Trolls

[Throwingshade]

I know there was a thread about this just a couple of weeks, but just want to remind us all to think before investing time and emotion - and most importantly personal information and experiences - on threads in Relationships. Especially if it's something triggering for you.

This board is being infiltrated by trolls at the moment.

If the OP is over egged, if the OP is too 'bad' to be true, if it reads like a soap opera with convenient updates every couple of hours to keep people entertained, then it's likely not true!

You're being silly again.

But I'm in a silly mood myself so do continue.

Personally, what I think would work better on this board, if MN are getting reports from posters suspecting it´s fishy or a possible troll, MNHQ should do a post on that thread saying something like, ¨ We have recieved some reports from posters who suspect the OP may not be genuine. PLease proceed with caution¨, or similar.

That would stop some posters continuing to post but it wouldn´t deter all. Cos let´s face it, not everybody on this latest thread was in agreement it was a troll. So in this example, the onus is on the individual and they´re given a choice whether to carry on posting if they feel the OP is genuine.

I personally think MN should only be deleting threads if 1) it´s requested by the OP, 2) The OP or the posters are being abusive or breaking other rules in the MN Guidelines.

There´s just too much ambiguity in deciding if someone is a troll, ¨reversing¨ or whatever. There´s far too much left open to people´s opinions and it´s all subjective. As MNHQ said in the Hazz debacle, they can never be 100%.

Surely if they did something like my example above, rather than deleting which is very extreme ( I mean the Hazz thread wasn´t even doing any harm was it?) it warns the posters and people can choose whether to carry on being involved or not.

Obviously MNHQ have deleted a lot of threads of supposed trolls, but how many of those were actually NOT trolls at all? It´s like ¨Trial by Suspicion¨ and I don´t think that´s on tbh.

If the thread is doing no harm, why not just let the damn thing keep running? Cos no-one can ever be 100% sure it IS a hoax.

sansoora how can you possibly tell just by reading someoneś writing style if theyŕe a man or woman? confused

It was very obvious. The femininity and the way language was used was there in the posts and one particular one where she described 'him' doing something with her phone screamed of a woman sitting chatting to her pal and saying - and guess what he just did.

Thank fuck that one hit 1000

The trouble with some threads is they hit peoples trigger points.

What usual said.

The shoe troll is just bizarre.
Today's I didn't give anything of myself, except bile. Tough week with the local authority education dept. So much relief to let it all out.

I don't believe that the troll accusation is true.
The idea that people would post inflammatory comments on internet forums just to get a response from ignorant twatheads is blatantly ridiculous.

I would love to know the tools MN have at their disposal then, especially if they even they state they can´t be 100% certain. Cos unless they can look through people´s devices or use hackers there´s always gonna be some false positives, so to speak.

They will always decide a certain amount of innocent people are actually trolls. It´s hardly evidence they´re using though is it? Just collateral damage I guess

redbin you haven't been around forums long if that's what you think!

Redbinneo I saw wot you did there....

I think redbin was being sarcastic, Bishop.

By the by, your dinner sounded lovely on the step-daughter thread.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol
Loooooooooooooooooooooooong day.
It was yum, yes

Maryz the breavement/miscarriage troll is back again :( so much damage already down previously :( :(

That said I am one of those idiots fed a troll today. Didn't mean to. Got pissed off and responded when I should have walked away from the thread. Did report and got the 'we will keep an eye on it' response// Now I say it was a troll, could have been a goady fucker, or just a derailer. Unfortuately as I responded they got what they wanted. A response.

Cos unless they can look through people´s devices or use hackers

Maybe they have employed Jeff...

Like on those TV series where the hacker becomes a hacker troll catcher.
Troll hunting on MN - I'd watch it.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and don't forget

:

I think the stepdaughter thread should be stickied or put in MN classics.

Trip Trip Trap....

I would expect that most trolls are caught because they are previously banned posters. That would be the simplest explanation.

Some threads are repeated across the Internet (googling key phrases/stories doesn't take much effort)

Some threads are written on behalf of other forums wanting to kick up a fuss (and some of them are V amusing - my favourite was the 'Fresh Prince' thread, absolute classic)

Some trolls expend an awful lot of energy into making up a back story so they are believed when they post their 'kicker' - usually a request for cash.

People who have been using forums for long enough recognise these trolls and act accordingly. It used to be that we'd troll hunt/warn on thread, but most don't bother any more. Unfortunately lots of others are sucked in, and some get very defensive about it - angry that they've been caught out, so take it out on those who haven't - hence the Troll Hunter Hunters

MNHQs stance is Report Report Report - but these days they don't seem to be as keen to delete, so more slip through the cracks (and more people give up reporting, because there doesn't seem to be much point).

Anyone saying we have no trolls should be made to read that step-daughter thread.