Abandoning the policy of responding to all reports was a mistake I think.

[SerfTerf]

It's quite startling to read today that @thefirstmrsdv and @maryz have both given up reporting or lost faith in the report system.

I believe ALL reports used to receive a response of some sort? I know there was a bit of uproar when that changed.

I'm thinking that maybe going back to the old way might result in more dialogue and more people willing to report generally ( ?)

There used to be a lot of banter (!) with lovely HelenMN and RebeccaMN.

And OliviaMN & RowanMN.

They used to actually fool about on the threads with us. I guess MN is too big for that sort of thing now .

MN is no longer a friendly little cafe, it's a hypermarket with twisty turny passages, all alike.

I have reported an evident troll about 3 times over the past couple of weeks, sat on my hands and not posted on the thread. Poster has posted similar threads over the years, not sure of the purpose of posting but maybe practice for writing fiction as does not really engage even with supportive posters, a bit like zeebrugge. It would have been useful to have a response from MNHQ as to why they are not deleting like we used to, as I can see people are starting to get frustrated and posting troll huntery stuff.

I think people should just stop now keep starting threads tbh about it, it won't hurry HQ up with a response.

Constance Agreed. It's like banging your head against a brick wall. I'll look forward to seeing what's happened by tomorrow. I shall keep up hopefully on the other site.

What? 15 or so deleted threads on the same subject is too many?

and for those pressing the button this weekend; we're just trying to keep you on your toes!

My 2 nd thread gone. No doubt a ban coming...hey ho

I know exactly which thread you mean,junior.

I do find they take longer to delete stuff now, there was a really annoying and disturbing thread from a fake social worker claiming to work with victims of abuse fairly recently that I reported more than once and lots of other people seemed to be reporting it too, took ages for it to be finally pulled. All you seem to have to troll on MN is use a different IP address and they can't do anything.

I've been out. Have I missed anything?

Nope, nothing

IMO the do delete things quicker. But then I remember that after about 2am there was virtually no deletions until nearly 7am sometimes closer to 9am at the weekend. However, i took a break and there might have been a nice blip in the middle when deletions were faster. I might have missed it.

We are not allowed to self-moderate. That would be ok if the site was moderated properly, but it isn't and won't be because of the overwhelming cost.

MaryZ you have nailed it. This is exactly the problem. They won't let us do it, but they won't spend money to do it properly themselves.

JuniorCakeOff - I also reported the Zeebrugge stylee poster...

Pearly. No

I still report a lot of the obviously enhanced threads and some get zapped but the ones that are almost neon-lit in trollishness seem to carry on gathering steam. MN isn't the place that it was because in terms of people looking for support, my instinctive reaction is to sniff the air for the smell of troll and that can't be right or helpful to the people who desperately need help and support but the leeching trolls have made me too wary of encouraging things.

I think it is the frustration of reporting, hearing nothing, thread still there, thread still there, knowing that others have reported, but MNHQ won't do anything. And then it all comes to bite them on the arse like the David and Caroline one.

There are currently three threads on someone being fostered, in Fostering, Chat and AIBU, where the responses from the OP are identical in each thread. I've reported, others have reported, and have given a gentle prod on the thread, and we just get the "peace and love" response from MN. The similarity in story and posting style to a previous troll are striking, but this doesn't seem to have set any hares running with MNHQ. Surely if multiple people have their doubts about a thread (as was clearly the case with D & C) then this should make them think "oooh, maybe all these people might have a point..."?

Exactly, Ginslinger - people in similar circumstances get sucked in and try and be helpful and they are the ones who get shat on.

I've really reduced my reports too, I see a thread I don't believe and I just move on. If others are doing the same too that can't be good for the site.

We've always had an issue with scam artists taking advantage of people, that's the internet for you, but the more they get away with, the more that will happen, avalanche style.

Maybe I should just write more.

Sorry hit send too soon.

I mean, maybe longer, more detailed reports help.

They used to actually fool about on the threads with us. I guess MN is too big for that sort of thing now

And there are too many new posters who jump on HQ for every single little tiny error.

Scadenfreude, I've been and looked at Zeebrugge after your and the others' gentle hints on the fostering thread. I'm in awe of your skill at recognising posting styles, and memory.

Now when I read, I don't believe anything anyone says- everything now sounds fake. Which can't be right, either!