Warning messages when people offer to help OPs

[YourMotherChucksRocksInHull]

Hello,

I'm just interested about the warning messages you post on threads where people are offering practical or financial help to Ops.

An example of one from today is here:

"As it's been flagged to us that some folk are very kindly offering RL help to the OP, we just wanted to post our usual in these circumstances, which is:

We do advise all our members to be aware that not everyone on t'internet is who they say they are, and that, although we're awed daily by the astonishing support our members give each other through life's trickier twists and turns, we'd always caution anyone never to give more of themselves to another poster, emotionally or financially, than they can afford to spare.

Thanks
MNHQ"

I just wondered how you decide which threads to post this on - is it reliant on an MNer flagging a thread to MNHQ, or do MNHQ keep an eye on threads in case there are any offers of help?

I'm just interested as to what the process is for deciding which thread gets a message, and which one doesn't?

I know I've donated money a couple of times in the past (once when a long-term poster had a bereavement, can't remember what the other one was). Is there a process for ensuring those appeals are legit?

Just curious, really (and not intending to single out the particular thread that message as on today, as I don't think it's relevant).

Hello

Yes, other posters have covered it beautifully. We put this up on threads (as HyvaPaiva describes) when they're reported to us. Unless we can see it's a troll, in which case we will delete the thread.

Does that answer your question, OP?

Quite often threads are reported with the message saying 'this is probably one for you to post your message about not giving more than you can afford'.

That is to say, MNers don't report it because they're suspicious; they report it because they think the message would be appropriate.

It does, thank you rowan so if I ever get that message it means that someone has reported my thread. thank you.

I would assume it had been reported but that's not to say that the person reporting believes the OP is a troll, just that they realise the dangers of people offering help (financial or other) to unknown people on the internet.

Oops, cross post - damn my slow typing!

Yes, you can assume that, YourMotherChucksRocksInHull. However, you can't assume why it has been reported.

I've reported this sort of thread on a few occasions:

• once when there was a very vulnerable regular poster who posted and other posters wanted to help - I reported to ask MNHQ to put up the message to prevent people posting unhelpful posts such as 'be careful who you give money to' or 'how do you know this is real?', etc. Once MNHQ posts, then those sorts of posters will be satisfied that MNHQ knows.

-once when the posting style seemed too formulaic - generic opening post, lots of drip feeding throughout, complete with many excuses why practical offers of help of a non-monetary sort were unsuitable, until offers of money came in and the poster said 'how kind, here's my paypal address.'

-once when it all seemed to be getting carried away, etc.

Anyone can report any thread at any time for any reason. It's MNHQ who decide (with their knowledge of the poster, any namechanges, history, etc.) whether there is something decidedly dodgy going on (deletion) or whether they can just remind people that this is not RL and that they shouldn't offer what they can't afford to lose.

Why are you so worried/concerned/interested that one of your threads might have been/would be/will be reported? Do you feel that people don't believe you about something?