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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to assume that 99% of outlandish ops from a first time poster on Mumsnet are the work of trolls?

65 replies

bibbitybobbityhat · 27/04/2010 21:36

I don't know, I must be getting very cynical in my old age.

But every time I read something that seems altogether outrageous, and guaranteed to generate a lot of reaction from Mumsnetters, the op has never posted on Mumsnet before.

Btw, I never say "I think you are a troll" because I understand this to be taboo on here.

I just leave the thread and sometimes come back to lurk.

But it seems people are often very quick to take the op at face value, and I am sorry they are being taken for a ride.

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 27/04/2010 21:40

if i had posted some things from my life as a first post,then you'd shout 'troll' too!!!
yanbu

ThisIsSpatchcocked · 27/04/2010 21:41

hmmm, I am divided. People namechange so often...

Mermaidspam · 27/04/2010 21:42

Hmmm...it's a toughie.

I would say no, most aren't trolls.

I think most people coming here for the first time don't consider that fact that there have previously been 137 AIBUs about parent & child parking or whatever it is they're posting about and therefore the post may seem (to us) provocative, when actually it wasn't intended to be.

SoupDragon · 27/04/2010 21:43

I think the same. However, if I have something useful to say I'll say it on the off chance they are for real.

SlartyBartFast · 27/04/2010 21:43

i name change, but then, i am never scandulous,

hormonesnomore · 27/04/2010 21:44

But how do you know they're first time posters & haven't name changed?

SloanyPony · 27/04/2010 21:45

Look I honestly think it doesn't matter. The question is, does the OP present something you wish to discuss, contribute to, or disagree with, and say your two pence worth? If so, say it, if not, dont.

What I really hate is when person after person after person says "troll" or whatever - like they are so desperate to not be seen to be an idiot that they cry troll whether it is one or not. If you really think its a troll and dont feel they deserve a response, why not just find another thread? Reading 4 pages of people crying troll is frustrating when you want to read actual responses.

You never really know, though some are obvious. But it doesn't matter all that much if they've presented a scenario that you want to discuss. On AIBU anyway - might be different on the support boards.

rasputin · 27/04/2010 21:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pigletmania · 27/04/2010 21:46

Whhhaaaat so we not allowed to shitstir discuss contraversial topics without the shouting of trrrrooollllll trip trap trip trap

GypsyMoth · 27/04/2010 21:46

i had something odd happen to me other night......not sure how mumsnet would take it tho!!

wondered if i should namechange or just post as me...then decided no,wont post...

preggersplayspop · 27/04/2010 21:46

I think most aren't trolls but I tend to be quite trusting anyway.

I do think people who post something contentious that has been debated many times before are pretty dumb though if its their first post. I lurked for ages before I started posting and its really not hard to search for old posts on a topic.

Mermaidspam · 27/04/2010 21:48

Ooh ThreeBlondeBoys, post it, post it!

Mumcentreplus · 27/04/2010 21:49

Oh mannn...Three you have me really intrigued now!!!

Chandra · 27/04/2010 21:50

"But every time I read something that seems altogether outrageous, and guaranteed to generate a lot of reaction from Mumsnetters, the op has never posted on Mumsnet before."

I think that if I had something outrageous to talk to that may attract a lot of attention, I would be tempted to change my name. So, no, I give them the benefit of doubt.

Mumcentreplus · 27/04/2010 21:50

I tend to believe...because you never know...

DuelingFanjo · 27/04/2010 21:56

bibbity, I have felt that in the last couple of days.

Jux · 27/04/2010 21:57

I don't think they're trolls. I know that way back when, when my computer was so slow it would time out while I was simply trying to register, that if I had posted about my life at the time it would have been pretty outrageous but true nevertheless.

If people had shouted troll at me I'd never have come back.

As it was, I didn't get equipment that worked fast enough for about 3, maybe 4, years and one of the first things I did was register and lurk. My first post was innocuous because I wasn't strong enough to take any flack at all and was terrified, absolutely terrified, that those really scary women I remembered from when I tried to register in the early days would jump on me.

Therefore, I take them all at face value, and I think MN is better for it, really. We all know that we shouldn't agree to meet in rl alone, that we shouldn't send money etc. We are supposed to be teaching our kids how to be safe on the internet and should be so ourselves too.

As for revealing very personal things about oneself, well, I've done that. If I think better of it later I ask MN to delete my post. If it makes me relive stuff I don't want to relive, I keep away from the thread. If I keep going back to the thread, then I'm probably finding it at least a little cathartic to be there.

I'd rather assume that people are telling the truth and give them the time etc because if they're making it up it's not really hurting me and whatever advice/help is being given is available for other people who may need similar help or advice, links etc.

scottishmummy · 27/04/2010 22:00

i dont care.people can take posts as they wish.dont like the troll patrol and missy marples snooping and searching for mn ancestry to decide if legit or not

i think actually noticing if it is a 1st time post,is weirdy and bitty bulgy eyed stalker to go and search whether 1st timer or not

unless op explicitly states 1st post it is mental as eggs to go find out

GetOrfMoiLand · 27/04/2010 22:04

I don't know how you even check how many threads a poster has been on anyway.

Sometimes stories don't ring true. I did (to avoid trolls) try to avoid threads where I didn't 'know' the OP. But that seemed such a pointless way of MNing. I just dive in and hope for the best.

It is upsetting where someone has been trolling, especially where a topic is close to the bone, but gawd knows what is the best solution.

Original poster
bibbitybobbityhat · 27/04/2010 22:05

No, no, not talking about namechangers. Namechangers can always back up their Mumsnet credentials if they want to refute a troll accusation and, anyway, convention has it that you declare your namechange if you have done it to post on a sensitive/ embarrassing subject.

Someone called troll on me once. I could easily have put them right but it wasn't a poster I had any sort of regard for so I just let it slide.

I have seen every controversial subject under the sun debated on Mumsnet, Piglet. Long may it continue.

No, I am talking about those ops that you just don't believe. That you feel in your heart aren't genuine. You are suspicious. You search for the op's name. And yes, most times, it is their first ever post on Mumsnet under that name.

OP posts:
scottishmummy · 27/04/2010 22:07

nor do i.but i read people doing it and annoucing i serched your history

reminds me of the bad ole mn days
are you new
search the archives
we done that already

scottishmummy · 27/04/2010 22:08

why the hell do you search people names/posts.what a bizzare thing to do

Original poster
bibbitybobbityhat · 27/04/2010 22:12

I do it occasionally to satisfy my curiosity on this paqrticular issue mummy. Would prefer not to waste my time on trolls. Roffle at bulgy eyed stalker.

OP posts:
GetOrfMoiLand · 27/04/2010 22:14

Oh I hate that search the archives crap.

As if you come on a chat forum to talk about parking spaces or some such crap, and look in archives and see what MN said about the subject in 2008. No, you want to talk live to people now about what they think. That whole 'fgs this has been done to death' used to piss me off hugely.

BitOfFun · 27/04/2010 22:15

You don't even have to search if you have served your time though . You just know

I have given up saying anything for the most part- a)in case I'm wrong and look like huge cock, and b) because it upsets everyone who has given brilliant advice because it sounds like I'm calling them a divvy.

I still like to poke the Extended troll though, because he really gets on my nerves.He must think our heads button up the back.