford financially, emotionally or whatever it was they'd say message on each thread.

I don't tend to notice then until around November time and during the run up to Christmas. Then there's usually at least one who can't afford to buy food/gifts for their children and very rarely a reason why they "can't" look into Facebook marketplace/Vinted/local charities/food banks, just those suggestions are always flatly turned down.

There was a school uniform troll wasn't necessarily posting anything that stood out as dodgy as a stand alone post but they always posted in the early hours UK time and it was always about primary school skirts and what knickers should they buy their DD so they wouldn't be on display when doing cartwheels or sitting cross legged.

So there was a pattern that posters familar with them would notice but others would take it in good faith and start talking about their DDs knickers and then get angry with posters telling them not to engage, saying troll-hunting wasn't allowed.

I've wondered about the ones where OP has rushed her child to A&E and is posting allegedly from there about what's happening. I suppose if you haven't got friends/family with you for support, etc, but I can't imagine I'd be on here posting a blow-by-blow account. But then I haven't been in that situation, so I might be being unfair.

Apparently there is nobody on MN who earns less than the prime minister.

But they are all still as poor as church mice who can't afford holidays, new clothes, days out or anything, whilst everyone on UC goes abroad 15 times a year and goes to Alton Towers every weekend on the cheap tickets wearing Rolex watches and Balenciaga tracksuits...

I'm pretty sure the two recent threads about being a muslim, headscarf wearing mum and being rejected for friendships in a predominantly white community are fake. Or the first one was real and the second was fake based on the traction the first one gained.

Yes! That was the one which immediately stuck out like a sore thumb to me. Fake thread red flags all over

Fake threads often have these themes in common:

The OP has a political or personal trait that would make most people feel bad about questioning the veracity of the post. Eg. Is from a marginalised religion or ethnic group, has a disability, etc.

It's specifically targeted on a gender reversal debate such as the current "single dad" thread or any situation that lets people argue that if OP was gender-reversed, the responses would be entirely different.

It's a fast running medical emergency thread usually involved a child with non-specific symptoms that builds up to A&E visit and cancer diagnosis within a few days. Lots of live updates along the way to keep bumping the thread.

It's a reversal of what is commonly deemed as a socially prevalent prejudice. So typically in society you have rich people looking down on poor ones but fake threads often have a working class OP sneering about the wealthy, or an ugly OP claiming to be victimised by a beautiful friend etc.