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?

[StealthPolarBear]

Good for you saggy, I think there will be fewer genuinely helpful people willing to feed posters having a hard time pies because of trolls like this one. And that's a shame. Dying to know what is meant by "other stuff"

[MardyBra]

Fair enough Maryz.

[HelenMumsnet]

Forgot to say: many many thanks to those who reported. We know some of you think reporting posters to us is a waste of time but we really do need to jump up and down and say it really isn't.

Every report we get tells us something new. And every report we get is followed up. We simply can't "see" everything on the boards, so, unless you report things you're worried about, we're quite likely not pick up on anything at all.

[LittleMissGoodEnough]

Okey dokey, loud and clear. Will start pressing buttons then!

[hathorinareddress]

But the thing is Helen many times it's just a gut instinct, a feeling, that something's not right - there's nothing really tangible

[HelenMumsnet]

Also forgot to say , we have absolutely no reason to think jess is linked to dizzymare in any way at all.

[HelenMumsnet]

@LittleMissGoodEnough

Okey dokey, loud and clear. Will start pressing buttons then!

thank you!

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Stealth, if you are ever in need, I have a pork pie with your name on it!

[Pinot]

This is my only venture into forums, and I have only one years experience. I am, I guess, very new and gullible.

I just can't fathom why someone would do this. It is pretty horrifying, actually, that they would post about such an emotive issue and encourage sharing from genuine posters, raking up their traumatic memories and emotions in doing so.

I just find it all so desperately, desperately cruel. And all for attention? Is that what they seek? Christ almighty.

Times like this I'm glad I believe in karma.

[ShowOfHands]

I didn't even open the threads. The tmi, capitals, pleading, xxx and triggers in the title were enough. It's bloody awful behaviour.

[bibbitybobbityhat]

Glad to see that one drop out of active convos at last. It did take a long time!

[HelenMumsnet]

@hathorinareddress

But the thing is Helen many times it's just a gut instinct, a feeling, that something's not right - there's nothing really tangible

I know. But we'd still like you to tell us about those gut feelings, please. Sometimes, your gut may be way off but sometimes, it might not.

I reckon that, of the "troll" reports we get, over half are on the money - even if it takes us a while to discover that.

And it's the discovering that's very time-consuming. The sooner we can start the discovery process , the sooner we can act (if we need to).

[wannaBe]

thank you helen.

Stealth "other stuff" can be a multitude of things, depending on what tools mn hq have to their disposal. ime most trolls have something consistent about them which if you know what you're looking for becomes apparent eventually. The really really damaging one I banned from the site where I moderate has something that ties to her rl in every one of her persona's - it's something different in each one of them, but as I know who she is it's been easy to spot, iyswim. And social media helps track these people as well if you know how to use it.

[LeBOF]

"we're quite likely not to pick up on anything at all"...

You said it, Helen

why will you never acknowledge the bloody obvious wanking troll?

Can you tell us if you banned Penandink today, Helen? Or explain why he seemed to get posts deleted on request that in no way broke any guidelines? For example, Soupdragon suggested to him that if he didn't enjoy the way MN worked, there were many other places to explore on the Internet. Deleted. No personal attack, no troll hunting. I'm baffled, I tell ye.

[HelenMumsnet]

@LeBOF

"we're quite likely not to pick up on anything at all"...

You said it, Helen

why will you never acknowledge the bloody obvious wanking troll?

Can you tell us if you banned Penandink today, Helen? Or explain why he seemed to get posts deleted on request that in no way broke any guidelines? For example, Soupdragon suggested to him that if he didn't enjoy the way MN worked, there were many other places to explore on the Internet. Deleted. No personal attack, no troll hunting. I'm baffled, I tell ye.

Have you reported the the bloody obvious wanking troll?

[StealthPolarBear]

Make it a cheese slice and I'm there :)

[LeBOF]

The IP anonymising can be quite sophisticated. Our fapping troll has it off pat. As do rings of sinister paedophiles. Just sayin'.

[MardyBra]

Have i missed out on some wanking?

[LeBOF]

Helen, YES! Of course I have.

I will resend a copy of the latest one to you personally.

[deemented]

One thing i woud say, given the experience of hindsight, is to those that report the threads - maybe spend a moment or two to PM those you think are getting too emotionally involved with the troll - just let them know you have concerns. Maybe they'll thank you for it, maybe they won't, but at least you'll have given them a heads up to be careful.

[adamschic]

Oh she was a troll, thought so.

[wannaBe]

so helen, do you have any jobs going? I am good at this sort of thing you know

[Pinot]

HQ why not just put Boffy on the payroll?