to think that unless you have been around for years, or have the time to post regularly....

[catinboots]

you are going to be called a TROLL.

I have been a member since just before christmas. I come on most days and flit over my favourite boards, occasionally piping up here and there. I enjoy MN very much.

However, on two seperate occasions when I have started a thread I have been accused of being a troll. The second incident regarded a very upsetting matter and I was totally ripped to shreds by many of the regulars.

AIBU to think it's not worth posting for support/advice if the subject is 'unusual' and you are not a full-time/hardcore MNer???

Wow, another thread? Have just checked in again after being busy all afternoon and evening.

I was one who, after seeing others call troll, initially believed they were right - I later realized you were genuine (and I did apologize). However, for what it's worth, it was partly your reaction to the trollhunting that made me think they were probably right. I am not at all saying it's your fault that we doubted you - it's not, and you were treated unfairly, I'm really sorry for that - but possibly the nature of the reaction undermined you a little in the eyes of those trying to judge whether you were for real. And posting several separate threads about not being a troll is maybe not the greatest idea either, as you might get some replies that upset you even more.

Maybe try to wash your hands of it now in case it compounds your real-life stress? Most people here have accepted you're genuine and have seen that you were wrongly accused. Anyone who has not, well, you can prob do without them.

Sorry if a bit garbled, am also v tired ( like you, I expect).

Thanks bib..'perhaps I am very naive but why would people waste their time being trolls?!

I joined in after you, and I think part of the problem is the website design, as IABU is the first listed in this section.

There are many more threads on MN that are more advice/supportive guided but IABU sort of leaps out as new poster.

I quickly learned that many posterss are acerbic and not always as supportive as they may have been in other forums, or indeed in RL.

I suggest you have a nose around and pick your threads as many seem to come on here to have a ruck or at least feel better about their life choices.

Because they are attention seekers, in a nutshell.

I have only been around a few months and posted my first "contentious" thread in AIBU last night.

I am surprised I didn't get called a troll, although it came pretty close.

I think that if you post something that people have no experience of, or it seems larger than life (which in my case it is) people are very quick to jump on the troll bandwagon.

And I am not a troll.

For what its worth, I didn't see your other thread, but ignore ignore ignore - its only the internet, its not RL

I worry about this sometimes. I very rarely start threads because of it. I worry that someone will look at my posting history playing detective and see how unlikely sounding my collection of life experiences are. Yet it is all true. Sometimes people have strange and unpredictable lives. I have been here for years, but am not a recognisable or prolific poster. It is a shame that I have to feel like this, but I can also understand how people feel about trolls. People on here really, really care - as you will know from the large number of supportive messages you have had. People who are found to be making things up can sap other's emotional energy. Regulars on here are getting tired of that, understandably. I think you are owed an apology, but also think you need to be wary of posting things on behalf of others. You can surely see how that would have aroused suspicion. You would have been better to counter the accusation with a calm, measured explanation instead of taking such offence.

I'm very sorry about what you're going through, by the way. It sounds horrific. How are you today?