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?

Pag FWIW (if anything) there are many of us who read and lurk on these threads and take action. I know I did. So whilst it might not feel as though any good is being done to the children in the OP, these threads (and your outrage) definitely help others when deciding what to do.
God I hope that makes sense!

I mean when deciding how to act on other situations not this one.

@hathorinareddress

Rebecca - thank you but why are the aggressive posts accusing of troll hunting allowed to stand then? If my defence breaks guidelines, then the original accusation should also break guidelines and should be deleted.

And are we not allowed to say on a thread then "there are inconsistencies and you have been drip feeding" if a poster has?

If they are personal attacks, they will be removed when reported to us and yes, the original accusation should be deleted.

We would rather you didn't say "there are inconsistencies and you have been drip feeding" even if in your opinion there are/ have been. Because, this is your opinion and sometimes there can be very legitimate reasons behind what is perceived as dripfeeding and also (on occasion) inconsistencies.

Report all of this to us and let us have a dig behind the scenes, dragging it all out on the thread really doesn't help anyone.

Well in that case that is what I'll do in future, but I didn't think that was troll hunting, I thought it was asking the OP to clarify.

But it's not my opinion if someone says (for example) the canary bit my hamster and then changes it to the llama bit my hamster and it spat at the gerbil last week so I know it has a tendency to do these things

When it's obvious (like my dopey example) are we really not allowed to say "hand on was it the canary or the llama and you never said spat at the gerbil before"

Hang on not hand on

FFS Maryz I was trying to find a non-upsetting contentious example and now I'm going to be accused of being llama-ist

which I am I don't like the buggers they scare me so NER

And, of course, you all noticed my deliberate mistake - it's non-contentious

@hathorinareddress

Well in that case that is what I'll do in future, but I didn't think that was troll hunting, I thought it was asking the OP to clarify.

But it's not my opinion if someone says (for example) the canary bit my hamster and then changes it to the llama bit my hamster and it spat at the gerbil last week so I know it has a tendency to do these things

When it's obvious (like my dopey example) are we really not allowed to say "hand on was it the canary or the llama and you never said spat at the gerbil before"

If a poster changes their story in a dramatic fashion canaries and Llama's as an example then of course it is ok to say 'hang on a minute, would you mind explaining yourself' it is not ok to say ' You are posting inconsistently' in a troll hunty accusatory way.

We do see that it is a very fine line and it does come down to context so there isn't a clear black and white answer.

If it is a sensitive thread then accusing the OP of trolling (even if they seem to be) when they need some support, really isn't on.

In the nicest possible way, Rebecca, that's a trolls charter then. Because as long as they pick a sensitive topic they will never get "called" on it on the thread.

I had a post deleted on here which they did by mistake. I think they are all a bit twitchy after a tough week at the T-face.

@hathorinareddress

In the nicest possible way, Rebecca, that's a trolls charter then. Because as long as they pick a sensitive topic they will never get "called" on it on the thread.

This is where we rely on your reports. Shouting troll on a thread does much more harm than good. If folks report to us, we can take a look and deal with it and try our best to minimise any upset.

Trolls are shit, we can't stop them coming but we can try our best to limit the damage, but we need folks to report them to us so that we can get rid.

@LeBOF

I had a post deleted on here which they did by mistake. I think they are all a bit twitchy after a tough week at the T-face.

Morning Becky

Hang on, where is the grooming thread? Has that gone? Was it dodgy after all then?

I canna keep up.

There are a couple of fishy threats on the go atm. I watch with interest and amusement.

It seems to me that the trolls have far more rights to post their obnoxious views all over the boards, and no one is allowed to challenge them.
Reporting is all very well, but MNHQ can find it difficult to prove it many times and their posts stand.
I see nothing wrong in pointing out inconsistencies, politely, but that is immediately deemed troll hunting.
You can't win on here sometimes.

Does MN always have this many trolls on at once?

I don't think so zombie, its been a pretty unusual week.

I suppose they might be like buses? none for ages then loads at once.

Ive only really been getting involved in threads since Christmas and there seems to be loads ATM

Mmm, makes me wonder if there's one person behind them. Or an invasion from another site maybe.

I dunno about all this really. There have always been trolls who have made up stories about stillbirths and miscarriages and one who even conjured up a baby out of midair I think.
Also suicides and bereavement.

It's very sad because I now tend to avoid any thread that sounds like a sob story and I think other Mumsnetters feel the same way. As a community we've a lot of support and help to give to those in genuine need - I mean just look at how Mumsnet rallied round TrinityRhino and YorkieMum, two wonderful posters who went through a really shit time. But now, not only would I think twice about offering any help, I'd also avoid the thread just in case. I find myself questioning their story, wondering why they are posting on Mumsnet. I hate to say it but there was one the other day about a Mumsnetter who had died and her husband posted. I felt really evil for even questioning that and decided I was better off just avoiding it. Even admitting that right now makes me feel like a cow.

The trolls are making us all very suspicious and because we are a community we do feel it's our duty in a way to point out inconsistences because we don't like to see others being taken advantage of and we don't want history repeating itself. So I guess something in us feels the need to just warn posters of the possibility, just so they can be on guard. Or you do like I do and simply avoid them all, which means that the real and genuine posters aren't getting the help and support they rightly deserve.