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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

This thread has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines

27 replies

Lycanthropology · 20/09/2022 09:32

Aargh! The annoyance of going to look at a thread you've been on and enjoying and finding this message in its place. The worst part is not knowing or being able to work out why.

I was on a thread a day or two ago that I thought was pretty benign and inoffensive, so was mystified and disappointed to find it deleted and having broken guidelines. It must have taken a very bizarre turn!

AIBU to wish there was just a little explanation, literally one or two words as to what was done wrongly when the "broken guidelines" message appears, be it on a post or whole thread? Would help us not make the same mistake again, after all!

OP posts:
pastabest · 20/09/2022 09:34

Its getting trolled a lot at the moment so most of the time a thread is deleted because it's been started by a previously banned poster.

They will start benign threads to try and build up a 'normal' posting history before hitting us with the weird shit.

cultkid · 20/09/2022 09:36

It is annoying isn't it?

I also find that a lot of posters have been really rather rude recently on here. It's like PMS on steroids isn't it

I don't know I feel like some posts are written and they are not genuine, not particularly a troll just someone who's looking to occupy their time and get a bit of sympathy so they write posts about things that sound a bit sad?

Original poster
Lycanthropology · 20/09/2022 09:37

pastabest · 20/09/2022 09:34

Its getting trolled a lot at the moment so most of the time a thread is deleted because it's been started by a previously banned poster.

They will start benign threads to try and build up a 'normal' posting history before hitting us with the weird shit.

Ah, that makes sense. There have been a ridiculous amount of trolls recently.

Usually there's a message about a PBP though, rather than saying the thread has broken guidelines?

OP posts:
Original poster
Lycanthropology · 20/09/2022 09:39

Such threads are awful, @cultkid , the invented sob stories; so many take the time to try and help or advise, and they can make people sad.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 20/09/2022 09:40

I was on one about Paddington yesterday and it went poof! I can only assume it was started by a banned poster because it really wasn't that bad.

Mrsjayy · 20/09/2022 09:43

Maybe the deleter has a couple of deletion messages they can use so just presses whichever one the want.

RightOnTheEdge · 20/09/2022 09:44

I wish they would leave the title on so I know which thread it was.
Sometimes I'm reading one before I fall asleep or start work and when I go back to MN it's been deleted and I can never remember what the thread was about and it really bugs me!

Sparklingbrook · 20/09/2022 09:46

This place is awash with trolls at the moment so I would assume troll in all cases.

Original poster
Lycanthropology · 20/09/2022 09:50

I always had the impression that the "breaking guidelines" message was to do with the actual content of the post or thread, rather than because it was started by a troll/PBP?

In any case it would be good to know!

So annoying in the case of an entertaining and/or inoffensive thread (even if started by a PBP) that you're enjoying, and it disappears without explanation!

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 20/09/2022 09:52

I don't think that deeply about it. Thread's gone, there's a handful of reasons maybe top one being troll, but it doesn't make much difference at that point.

5YearsLeft · 20/09/2022 09:53

I’m actually really confused. I was about to email MNHQ. We had a troll post on the overnight insomnia thread, and I reported their comment, but now it looks like the whole thread is deleted and there were no “bad” comments that I saw (I missed the last four comments before deletion) besides a single one by a troll. (Sorry; I know this comment is a TAAT, but I just feel so badly for all the people who really needed some support last night - it was a pretty busy one).

whatwasIgoingtosay · 20/09/2022 10:30

@RightOnTheEdge I agree - wish they would leave the thread title on, and just put 'this thread has been removed..' etc.
The last few days have been bad for really nasty, goady posts about the Queen's death and funeral - no respectful debate possible.

Original poster
Lycanthropology · 20/09/2022 10:33

Sparklingbrook · 20/09/2022 09:52

I don't think that deeply about it. Thread's gone, there's a handful of reasons maybe top one being troll, but it doesn't make much difference at that point.

