To think there are way too many engagement farming threads on MN nowadays? s?

[MrMurphysComeuppance]

Do you know what an engagement farming thread is, and what the classic signs are to spot one? If not then you are probably being taken in on a daily basis on this forum by 'posters' who are not genuine about problems and dilemmas that are not real.

The site is absolutely awash with them. It's been a big issue for the last year or so and it really is getting ridiculous now. These 'posters' often start threads that can run for days and days with pages of responses, but after the initial OP and maybe one or two quick follow up posts, the 'OP' is nowhere to be seen. And they are always (or almost always) a first time poster/brand new user name. Even if they have posted on one or two other threads that day (very rare and only done occasionally to make the account look more genuine) they never have a proper posting history. There is a very good reason for this, which I can explain if anyone is interested.

Now I've been here a really long time and I name change often these days, for privacy reasons, but there is NO WAY I name change for every single thread I start and NO WAY I use a new name each and every time for my one thread only, without ever engaging on anyone else's threads using that same user name. Who on earth has time for that? That's just not normal forum behaviour. And yet that is what is happening on here, multiple times a day, across several accounts that only exist to generate fake threads and therefore traffic.

I can spot them a mile off now, they are so formulaic and predictable, but it really irritates me that so many posters are so gullible and get caught up in these long debates, giving their time and advice where is no genuine OP at the heart of it. You are being taken for suckers.

I can give you a detailed breakdown of what to look for in a probable engagement farming thread (or rage bait as they are often called, although they are often not always designed to get people in a rage, often just to spark long conversations and polarise opinion on a subject.)

MN is full of actual, intelligent human beings who are more than capable of starting interesting conversations by themselves. Or at least it used to be. Do we really need people/bots creating accounts then name changing several times a day to churn out fake thread after fake thread just to keep the clicks coming? It has massively dumbed down the site and no-one seems to care. Certainly the people who run the site don't seem to care, and why would they, when key strokes and clicks mean ££££?

Recently someone tried to use the AI suggested title tool it instead spewed out a detailed set of instructions compelling an AI to create a fake response to an AIBU. Is that something to do with this same thing?
Who benefits from this engagement farming and now I'm scared I'm going to be barred for troll hunting for talking about it?!
I feel like I do know when the fake ones are like that but if I mentioned it I'd be banned. I guess Im hopeful they're a real person though.

I assumed it was about a couple of threads that I'd read where the husband was paid a pittance to work on a farm that his parents owned

Not for every single thread? And if I did feel the need to name change I'd keep it for a few days at the very least and post on other people's threads too. Yet weirdly and increasingly, this doesn't seem to be the case for SO many people.

I've been on here a really, really long time. I know the natural order and pattern of things on this forum, and this is not it.

Yeah, this:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/site_stuff/5585556-odd-ai-generated-thread-title-options-in-site-stuff

🤐

Oh I thought you meant people who were waiting for a marriage proposal!

You said you had some theories - so let's be having them!

Me too

Never tried to hide that they make up content and fake scenarios presented as real posters with real problems? Really? When? I've never seen them admit any such thing.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with MN creating content and coming up with ideas for discussion on their own forum providing they are open that it's them and not pretending to be genuine posters, making up fake problems in order to get posters' attention. Then it's just plain dishonest. How is that any different to actual trolling if the intention is to deceive?

Anyway, I am not saying categorically that it's MN doing it. But someone is certainly doing it.

Hmmm...

There was one started this afternoon, exactly fits the profile. Very divisive subject matter, three posts, the OP followed by two very short follow up posts 'to clarify' or 'for context' ... So straight away, seeing that I did an advanced search.

All three posts made in quick succession mid afternoon then nothing since, in spite of the thread being a long one now, with lots of robust discussion you'd have thought the OP would have wanted to join in with, given she cared enough to start a thread on the subject in the first place.

OP has a brand new user name in spite of there being absolutely no reason to need to name change for that thread, as it doesn't relate to her personally or anyone she knows. It's a very general AIBU so the need to name change is a bit of a mystery. No posts on anyone else's threads either.

It remains to be seen if the OP comes back but my money is on NO.

This thread sprung to my mind too...that said, I have enjoyed reading it

Nobody has to have a reason to name change 🤷‍♀️

They don't admit it but they also don't deny it. As I said, it's common practice. I think a lot of people realise that most of the threads, (including this one!), are not written by genuine posters.

I've said this before but I do think they should have some sort of badge on the mumsnet generated threads. Whilst I assume that most people with a brain realise they are written by mumsnet, it is clear that many of the posters, (whether real or fake), are not the sharpest tools in the box. It is all a bit icky that they are deliberately posting clickbait threads for their own profits without being open about it. Not sure I'd sleep at night if I worked for them!

Yes I see them all the time, but we’re not allowed to call them out, so the best thing we can do is ignore them.

I name change alot sometimes I will only use that name for one thread or one reply.. because i have been accused of being a troll or lying. I have been followed across the site. I have been piled on. So i name change alot. To avoid that as much as I can. Because others haven't lived something or don't understand how complex some things can be doesn't mean its not true. Yes there will be trolls there will be posts that are not true its the Internet its just how it is. I'd rather be kind to someone and later find out they were trolling than be nasty or call them out, only to discover they were genuine. Because there's a real person behind the screen, and their feelings don't just disappear when they log off.