AIBU in suspecting that MN start threads to increase site traffic

[Newbutoldfather]

When I first looked at MN, the best part of 20 years ago, the popular threads were on parenting, health, FWR and a couple of others. And there were loads of posters!

Now there seem to be fewer posters and the ‘normal’ type threads that were the stock-in-trade of MN seem to get little traction. I think AI has had a role here. Many of those questions are well answered by an AI query.

OTOH, there are a lot of ‘exciting’ threads started where the OP contributes relatively little for a few hours and then disappears, and they keep going until often full. Sometimes they are deleted later. There are at least two that I contributed to early now which are still going.

Of course there are loads of genuine trolls (if that isn’t a contradiction in terms!) but it’s also great for MN, increases the value of advertising and, if the site is for sale, will increase the value.

Of course, maybe they are all trolls, but Occam’s razor kind of says that it wouldn’t be hard for employees of MN to quietly and anonymously start these threads which are very helpful for the site.

Of course we can never know the answer, but it is odd.

Across the board, I'm not sure the majority of threads on here are made up BUT I do think a v high percentage of AIBU is bollocks.

Is it MN starting them? I'm not sure. I do know that they are v happy to let them stand if reported because these kinds of threads generate shedloads of engagement (I do report and the response is usually something like 'we can see why you're concerned but we've no reason to think this poster is not genuine so we'll let it stand' kind of vibe.)

Of course it's also the nature of the internet - people generate more content on-line for money, whether that's through SM posts, substack, filling a column in an online tabloid....every little helps. Genuine posters on MN (us!) have long contributed to 'journos' mortgages, but now every Tom, Dick and Wendy has something to share with the world (I blame instagram threads, tbh), why not make up a situation on here and get others to provide the back and forth that they can turn into column inches and keep their readers engaged.

There are also people who have just discovered ChatGPT and are giddy with it.

@Chaarlene

"I do know that they are v happy to let them stand if reported because these kinds of threads generate shedloads of engagement (I do report and the response is usually something like 'we can see why you're concerned but we've no reason to think this poster is not genuine so we'll let it stand' kind of vibe.)"

Have experienced this in the Weight Loss Injections community. Occasionally, people wander in to ask how they can get drugs when they're not eligible or how to access black market drugs currently under trial (reta is the current big one). We used to report and they'd be removed; now we're told they'll keep these posts up as people warning of the dangers is good for others to see. I can see their point I guess but it does mean we as a community, bear the responsibility for managing this type of post, which can be a tad tiresome, and we're directly 'feeding the trolls' as we try to talk people out of going down this route.

I know this is late to be adding this but I sometimes wonder if the questions and situations written by OPs are being stretched a tad..

As in some women sound almost deranged, far more easily enraged than you:d think any normal person could get when their cat does X or when they're in Tesco and a shop assistant says Y or when an old friend does Z.. People's reactions and outbursts seem so much out of proportion to what you'd expect. But I guess there's nowt as queer as folk. Ho-hum.

Also late to the party but on some threads (particularly political), you can challenge a PP, quite strongly, yet they never respond or defend which I would think is highly likely to indicate a bot post

so an ideal thread is a man whose wife had had an affair (say). You always get the defence of ‘oh, you must be useless around the house. She must have had a reason’. Then comes the accusation of misogyny (which is kind of true).

OP, this is as batshit as saying MNHQ make up threads.

There is probably one thread every few months from a man whose wife is having an affair.

To make out that this is the ideal thread is bizarre. Espedially as everyone knows the ideal thread is a live parking thread with a diagram.

@nomas ,

The parking thread requires making the diagram and keeping people up regularly!

A good affair thread, or a big argument over shopping requires a few posts and then it just acquires its own momentum.