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Original poster

The site is ruined until you deal with trolls.

63 replies

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 06/12/2015 22:20

I started a thread about someone paying for my Christmas dinner a few months ago. I started it because I was feeling a bit freaked out and couldn't work out who it was.

I've been accused of being a troll for that thread 8 times now. And that's not including the "hinting-you're-a-troll" comments. I stopped updating it for that reason. Then people moan that you're not updating it. So I updated it earlier, after getting a few PMs about it, and then got accused of being a troll because it was, for some reason, mentioned on another thread. That has led to more troll accusations.

I won't start any more threads, unless they are on really boring things. It's genuinely a bit hurtful.

If trolls can't be better controlled, so that the troll-hunting stops and everyone stops just trying to be the first to call troll, we'll end up with no threads.

OP posts:

Coconutty · 07/12/2015 09:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MNHQ

SarahMumsnet · 07/12/2015 11:53

Hi Anchor,

Thanks for this. We absolutely get how upsetting it must be to be accused of trolling when you're doing nothing of the sort - which is why we ask people to report rather than trollhunt on threads: the last thing we want is for folk to be put off from posting. I know we've said it before, but we do read and look into every report that's made, and will have a good dig around backstage if anything looks dodgy. Just to be scrupulously clear, we've NO reason to believe anything you've posted is any less than the truth, and we've deleted the troll-hunting posts from your original thread.

In terms of our response time, it's definitely the case that there'll be occasions (such as this weekend, as it happens) when the volume of reports means that we're not getting through them as expeditiously as we'd like. Firstly, we're sorry about this, and secondly, we do keep an overall eye on how quickly we're responding; the point at which it looks like there's been a general slowdown is the point at which we take a look at staffing levels.

Hope this makes sense. And, Anchor, can I take this opportunity to say that everyone in MNHQ is dying to know who paid for your dinner too ...

wannaBe · 07/12/2015 12:20

the reality is that it is impossible to actually be certain who is trolling and who isn't, however, there is a distinct gap in time between reporting threads and mn hq actually responding to them. Perhaps if mn hq were quicker off the mark people wouldn't feel the need to raise suspicion on the threads, and perhaps if the more emotive topics e.g. relationships, bereavement and health were more closely monitored threads would be dealt with before the point where someone voiced their suspicions.

It would also be helpful if people weren't so desperate to be heroes and in so doing continued to feed what are clearly obvious trolls. I'm not talking about general support/advice, but the clear over-investment that is present e.g. on the relationships board with people "checking in" on posters to make sure they're ok and then voicing their concerns when said poster hasn't been back to the thread. All very fraught and unnecessary, and encourages the attention seeking trolls to go and post there because they know they have plenty of live bate to work with.

HoneyDragon · 07/12/2015 12:28

Personal observation: I think the new way for trolls to get their shits and giggles on Mnet is to troll hunt.

I don't believe THAT many genuine users would name change, or be very new, would post "troll" on posts. I just don't.

Use advance search on some of them, it's interesting.

And clever. Report them or call them out for troll hunting and it causes more disharmony and disarray. Can't report them for trolling by troll hunting either.

HoneyDragon · 07/12/2015 12:30

And as lovely as MNHQ are and like reports I'm not reporting

This troll hunter is a troll.

Because id look like a dick head*

*well even more so than normal

OddSocksHighHeels · 07/12/2015 12:32

Trolls are troll hunting now? That's just hurting my brain.

HoneyDragon · 07/12/2015 12:38

I know. It is a bit head explodey.

But tbh, if I wanted to wind everyone up on here it's what I'd do. Go on a contentious or emotional threadnand start shouting troll.

Thankfully imdontbneed to resort to such drastic measures to annoy you all...

My natural charming nature and wise words is enough

PausingFlatly · 07/12/2015 12:39

Now that is something I've thought for a while, HD.

Don't know whether they're the same people who start troll threads, but I think some really enjoy the "poking the ants and watch them run".

Sparklingbrook · 07/12/2015 12:40

I think there's a fair few sockies around too. I wouldn't be surprised if trolls don't work alone. If a few get together sockying is easy.

OddSocksHighHeels · 07/12/2015 12:41

Well that's one of the problems with troll hunting, once one person starts it then others join in and the thread just gets derailed. It does make a weird kind of sense for a troll to do that

PurpleDaisies · 07/12/2015 12:41

Whenever i've reported people for troll hunting it has turned out that the op was a troll. It is pretty poor form though.

OddSocksHighHeels · 07/12/2015 12:42

sparkling I read socks in your first sentence and was all ready to defend myself then

Sparklingbrook · 07/12/2015 12:44

The majority of threads I have seen trollhunting on turn out to be troll threads unfortunately. The trollhunters are more often correct than not.

rainbowstardrops · 07/12/2015 12:44

I remember your post OP and it didn't occur to me that it was anything other than completely genuine.
I only wondered the other day if you had found out who paid yet!
Have you???? 🤔

Sparklingbrook · 07/12/2015 12:45

Sorry Socks

WeThreeMythicalKings · 07/12/2015 12:49

A 24 hour ban for troll hunters would be good. And a permanent ban if they don't stop it.

Sparklingbrook · 07/12/2015 12:51

I think the idea of a 'sin bin' came up on one of these threads a while ago, but it would be a nightmare to sort out.

Coconutty · 07/12/2015 12:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sparklingbrook · 07/12/2015 12:58

Very true Coconutty. permanent bans don't work so temporary bans won't. The determined will always find a way.

Headmelt · 07/12/2015 12:58

I had to name change and I'm not a troll. I felt I was left with no choice but to name change because all my details were 'on the list' during Geoff-gate. I think you need to be of the right mindset for mn, some days I avoid. I hope you feel better today Anchor 🎂 💞

OddSocksHighHeels · 07/12/2015 13:00

Lots of people name change, that doesn't make anybody a troll of course. It's the ones that name change to be sock puppets or to post bitchy stuff that are the problem.

Sparklingbrook · 07/12/2015 13:02

The namechanging is a whole other thread probably. The ease of namechanging does make MN attractive to trolls there's no getting away from that.

DixieNormas · 07/12/2015 13:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 07/12/2015 13:02

Temporary band would work for long standing members who are troll hunting as nobody wants to lose their username or ability to come back.

PausingFlatly · 07/12/2015 13:02

It doesn't even have to be on the same thread.

Just post, "Didn't so'n'so turn out to be a troll" and you'll get lots of "Oh my god, no, I would never have suspected. Thank you for warning me," without needing the teeniest jot of truth.

Got a grudge against a poster? Nice way to put the boot in.

That HoneyDragon, you know. The blue children story was all made up.

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