The site is ruined until you deal with trolls.

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

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.

Sorry you had a rough time, Anchor.

I read your thread and thought it was better than Rebus - the "who paid for the dinner?" mystery.

Was it ever solved?

Ive been here 7 odd years- a few years ago, close to Christmas, I posted a thread about how pissed off, I had taken all my wages out, gone to the shops and someone stole my purse. I wished a pox upon them and that was that, I was looking for a sympathetic ear and a few new cursewords I could use.

I posted and went off for about 45 mins. I came back and wow - just wow// trolls, troll hunters, the works! They pulled apart my post, my previous posts, questioned and turned everything, it was frightening. MN came on he thread to be fair and said, this is an established poster, not looking for money, calm down but in the end, I had to name change and never post anything of my business again.

I come here a lot less now than I used to - the trolls and fake threads are enough but its the regulars who name change and start fake threads annoy me more so I stay away for my blood pressures sake

I feel for ya OP but unless MN have someone who is on the ball here 24 7, I cant see a solution

It would be interesting to hear how many reports HQ look at that do turn out to be trolls against how many were inconclusive.
In the last month I've reported 2 OPs and both turned out to be PBPs.
But obviously, most people on this thread would seem to prefer that they had been left to stand with their leeching racist disablist goadyfuckery.

I think a few graphs and pie charts would be very informative ThenLater.

Not one poster said they would like PBP to post goady racist shit ThenLaterWhenItGotDark. What a very goady and nasty thing to say.

The fact that often HQ's response is 'long term poster=non troll' is risible. Because almost all the really vile bloodsucking trolls that have been outed on here in the 11 years I've been here have built up a rock solid longterm persona first. They are the real scum.
Some twat who joins one afternoon and scatterguns a few insults is quickly dealt with. The others are harder.

Nobody wants goady threads to stand, regardless of whether they're started by a PBP or not, but report them. Let MNHQ deal with them.

Yeah, that's me. Goady and nasty.

I wouldn't like that ThenLater I do think the disabilist sentiment on this site is overwhelming. As someone with invisible disabilities, I have been on the receiving end but I'm an adult capable of dealing with it. What must be like as a parent to read such things about their child, well I can't even imagine.

You said "most people on this thread would seem to prefer that they had been left to stand with their leeching racist disablist goadyfuckery". I totally refute that and the allegation is indeed goady and nasty.

So THAT'S where all DS's missing socks go - they're all fecking about trolling & troll hunting on MN.

OP - I remember your post & didn't think for a minute you weren't genuine. I'm still really curious about who did that for you.

I hate trolls and I hate it when I see other people getting taken in by a troll. Unfortunately some people are very gullible.
However, It's not a problem you can solve so you have to learn to live with it.

I completely agree that troll hunting should be banned but I'm occasionally glad to see it on threads where people are being taken in and MNHQ haven't showed up.
Silly story trolls are one thing but ones with upsettjng stories are quite another. They are just shits.
The one area that I think MNHQ could deal with differently is threads where OPs stories end up relying on them getting offers of money or goods. I know plenty of them must genuine such as TakeMeUoTheNorthMountain's but I think a fair few of them are scammers and it is IMPOSSIBLE for us or MNHQ to know the difference. I think by allowing some of them it encourages more scammers. I bet I could easily start a thread where I could MN's to send me money or goods. You would have to word it carefully and not actually ask for anything but that would be easy enough. It's one thing to ask for budgeting tips but another to do so while detailing how hungry your 8 children are IYSWIM
I'm a serial name changer but I think you should t be allowed to name change mid thread. That might help a little.
I will also admit to the occasional bit of very subtle troll hunting but if it's anything sensitive I'd only report it as I know that really crazy unbelievable stuff does happen in real life. I report quite readily as I presume that MNHQ are much better at identifying trolls than I am. They always seems to reply quickly.

I sympathise with you OP.

I have been accused of being a troll. I find it offensive to think posters would think I was making things up to upset people.

1 comment was really fucking offensive and it upset me a tad. Lord knows how I would feel if I was in a bad place and posting for support and was then accused of being a troll.

Trolls do a lot of damage to innocent posters on here but it would be better if troll hunting was not posted on threads but reported to HQ as they ask posters to do.