The problem with trolling is the definition and people's understanding of it. For me, a troll is someone who makes up a story for sympathy, money, clicks whatever the reason, we've had a number of them over the years.
But to other people trolling is considered people who express nasty opinions. I don't consider those trolls, I consider them to be people who are just unpleasant and have a keyboard to do it behind.
In terms of the community feel there has definitely been a change, and likely part of that is because MN has expanded, and with it we have more people ready to take advantage.
But back in the day we had mile for Maud in memory of a well-known poster whose baby died of SIDS. When another poster's DD died of cancer the posters were there for her because she was a well known poster. Equally when onlyjoking's dh died of a brain tumour MN was there throughout his illness and even arranged a collection for him. Equally misdee's DH had a heart transplant and MN'ers were aware.
Even the MN Christmas appeal was started by an individual or collective of individuals who were well known members, and that gathered momentum over the years until it became too big.
But now we have so many trolls who are prepared to use those situations to their advantage, such as the most recent one, that not only is it not possible to have a community feel any more due to the size of MN, but MN have reached a point where they will no longer permit it because of the possibility that it's more likely a fraud than not and they can't allow their site to be used for the purpose.