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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to assume that all first time posters posting controvercial or complicated threads are trolls?

51 replies

wannaBe · 02/06/2010 13:35

Because IMO at the moment anyone who has a low post count and is posting controvercially is probably a troll.

And I don't believe mn hq can't do anything about it.

OP posts:
5DollarShake · 02/06/2010 15:28

If you think someone is a troll (i.e. attention-seeking), then isn't it best just to ignore them?

Their subsequent posts to the same thread usually reveal whether they are actually a troll or not, so I tend to give the benefit of the doubt, and then if I do think they're troll, just move on. Or goad them if I'm bored.

SongBiird · 02/06/2010 15:28

And the worse thing is, you won't stop a troll by doing that, they'll name change and be back tomorrow.

ImSoNotTelling · 02/06/2010 15:34

YANBU to tihnk it. There have been some very peculiar threads and people around lately.

Eitehr give the benefit of the doubt, don't post, or report though IMO.

shoshe · 02/06/2010 15:40

What about if we name change to protect a delicate issue ( I had to recently, I certainly wouldnt have posted under my usual name)then we put our memebership number in our name change, only ourselves and know the number, if you were making it up, the person with the real number would know.

Or are we to big now to be able to monitor it that way?

ImSoNotTelling · 02/06/2010 15:47

The people who get troll shouted at them do usually turn out to be trolls though, i think? I mean I've only seen a few threads where the troll hunters have turned out on a thread which isn't pretty blatent trolling, and usually loads of people tell them to F* off.

Maybe I am missing some. Was a thread deleted earlier? I read one and was a bit

Hai1988 · 02/06/2010 15:49

what is a troll??

Strix · 02/06/2010 15:51

It is someone who does not really type on MN but has come along to stir up trouble.

mumbar · 02/06/2010 15:57

I'm fairly new too I'm not sure I have seen anything too bad?? Whats an example of a troll thread??

I do find some of them a bit pointless but I just don't reply.

It does seem a shame some people want to spoil it as I have found it useful since joining. Sometimes I've only had 4/5 replys but they have been useful.

So why I'm here thanks to those who replied to my AIBU about my DS I have followed your advice and it's working

lamplighter · 02/06/2010 16:08

There was one from someone pretending to be a teenage mother, complete with text speak spelling, how many children she had (four), her benefits and the grand finale - each child had a very 'interesting' name.

That troll was outed from the first post, it was obviously from a journalist trying to get a negative reaction from MNnetters

HecateQueenOfWitches · 02/06/2010 16:18

Not always, strix - it is a person who has only joined to cause trouble. But it can also be a regular who, in their normal name, is quite normal but who namechanges to be a total bitch or to post rubbish.

It can also be a regular who seems quite normal at first, but then comes up with a great big involved tale of woe that ends with a whip round. or who has a series of terrible life events that is later proven to be false and it turns out they were a liar from the start.

It isn't always a stranger, is my point.

mumbar · 02/06/2010 16:18

Oh Thats worrying think I'll refrain from being the first to reply to a post then as not sure I'd spot it.

Its awful as I rarely post and if I do it's genuine and to think someone may be suspicious is

Strix · 02/06/2010 16:19

By "someone" I meant the online identity, ie screenname. So I think we are saying the same thing.

ItsGraceAgain · 02/06/2010 16:25

On my first OP, several people asked relevant questions. I thought that was fine, as it only took them a minute to reply and gave them a chance to see how my thread developed. IMO, it's potentially dangerous to respond to a Relationships question with hostility.

Even if the OP isn't genuine, there will be real people with a problem similar to the one posted. When they google on to that thread, the advice given can help them ... or terrify them, if it's nothing but flames.

HecateQueenOfWitches · 02/06/2010 16:30

my mistake. I thought you meant someone who does not ever type on mn other than a particular troll, not someone who has other identities, iyswim.

I think we are saying the same thing.

Someone once linked to a thing about trolls. Was very funny.

Thinking about it, I suspect I also once linked to a funny thing about trolls

xstitch · 02/06/2010 16:45

I think you are being a bit unreasonable, although I can see where you are coming from.

I have been going through a very hard time recently and have posted looking for advice. Mainly because I feel so alone in RL and unable to discuss it with anyone. I have at times over the last few months been so low I have felt like I cannot go on. If one of my posts was immediately been met with comments of troll, trip trap etc I do fear it may have pushed me over the edge. For that reason alone I would be loathe to do that to someone else just in case.

Ronaldinhio · 02/06/2010 16:47

who is this wannaBe?
is she a TROLL?

ItsGraceAgain · 02/06/2010 16:47

Inspired by Hecate, I went off to find some Mumsnet trolls. I thought this was brilliant: evidently suggested by someone who knows Mumsnet well!

indirectapproach, on 30 November 2009 - 04:48 PM, said:
I'm gonna troll 'em. Any suggestions?

theboltonfury replied:

Post as a woman who hoovers without thinking, thinks it's her duty to wash every plate, stocks the house and then lets her hubby monk in her hair - because it's her duty.

"Cracking Psychological Insight Via Mumsnet!"

ImSoNotTelling · 02/06/2010 17:22

What is "monk"?

ImSoNotTelling · 02/06/2010 17:23

And why did I read it to rhyme with bonk rather than bunk? weird.

bibbitybobbityhat · 02/06/2010 17:36

Quite agree op.

See my almost identical thread here.

nickelbabe · 02/06/2010 17:54

in yours Grace, i love the way they said that "if he doesn't cooperate just chuck the dirty pans in with his washing" was harsh!!!

fools.

WellMeantHellBent · 02/06/2010 18:00

Someone told me about the user status being the same even if you change names, could we maybe have a post count on there too that stays the same even if you name change? Not that that would deter trolls but we would be able to spot the ones pretending to be long term posters i.e. the ones who have been banned and need to reregister but know how mumsnet works, or ones who are new?

WellMeantHellBent · 02/06/2010 18:01

Scrap that, actually some of the most fucked up trolls on here have been long term posters so I'm not sure that would even help!

ItsGraceAgain · 02/06/2010 19:09

Bless 'em, nickelbabe! They're so easily scared

AliGrylls · 02/06/2010 19:28

I remember one of my first threads about the NHS going down like a lead balloon - I didn't mean to cause any harm by it I was trying to have a discussion to sort out what I thought on a particular issue and seeing what people thought was interesting. Maybe a lot of people who are new are trying to do the same.

However, I have noticed that even since I joined last May some of the language and posts on here have deteriorated. I think mners need to take responsibility to ensure that when they post they are not aggressive or rude to others as otherwise it feeds to trolls.