Some users seemingly having "protected" status

[MatildaIThink]

Hey @MNHQ

Why do some users seemingly have "protected" status on here?

There are some who regularly troll, post comments which are deliberately unhelpful at best, often rude, sarcastic etc. yet their posts almost never get moderated. However when anyone replies to them in a similar tone, or disagreeing with them, those replies get "moderated" almost instantly, with replies moderated out of existence merely by the nature of disagreeing with them?

Why are certain posters allowed to get away with almost anything, what is the reason that they gain this special status?

Thanks

Have you reported the posts you think are rude/sarcastic etc? Because I assume MNHQ needs reports to be aware of things that are contrary to the forum guidelines.

MNHQ can only delete posts if they're reported, they don't sit there reading the boards. Presumably the posts weren't flagged by anyone.

I imagine there's a list of vexatious reporters though...

Yes, I have reported them and they stay there, but pretty much anyone who replies to them disagreeing gets their post moderated in minutes.

And it's hardly a crime to be sarcastic

It’s a thing, to be honest, and it has been as long as I’ve been around.

I suppose it’s because so much moderating is subjective. It won’t change. I hate it but it won’t.

It’s not something I’ve noticed in all my time on mumsnet tbh.

Perhaps MNHQ think your complaint is invalid. There's a gulf between 'rude' and 'offensive' in most cases. Just because you don't like what someone is saying doesn't mean you can silence them.

Name names or it didn’t happen!

@CovidPassQuestion

And it's hardly a crime to be sarcastic

The irony.

But no of course it’s not but it could be inappropriate given the context. If someone has posted about a bereavement or PND or distress at their relationship ending, a sarky comment obviously would be probably against TGs.

There is a poster I've noticed quite a few times in the past fortnight as being overly-argumentative... but it's not a name I've seen previously, nor are they making any personal attacks, so whilst it's annoying, there's no valid reason to take down their posts.

Not irony @ThatsNotMyPinkUnicorn - humour.

@CovidPassQuestion

Perhaps MNHQ think your complaint is invalid. There's a gulf between 'rude' and 'offensive' in most cases. Just because you don't like what someone is saying doesn't mean you can silence them.

I might agree if it was not the case that anyone else posting similar comments gets moderated in minutes, and replies of a similar tone get moderated in minutes, yet some users seem to be allowed to troll with impunity.

And tbf I have never in over 15 years on MN seen anyone be sarky on a bereavement thread.

Seriously? #bekind or be deleted, are those our options?

@SmellyOldOwls

Seriously? #bekind or be deleted, are those our options?

I hope the options are wider than that, but I do also hope that "Be a troll" is not an option, although some people seem to be permitted to do so.

I might agree if it was not the case that anyone else posting similar comments gets moderated in minutes, and replies of a similar tone get moderated in minutes, yet some users seem to be allowed to troll with impunity.
I think maybe we need a link to a thread like this, as I've obviously missed them all!

Can you give examples?

I like the straight talking on here, and cannot get stressed about other posters voicing their own opinions whether I agree or not.

@CovidPassQuestion

There is a poster I've noticed quite a few times in the past fortnight as being overly-argumentative... but it's not a name I've seen previously, nor are they making any personal attacks, so whilst it's annoying, there's no valid reason to take down their posts.

Some posters seem to break the 'deliberately inflammatory' or 'just seriously unpleasant' criteria. One incident alone may not be deemed problematic but a series of reports for the same poster may flag them up as a serial troublemaker.

But is this the millennial definition of 'troll' or the real one?

Honestly, MN thrives on its viper reputation. It's the differentiating factor between MN and all those other 'mummy' sites with their incessant 'hun' and 'bubba' nonsense.

I'm here for the sarcasm and the straight talking. If there is something offensive then report it.

Please don't petition to water down the conversation here to another mush-fest. There are plenty of other options for that.

I agree@ErrolTheDragon, but I also think mnhq take those posters posts down, or at least IME. (Though I'm not here as much as I used to be tbf).

@Negligee what are you doing?? Report your post and have it removed.

@ChequerBoard

Honestly, MN thrives on its viper reputation. It's the differentiating factor between MN and all those other 'mummy' sites with their incessant 'hun' and 'bubba' nonsense.

I'm here for the sarcasm and the straight talking. If there is something offensive then report it.

Please don't petition to water down the conversation here to another mush-fest. There are plenty of other options for that.

I don't like the fake supportive rubbish either and I like honesty.

What I have an issue with is that there seems to be a level of incivility which gets most people moderated, I see posts that seemed fine, if a little close to the mark get moderated, yet some other posters are continually allowed to post things far more abrasive, yet get away with it.

I have no problem with the rules, if they are consistent, my issue is that they seem to not apply to some people.