mn hq, can we have an explanation - jess - and maybe re other trolls in future?

[wannaBe]

I am aware that you can't divulge the means by which you determine whether or not a poster is genuine, predominantly because if you make that common knowledge then posters will know how to avoid being detected in the future.

but jess (long ongoing eleven weeks abortion threads) threads have now been deleted for being a troll, and I was wondering if, given it's the site users who usually report these things, we could perhaps have a bit more by way of explanation?

e.g. when sassysusan was banned, mn hq confirmed that she had previously posted as washwithcare, and users were able to identify.

There has been some speculation that jess was dizzymare, and I wondered whether this was the case?

Also, these threads have been ongoing for over a month now. How is it that it takes quite this long to determine that someone isn't actually all they seem?

I believe that SS's bereavement was genuine. She was very unpleasant to many people though and made some really unnecessary comments on her blog.

I gave the Jess character what I thought was useful advice about where she could go for help /support whether or NOT she was pregnant - and THAT was deleted ?? Why ??

I agree with you MrsDeVere.

Trolling isn't only about making things up. It's about upsetting people too. Sassysusan undoubtedly upset people. Fwiw when the whole thing blew up I thought as Wannabe said she had 'stolen' the whole tragedy.
I don't think that about Susan anymore - but I do think a lot of that sort of thing goes on sadly.

And is still going on , NorthernLurker

My first encounter with a troll on here was Hillls - the anorexic poster who 'died' and then got her 'friend' to post that she had died.

I remember being when the story was picked apart over an afternoon unfolding.

Oh, I remember the BFing on a bus one. There were lots of :( faces

Shit things happen to horrible people too. It just doesn't seem like it most of the time.

What MaryZ said re SS/WWC.

I don't mind the funny trolls who usually out themselves .
And I don't for the life of me understand the vampiric ones - they really deserve to be put in the stocks.

I vaguely remember being sucked into a troll's story when I first came on here, no real harm done, just was left feeling really stupid and humiliated for being so naive.
I cannot begin to imagine what it must feel like if someone is taken in by a nasty troll seeking out victims in sensitive subjects. But I am not sure what could be done to avoid that from happening: people DO find themselves in difficult situations which sometimes escalate, people DO suffer sad bereavements, people DO have problems with their MIL/a will/their sexual health. I am with those of you who'd rather give the benefit of the doubt towards the poster - or Not Post. And report, of course .
I do find Not Posting v rewarding at times - 'tis like car-crash TV: no injury to self, all the breathless excitement .

Since the awful troll on the bereaved parents website I am a member of I tend to be a googler. I dont do it to pry or to sneak. I do it to set my mind at rest a bit.
If a story doesnt come up I wont automatically discount a story and I wouldnt mention it on a thread. I dont want anyone to think I am checking up on them through malice, I wouldnt do that. BUT that troll did a HUGE amount of damage on that site. They changed it completely and its a lot less accessible than it used to be. It is harder to join and parents now have to give quite detailed information about their loss. This puts some off from joining and they miss out on some fantastic support.
That is a shocking price to pay for one twisted little cow's sick fantasy.

I hope that doesnt make me sound like a bitch. I tend to lean to the 'well if I reach out and they turn out to be a troll I havent lost anything by being nice' anyway.

Not a bitch at all, MrsD. Quite restrained, actually.

Wannabe, do you remember that troll on the sn board, who brought my dd a pc?

The Poo troll was annoying but in a childish way at least it was slightly funny.
What this troll has posted about is not funny. Its cruel.
I feel sorry for those people who did share private emotions and offered real life help.
Next time a genuine person is in a similar but real situation on here, Mumsnetters will now be more careful about helping and that's a shame as I think the support women give each other on here can be fantastic.

LF
No, my post about the troll who lots of mnetters had met wasn't connected in any way with anything you have said, sorry if it came across like that!

Yes TSC, it was the young Bristol mum thrown off a bus for breastfeeding. It was in the press. The bus driver objected to being demonised in this way and the cctv footage was consulted.

Have read all 17 pages of this on and off today and am saddened and appalled by the things people can do through the anonimity of MN. Have also learned a lot about Trolling, while lurking on Pinot's bench.

I now fear I need to namechange as it is currently a shade too close to some alleged troll called CVQ.

Trouble is, I have been CQ for years, hardly ever post, and if I namechange I'm quite likely to forget what I've changed it to and never be able to log on again

I wasn't sure but like a lot of people just figured I should stay clear - I had no experience and nothing to offer (about the Jess one).
Now though I'm remembering other threads and can't help but think, hmmmmm. And I feel sad.
I need some bum space on Pinot's bench please. I don't get hints easily either and could do with being able to actually see threads containing trollery (I get that I can't though) so that I can learn what is 'typical'. For purely educational purposes obviously.

Pinot - I've been here since 2008 but still wanted to give Jess the benefit of the doubt. Just too awful to think that someone has the capacity to make up something like that :(
I feel cheated now having followed all 3 threads - what a waste of my time, never mind anything else!

WannaBe - thanks for starting this thread as I was hoping for a bit of clarity.

Helen - thanks for responding as best you can.