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Original poster

Can we have a 'three strikes and you're out' policy for troll hunters?

86 replies

BlameItOnTheBogey · 09/09/2011 15:00

I'm so fed up of seeing threads being derailed by people crying troll. The mumsnet rules on this are clear; don't engage and report the thread if you are suspicious. But this never seems to happen. I'm sure that a lot of times people are right. But a lot of time, the troll-hunters are wrong too. I'd rather see a few people duped on a fake thread than see genuine posters put off asking for help when they most need it because a handful of people are convinced that they aren't telling the truth.

But there doesn't seem to be any real sanction for troll-hunters. How about a three-strikes-and-you're-out kind of thing. Not permanently but maybe account blocked for 24 hours or something. Anyone else agree?

OP posts:
ChristWhatNow · 09/09/2011 15:02

What's a strike? Crying troll at all or crying troll and being wrong?

GypsyMoth · 09/09/2011 15:05

How on earth could that be 'policed'?

TrillianAstra · 09/09/2011 15:06

If people are breaking the rules, report them and MNHQ will sort them out. This is exactly what you would say to someone who was crying troll and it is what I am saying to you now.

They probably already do have a policy on troll-hunting you know.

Original poster
BlameItOnTheBogey · 09/09/2011 15:10

Yes Trillian you are probably right but can they tell us what it is then? For repeat offenders there doesn't appear to be any action. I guess it would be policed by people reporting trolls in much the same way as we are supposed to report suspicious threads.

OP posts:
Original poster
BlameItOnTheBogey · 09/09/2011 15:12

At the moment all that seems to happen is that someone from mumsnet pops onto the thread and issues a polite reminder to please not troll hunt. Everyone ignores them and carries on.

OP posts:
MitchiestInge · 09/09/2011 15:18

there'll be no legal forms of hunting left at all soon

Original poster
BlameItOnTheBogey · 09/09/2011 15:30

Arf at Mitch.

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 09/09/2011 16:05

What do you call troll hunting?

A 'I see you are new to mumsnet'
Or
'interesting first post'
Or
A Hmm

Hullygully · 09/09/2011 16:06

What a great idea!

You get first dibs at being police person

Original poster
BlameItOnTheBogey · 09/09/2011 16:19

No I guess I was thinking that repeated accusations which derail a thread and where warnings from mumsnet have been issued and ignored would lead to a strike.

But Hully, surely the people who shout troll are somehow attempting to police the site (albeit in a rather more vigilante kind of way)?

OK well it seems like I'm on my own with this thought so clearly not a runner. But god I wish there were some way to stop threads being destroyed.

OP posts:
2shoes · 09/09/2011 16:27

could there also be some rule to shut the anti troll hunters up.
so someone shouts troll, proved wrong, then 10 posts about troll hunters being evil, thread ruined.

NetworkGuy · 09/09/2011 16:58

No, you're not on your own... They know they should not post with such an accusation, but do so anyway. So I'd suggest an even harsher approach than yours.

I'd say that for someone who has posted an accusation of troll, and has done so before (probably as a newbie), whether or not MNHQ has been on to give a polite reminder, it should be an instant block on posting for a couple of months, if not a complete ban.

That'd shut up those who seem to be unable to report a thread to MNHQ and act in vigilante mode... I don't care whether they are right or wrong, anyone shouting troll (and not as a first offence) need to be given more than a "smack on the wrist" and it would remind others not to do it, either !

NetworkGuy · 09/09/2011 16:59

and yes, I'd happily volunteer as 'police person'... might even write some scripts to search the top 20-30 threads and if 'troll' pops up in any, view it myself...

NetworkGuy · 09/09/2011 17:04

Oh, I see you suggested 24 hours. Hell no! That's just a smack on the ankle, I'd go much further... but maybe 2 months is a bit much... they might go away altogether after that time :)

How about a compromise... how about a 2 week ban on posting ?

JarethTheGoblinKing · 10/09/2011 22:42
Hmm Wink
LeBOF · 10/09/2011 22:43

Troll-hunters are people too Sad

BecauseImWorthIt · 10/09/2011 22:45

What do you count as troll hunting though?

Does "welcome to Mumsnet" or "this is the OP's first post" count? What if those posts are accompanied by reporting an OP to MNHQ? (Which no-one else would know about)

JarethTheGoblinKing · 10/09/2011 22:45

ROFL @ BOF(L)

JarethTheGoblinKing · 10/09/2011 22:47

I don't usually do it, but there was a subtle thread recently that people were unsure about. I was sire it was a troll (as well as reporting it) to out people off getting emotionally involved and investing too much time/effort

JarethTheGoblinKing · 10/09/2011 22:50

Hello typos. sure and put people

Pagwatch · 10/09/2011 22:55

How will we handle it if someone starts to falsely accuse others of being troll hunters?

TrillianAstra · 10/09/2011 22:55

Troll-hunter-hunter sanctions?

Pagwatch · 10/09/2011 22:57

It is an alarming prospect isn't it.

DaydreamDolly · 10/09/2011 23:01

Troll.

kerrymumbles · 10/09/2011 23:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.