Should MN maybe post a thread daily mentioning high profile threads which have turned out to be trolls?

[HeartsAndClubs]

I know that in theory mn doesn’t want to talk about which threads have been troll threads, especially when they’ve been there a while. But the reality is that members do talk about these threads,because people post asking what happened to the poster etc. But then MN remove the thread for being a TAAT because it’s “against guidelines” which then means that because those who haven’t seen it haven’t seen it they post another thread which is then deleted for being a TAAT and so it continues.

So surely it would be better to either post a thread talking about which high profile (i.e. the funeral thread to name one) threads have been removed, and people can go there before posting a “what happened to/I’m worried about/hope x is ok” type thread. You could, if you didn’t want discussion of the particular trolls, remove commenting.

Thing is there will always be trolls, and when they’re outed they will always be discussed. Especially in the case of trolls who have been particularly emotive ones where users may personally have become invested due to their own circumstances.

Hmm ... my first thought is that it might be abused by other trolls - a source of what works in terms of getting a reaction.

I think just listing the thread title, along with the OP, would be a good idea. No reason needs to be given though - so putative trolls won't get any clues!

Good idea @BIWI

I would appreciate this, I often get taken in by them and would appreciate knowing which ones weren't real.

Afternoon, everyone. Thanks for the idea. We can see why that might be helpful in some ways but we think it could prove tricky in others.

What we will try to do is to be as clear as we can in deletions, which hopefully will stop some of the threads about threads. And maybe it would be an idea if we said when we took a TAAT down that it was a thread about a troll thread? That might make things clearer and save further confusion too.

I don't think the trolls should have any more mentions than is necessary. If a thread is deleted there's only going to be a couple of reasons.
Good idea for there to be a little bit more info on the TAAT deletions though.

One main way in which it could be tricky is by showing how many threads are discovered to have been started by trolls.

@FuckeryOmbudsman

One main way in which it could be tricky is by showing how many threads are discovered to have been started by trolls.

Very good point. It would highlight the troll thread count each day.

@HebeMumsnet in what ways do you think it would be tricky? Genuine question!

All we'd need is a list of thread titles and the name of the OP. Possibly the date the thread was started.

... or even, as putting the name of the OP could be an issue, I suppose, simply the thread title?

Haha no way will mn ever want to admit how many are trolls or possible trolls. Imagine the responses of the long ongoing sagas so many fell for, like Soft play zilla, Korean grandma, etc etc

@Merrilee

Haha no way will mn ever want to admit how many are trolls or possible trolls. Imagine the responses of the long ongoing sagas so many fell for, like Soft play zilla, Korean grandma, etc etc

Don’t forget Penis beaker!

You would still get people posting ‘what happened to x thread’ because no one can be bothered to check first.

[quote BIWI]@HebeMumsnet in what ways do you think it would be tricky? Genuine question!

All we'd need is a list of thread titles and the name of the OP. Possibly the date the thread was started.

... or even, as putting the name of the OP could be an issue, I suppose, simply the thread title?[/quote]
If we got things wrong (I hear it sometimes happens, don't believe it myself tbh) then it might be a bit... awkward for a poster to see their name in lights on the trolls of the day thread. We also think it might be quite exciting for some bridge dwellers to get their thread on a daily list. Their motivations often baffle us but they do seem to universally crave attention, which is why we try not to give it to them. We definitely take the point that our deletion messages, particularly on threads about threads, could be more detailed - and we'll make sure this happens from here on.

And always remember that if you have any questions about our moderation, do drop us a line on the usual address: [email protected] - thank you.

Not just troll threads. There are 3 threads I've posted on in the last few days, all deleted because of 'real life concerns'. One of them was the 'trustworthy, discreet food delivery' one (which was very funny). How could the OP have 'real life concerns', they never gave any bloody details? But I can't ask anywhere whether the OP did finally come back to the thread because that would be a TAAT.

I don't think they would have enough time to do that daily. Must be about 70% of daily posts are fake/trolls I rekon

Korean granny was a troll?

Ah yes. I take your point @YetAnotherBeckyMumsnet. Can see it becoming a sort of 'Trolls Top Ten'

But I can't believe you ever get things wrong!

I think it would give the trolls more attention. They want to be discussed and wondered about. I think it's better to give them as little airtime as possible.

I think posting a daily list of troll threads would be somewhat embarrassing for MN as they’d need to acknowledge a) how many troll threads there actually are and b) know they were definitely troll threads.

The term ‘troll’ has become something of a catch-all, meaning everything from ‘someone who disagrees with me’ to the perverts who use MN for wank fodder.

Mumsnet need to be better in zapping rogue threads. I’ve often reported a thread which has pinged my trolldar, only to be told that they have no reason to suspect the poster but will keep an eye on it. It then goes on to see the thread removed yet none of the people who reported it will be acknowledged and if they posted any troll-hunting, their posts were deleted but still count against them.

So basically, posters who identify trolls to MN are punished.

It also troublesome from the perspective that potentially:

60% of posts are totally made up.
50% of posts are real
75% of posts other posters agree with but they have no idea what they voting for

And so on.

... on the other hand, though, perhaps it will open the eyes of some of those posters who tend to believe that everything posted here is the truth?

@BIWI

... on the other hand, though, perhaps it will open the eyes of some of those posters who tend to believe that everything posted here is the truth?

That’s true as well. I was v naive when I first joined and got well and truly amazed when a long running, fast moving, live update thread got pulled because it was a troll. I felt cheated. I wanted to know the ending. 😂 I remember the thread. But if that popped up this morning I’d be ‘well that’s a troll’ immediately.

I've never really understood why people get so het up about troll threads (except the ones on very serious or upsetting topics, which are surely pretty infrequent). Surely we largely post on threads as if they can be taken at face value, while being aware that any thread might be pure fiction. If a thread I've posted on turns out to be fake , I'm not fussed tbh!

@lazylinguist

I've never really understood why people get so het up about troll threads (except the ones on very serious or upsetting topics, which are surely pretty infrequent). Surely we largely post on threads as if they can be taken at face value, while being aware that any thread might be pure fiction. If a thread I've posted on turns out to be fake , I'm not fussed tbh!

Well some posters do seem genuinely aggrieved when a thread they were following goes poof! They want closure presumably. Then they start a TAAT demanding to know the outcome. 🤷‍♀️

Penis beaker was a troll????