Goading and group pile ons

[LuckyHazelFox]

I would be grateful if you could confirm what measures you take to deal with goady posters and pile on attacks. I am seeing this on here every day and nothing is being done about it. I have sent you two emails.

The pestering IS pestering when posters are tagged to ask why they've not responded to a question because they haven't got a good answer. That's being argumentative. That's only one part of what I reported. All opinions are valid and to suggest otherwise is part of the reason we are now here. Requesting evidence of fact is entirely different. Small gradual incidents can build up into targeting one poster, using a range of Different tactics. I sat back on this for weeks.

Have the TG been updated?

I have had the same reply.

You don’t have to defend it anyway. Mnhq saw the posts and agreed with you.

I disagree that all opinions are equally valid if some are based on evidence and some are not.

I also disagree that it's pestering to ask people repeatedly to provide evidence for their claims. If people find it annoying, then surely the solution is to provide the evidence or not make claims that can't be substantiated?

It can turn into that sometimes, yes. I try not to post anything that I can't back up as I've been on mn for a long time so I know how it works. I can't provide a link to back up all of my opinions, but they're still my opinions.

I have seen posters demanding links/evidence for example on something that I know they are fully aware of already. The demand for a link in that context is being used to deride the source.

Thank you. I wasn't going to add anymore to this thread after clarification. It's only going to go round in circles.

Yes I have had the same response.

So if I start a thread saying, for example, Badenoch is sleeping with Farage I can do so and not bother to provide evidence. And if people keep asking for evidence I can claim I am being piled on and report them? And MNHQ won't delete my thread as it could be true?

Seems so, because apparently all opinions are equally valid and people would be pestering you if they pushed you to back up your claims with evidence.

Yep. Clearly mnhq can see the issues you’ve raised, as much as there’s opposition to it. Thanks for sticking your neck out.

Opinions remain subjective. That's up to you to choose whether they are valid or not, but it doesn't reset the definition of an opinion. If I was categorically asserting something as fact, fair enough. That hasn't happened all the times I've been jumped upon. I know I've been the victim of a witchhunt, so I brought it to the attention of HQ.

Agree. Thanks from me also @LuckyHazelFox. Let's hope things change for the better.

Well, as long as the rules are applied consistently, we can have a free-for-all of disinformation from all sides of the political spectrum. Could be fun. Or messy.

@EasternStandard I'm glad MNHQ have clarified matters. I will be abiding by my own principles as well. The ignore option is certainly the best way forward.

Thank you @LuckyHazelFox

I also have been the subject of the odd group pile on. It's unpleasant and makes you feeling like leaving MN (though I'm also too stubborn to give bullies the satisfaction).

I'm glad to hear that MN considers it against site rules. Not sure that has been clear up until now.

But posters often use their opinion to make a claim.

I can claim the earth is flat or I can say that I think the earth is flat.

The first I will need to back up, the second is just a personal believe.

I agree you have. If only the CITME board could be rebalanced, but it's too late for that. It's a good example though of some opinions being seen worthy more than others. A lot of posters were driven from there.

The 'ignore' option is the way forward. I don't even read some posts and ignore when tagged.

That's my number one choice of method, as of right now. It will make dealing with my notifications a lot quicker and cause less of a (literal) headache.

Indeed they were and I imagine it was largely because of the group pile on issue, because I've seen people absolutely hounded on there and accused of the most horrible things - like having no care for dead babies & children - just because of having an unpopular opinion about which side is more responsible for the Gaza war.

A one to one or small group discussion is one thing. But group pile ons against a single poster are not ok.

@BeckyAMumsnet would MN consider introducing an "ignore" function? I've seen it used very effectively on other discussion sites such as The Student Room.

Concur.

@Twiglets1you’re made of steel on that board I’ll give you that.

I wasn't on the thread in question, so I can't comment on any "witchhunt". If that was the case, then of course, you were absolutely within your rights to report to MN and ask them to take action.

My comments are not about that thread as I haven't read it. I am here specifically to ask @BeckyAMumsnet for clarification on the instructions which she posted on that thread (linked from this one), in which she seemed to be saying that we were not allowed to press for evidence when we believe that posters have made false claims.

And while I take your point about the difference between opinion and fact, there is often a fine line. If, for example, I were to state "I think @LuckyHazelFox is an axe murderer" (I don't!), then that is technically my opinion but it would be entirely reasonable to ask for evidence of how I might have arrived at that opinion because it implies that there is a factual basis for this opinion which may or may not exist.

It sadly happens when Jewish solidarity threads pop up, as happened recently. Not so much the pile on of individual posters but the way the thread is turned. I'm not saying I am a posting angel but I'd like an even chance at having a say. That's meant to be the point of a discussion forum.

Haha thank you.

There are some posters I would love to just never see their posts again though, which an "ignore" function would offer.