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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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Original poster

etiquette when suspect a troll...

23 replies

Catz · 25/02/2008 20:28

...do you write on the thread, tell MN, ignore it?

A post on a very sad (if true) situation didn't sound quite genuine to me (from a new poster). I googled a few phrases and the post had been lifted from a general "what might happen if you are in X situation" website. The poster had changed the wording so where it said "you might be given Y treatment" it now says "I have been given Y treatment" etc so it now sounded as if "what might happen" had happened to her. Sounds extremely sus to me but I suppose it's possible that there might be a genuine reason for the cut and paste e.g. poor English or lack of understanding about what is happening(?)

Do I ignore it and let a lot of people spend a lot of time with advice and sympathy for someone who is probably not genuine? or do you post and potentially drive away someone who is already in a v. bad way and may have genuine reasons for the cut and paste job?

I've read the MN troll policy which seems to be saying that if I report it MN will let if be as they rely on posters to police the boards

I haven't posted here for long enough to know what is "done" so would appreciate any guidance.

OP posts:

colditz · 25/02/2008 20:29

I'd just leave it. Look at it this way - some who is in that situation, may search the boards, come across that thread and see some good advice.

K999 · 25/02/2008 20:30

Tbh I always post and give advice even if I suspect that it is a troll because you never really know.....more than not other posters can suss....but its not easy and I always like to give people the benefit of the doubt...

DiscoDizzy · 25/02/2008 20:30

You could post a link on here so we could all speculate on the thread your talking about. You see i'm curious now.

Carmenere · 25/02/2008 20:32

Tbh Catz, I would leave it, or just email mnhq with your suspicions and any proof you have. Most of the posters on here are happy to put the time and effort into the scenario at risk that it is genuine. And many of mners have been around long enough to have a hunch as to what is true or not.

MerlinsBeard · 25/02/2008 20:33

it would depend on the OP tbh.

If it seems to be something that someone could genuinly post about i post as i would in that situation in case in the future someone is searching for the same thing and they are genuine.

However, if its troubling you, report it to MNHQ and they can keep an eye on it

pedilia · 25/02/2008 20:36

I know which thread you are referring to and it does look a bit suss, as the wording is identical to advice posted on another website.
For everyone curious it is the there was a thread that got very heated over the weekend about a very sad situation,n a 2nd tread was also started.

WallOfSilence · 25/02/2008 20:37

If it's the thread i think it is then you should leave it.

If it's real then she gets the support she will need & if it isn't real then it might still give confidence to posters in the same situation.

I'd personally think twice before starting this type of thread over it.

Boco · 25/02/2008 20:37

I think you could report to mnhq. People invest a lot of time and emotional energy in supporting people - and if it's not genuine then I find it rather disturbing. Also, people who may have gone through similar experiences can be really upset, but still feel they should give support and time. I've seen this happen before twice and I thing for the sake of the person themselves aswell, it's much better if it's not allowed to continue and spiral. Maybe they could be encouraged to get some help and support for whatever their real issues are.

liahgen · 25/02/2008 20:38

thought you'd all done that already. Just give her the benefit of the doubt surely.

Think it's a bit sad you are still going on about it.

hatrick · 25/02/2008 20:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Olihan · 25/02/2008 20:42

I also know which one it is. I had my doubts about the original two threads but decided to just leave it as, like others have said, the advice may be useful for people in a similar situation.

There's nothing to be gained from trying to 'out' anyone and without definite proof MN won't do anything.

It's all a bit convenient and dramatic but there is still a tiny chance that it is real and the damage of falsely accusing someone in need is far greater than leaving it be.

I just read it, thought 'hmm' and closed it again.

liahgen · 25/02/2008 20:47

Hatrick i apologise if I'm wrong, I thought op was referring to the weekend one.

Didn't mean to offend anyone.

hatrick · 25/02/2008 20:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

FrannyandZooey · 25/02/2008 20:50

yes email MNHQ with your concerns
they are very good at reassurance / advice on this sort of thing

liahgen · 25/02/2008 20:50

lol hey lets hope everyone is wrong and everyone is lovely.

Original poster

Catz · 25/02/2008 21:04

Many thanks for your replies, I will mention it to MNHQ, I just got the impression from their troll policy that they'd rather boards were policed internally rather than by them.

Apologies if I did the wrong thing in starting this thread. I posted it here to try to avoid lots of attention or pointing at the thread I'm concerned about. Perhaps I should have ignored it but I'm so impressed at the energy that people put into giving advice and support on here that I am find it very sad that that might be exploited/diverted.

OP posts:

DaphneHarvey · 25/02/2008 21:15

I think its a really interesting question Catz. Am amazed and encouraged by the fact that apparently so many Mumsnetters are prepared to put their suspicions aside and post support/advice on threads that they think might possibly have been started by a troll. But the problem, as Boco so eloquently put it, is that the troll then isn't really addressing their underlying issue and it all becomes a self-perpetuating cycle. I have never accused anyone of being a troll by posting such. I just get off the thread and feel sad about it all.

Original poster

Catz · 25/02/2008 21:17

Oh and Liahgen, just to defend myself, I've not posted on the thread in question or ever raised any doubts about whether any poster is genuine before so I think you must be thinking of someone else when you suggest I'm still going on about it.

OP posts:

VeniVidiVickiQV · 25/02/2008 21:28

oh hatrick, what's up sweet?

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 25/02/2008 21:47

It's always worth reporting things if you think they are suspicious - though we always like to give folk the benefit of the doubt on the boards we can also do a bit of behind the scenes investigation (well JJ can) that may be able to shed some light on the matter.
Thanks
MNHQ

wannaBe · 25/02/2008 22:12

think it's difficult actually, especially the trolls that get really caugt up and end up having personal contact with people who want to help them etc, anyone remember that fox woman who was running away from her dh in Japan? Mn'ers got personally involved and one even met her in rl and others were trying to obtain documents for her etc. Desperately sad if it had been real, but considering it wasn't a lot of people were taken in by her and imo it would have been better if people had voiced their suspicions earlier on.

I think I know of the thread in question - because although I didn't read the original I've read the one today and it just seems very that someone who has given birth so prematurely just yesterday is already out of hospital and posting on mn, and that said poster has openly given out her contact details on a website that is open to all. .

hunkermunker · 25/02/2008 22:13

Sorry, Justine - have just posted on the thread in question. Realised I should've emailed you again first, but I was cross.

hunkermunker · 25/02/2008 23:29

Are you OK, Hatrick?

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