To think that the recent spate of troll posts and deliberately provocative posts are actually ruining mumsnet

[lucyellensmummyisnotmad]

I love AIBU, i love a good barney same as the next guy but really, i haven't a clue what is sodding real anymore. I love the fun trolls, especially if they are clever. But when it is about sensitive subjects or just insulting our intelligence - its getting a bit much and i wonder if MNHQ should be considering some sort of control?

She did a thread saying that the breastfeeding campaign should be harder hitting, than another one saying that her DH should not support his old family, and finally one saying that she expects her (three year old, or thereabouts) DD to go to a Russell Group Uni and study a proper subject

I don't know, I like a good debate. What I like about Mumsnet is you can use it in different ways. Some people use it as a support forum and topics like relationships and special needs really show this. Others make little groups and share real friendship here. Some people enjoy the silly threads and the jokey threads. Some use it as a source of information (cloth nappies, breastfeeding). Some like to debate and discuss. I enjoy that aspect and I find some of the trolly threads quite thought provoking. And in my mind, 'it's only the internet.' It's a good sandbox for trying out ideas and thinking them through.

There's a danger though because I think there are some serious clashes. People who see Mumsnet as a place for supportiveness and friends often find the more provocative posts offensive. I can totally understand why, but they don't really worry me - I see them as a starting point for a debate.

It annoys me more that this debate is stifled on certain topics. You can't have a discussion about breastfeeding, vaccination etc. without someone jumping in and saying, "But my relative was the one in a million who was seriously ill because of x!" because then further debate is considered insensitive and cue lots of people calling anyone who dares continue it 'vile' and so on. Of course everyone's experience is valid, but a debate shouldn't be won by one person's sob story. It generally is on Mumsnet though.

Oh I saw the thread about getting DH to ignore his old family. I didn't even bother reading it.

I think a lot of people take MN far too seriously, and for many it is their main or only source of friendship, which is sad.

I too am getting utterly pissed off with WWC's endless debates.

Raisedincare was disturbing.

There was a nobbend on a thread (about denim skirts on teachers fgs) last week called sexycat or something who asked to see our sexy knickers!

They would have got a bloody shock if I'd dhown them my knickers!!!

you mean 'gone' not come..lol...'damn' that was gross wonders what the folds smell like

oh and lest we forget BigSisLittleBro or whatever.

It's the pomposity that betrays Stevie boy I think.

I think there is also a very poorly person who keeps popping up with massively dramatic stuff, that one always makes me feel a bit sad, because I think she's working through something that happened to her once, or she desperately needs help.

BoF is a trollhound. Go get em BoF.

The annoying thing about WWC is that so many people are indulging her by posting on her many ridiculous threads.

I bloody well want more people to post on the really rather mundane marvellous threads started by me!

Wwc, Ric et al don't 'debate' they post a controversial post and sit back and watch the fallout. It's so boring and it stps people postng on other stuff.

But your threads are sometimes a tiny bit sad, Bibbity. You need to be riproaring insane.

Mumsnet isn't big enough for you + another riproaring nutter fgs!

Christ, I just clicked on the "Steve" link - MY EYES!!!!!!

And I can tell you what the folds smell like - like my client's unwashed arse in this thread - so bad that on Saturday, I preferred burning the inside of my nose with essential oil rather than breathe in her pong !

BTW read WWC's thread on letting (D)SS go to jail... what... the... hell... weird!!!

Oh, yikes, we have netnanny and I think I'm glad I didn't see the link.

By wannaBe
"also, mn hq are patently not interested in doing anything about trolls because the more outragious the postings are, the more people come to mn and the more money they make .

Even the more nasty trolls such as dizzymare are essentially free to keep posting here while those who question their validity are silenced."

Woah there! That's just not true. We work pretty hard investigating potential trolls and always ban anyone who we can prove is trolling. We do however like to give people the benefit of the doubt when there is no proof to be found, as per our troll policy.

Please do report any concerns and we promise to look in to them as a matter of urgency. We do recognise that it's important to act in these cases, honest.

So who was 'sweettreat' - the gender selection one that has just been deleted?

It's been deleted?? Noooooooooooo!!!

hahaha@Jacky..shudders

I think it was a journo tbh who is cross that we didn't give enough quotes.

coughCALPOLcough

Oh it was horrible!!!! Gah! (But I digress.)

bluddy hell life would be boring without the odd troll...this is the internet fgs!

Tell me about Academically tormented...was that the girl who was going to train as a dr and leave her baby with her mother?

WWC, self important fwit.

Why would you post such idiocy, and how on earth do people get their kicks from inciting controversial debate on a chat forum, personally I would rather they spent their time masturbating without my verse!

I found a thread from '08 today, complaining about how mn was going to the dogs and how you couldn't move for trolls

...I quite like 'em- the fun ones, not the sad and strange ones. What really makes me laugh is how we keep coming back to them even when we've established it's a load of bobbins

Can we have it back without the OP Justine?? Then those who missed it could take turns in writing what they think the OP might have been about based on subsequent posts!

Oh I really need to get a life today.