Oh I don't think deeply about it at all! 😁

Just wondered why gentle inoffensive threads go pouf, and - nosily - why some individual posts get taken down. 🙂

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 20/09/2022 10:37

Lycanthropology · 20/09/2022 10:33

Oh I don't think deeply about it at all! 😁

Just wondered why gentle inoffensive threads go pouf, and - nosily - why some individual posts get taken down. 🙂

Show quote history

If you email MNHQ they'll tell you.

WhenDovesFly · 20/09/2022 10:38

If I'm looking at MN on my iPad via Safari, the name of the thread is still on the tab at the top, even when it's deleted. Otherwise I wouldn't always have a clue which one it was.

MNHQ
HopeMumsnet · 20/09/2022 10:47

Hi all,
That was my fault, sorry! It was one of several threads started by the same troll - we deleted them all at the same time, hence the standard message. Point taken though and we’ll make sure we give more info in cases like this, because it was a rather innocuous thread really.
Do remember you’re always welcome to drop us a line if you want more info about a deletion, we're happy to help clear up any confusion.
Regarding the titles disappearing, though, this is something we will need to tell Tech about, could you possibly tell us which browser you are using, @RightOnTheEdge ?

Original poster
Lycanthropology · 20/09/2022 10:57

But but but... @HopeMumsnet I didn't say which thread I was talking about!
It wasn't the insomnia one, nor the one there's another AIBU about.

It was "Can you smell illness on others?" which was about, well, smelling illness. It also went on to other feats of olfactory prowess, like smelling ladybirds.
I didn't see the issue, and deletion message only says breaks guidelines, not troll or PBP.

OP posts:
LifeIsaRollerCoaster1 · 20/09/2022 11:17

I don't actually mind a bit of fiction, in fact I prefer to think some are fiction than someone's real life. Maybe they should have a fiction board for outlandish made up posts. It annoys me when they delete threads just because the op isn't getting the replies they thought they would, privacy concerns is always the excuse 🤣, yeah. Rule 1 if you create a thread just switch round a few details/alter ages/dates slightly if you don't want your work mate to know you are bitching about them. It annoyed me the other day posts were being deleted because they weren't pro what the op was saying, literally any other point of view poof!

pastabest · 20/09/2022 11:41

If only there was some way to keep useful threads standing without allowing the troll /PBP to create a posting history.

MNHQ
LilyMumsnet · 20/09/2022 16:47

Lycanthropology · 20/09/2022 10:57

But but but... @HopeMumsnet I didn't say which thread I was talking about!
It wasn't the insomnia one, nor the one there's another AIBU about.

It was "Can you smell illness on others?" which was about, well, smelling illness. It also went on to other feats of olfactory prowess, like smelling ladybirds.
I didn't see the issue, and deletion message only says breaks guidelines, not troll or PBP.

Do you have the title of the thread? We'll have another dig and double check what happened here!

RightOnTheEdge · 20/09/2022 16:51

Hi @HopeMumsnet I use chrome on my android phone.
I've got a rubbish memory and I'm really nosy so it bugs me thinking Ooh! I wonder what that was! 😆

Original poster
Lycanthropology · 20/09/2022 17:02

Thank you @LilyMumsnet ! The thread was called:

Can anyone else smell ‘illness’

Exactly like that; no question mark… started on Friday or Saturday. Seemed inoffensive to me, but maybe took a darker turn when I was off MN for a day?

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DadOnIce · 20/09/2022 17:10

Disappointing to see the DH having a big sulk over the naming of 'Portofino' the teddy was probably a troll! That was shaping up to be highly amusing. I couldn't wait to see how stompy DH proposed to make his DW 'resolve' it!

DrAddisonForbesMontgomery · 20/09/2022 19:04

I'm glad someone has posted about this, i was on the insomnia thread last night and couldn't for the life of me work out why it was removed this morning!

Original poster
Lycanthropology · 20/09/2022 19:45

Yes @DadOnIce & @DrAddisonForbesMontgomery It's a shame that they can't somehow block and ban the troll/PBP but let the thread stand if it's fun, interesting or informative!
But more than anything else, please just let us know why a thread goes poof!

OP posts: