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Original poster

Should we be a ZERO TROLL-Tolerance site?

76 replies

QuintessenceOfFrankenShadow · 13/10/2008 22:33

Should we combat trolling?
Or are there certain types of trolling we like?

Should we start reporting all posts we gather are trolls?

Should we stop feeding the trolls and silence them to death or give them their fun?

????

OP posts:
PussinJimmyWhoooos · 13/10/2008 22:36

yes but some threads that sound trollish are actually genuine...how to distinguish? I mean I nearly started a help, I can't remember whether I took my tampax out but can't find anything up there thread earlier so.....

dizzywitches · 13/10/2008 22:37

I'm really crap at telling too

I miss everything!!!

Original poster
QuintessenceOfFrankenShadow · 13/10/2008 22:37

Yes, but you would have posted as puss, not TruckdriverFred. right?

OP posts:
edam · 13/10/2008 22:38

And no. 5: should we stop yelling 'troll' when it's not called for? I'm sure there are some hairy kneed creatures crawling out from under bridges but it does get a bit tiresome when a perfectly ordinary OP from a newbie is greeted by troll accusations just because some other poster disagrees with the premise.

SmileandWave · 13/10/2008 22:39

Yes! We could nominate say 4 different MNers to go on Troll Patrol each night. Their mission (if they choose to accept it) would be to out, name and shame and exterminate all trolls.

The rest of us could all then point and laugh at the Trolls foolish misdeeds. Whaddya think?

Original poster
QuintessenceOfFrankenShadow · 13/10/2008 22:39

True. It is hard to tell. But like now, everybody has realized it is a troll, but keep engaging.

OP posts:
HRHSaintMamazon · 13/10/2008 22:39

well this one is quite obviously a troll.
he was on teh otehr night as well posting quite inflamatory posts.

i reported almost immediatly and asked if MNHQ could deal with this swiftly.

Whilst this current thread doesn't seem to owrrying how long until he looks around and discovers the abortion thread? or the extended breastfeeders?
I think that MN need to strap a pair on and face facts that there is a chance that some may be offended at being called a troll but if it measn that the place gets less dodgy posts then it is for teh greater good.

and this is from someone who was accused of trolling in her first week.

NappiesLaGore · 13/10/2008 22:40

pussin !

Original poster
QuintessenceOfFrankenShadow · 13/10/2008 22:40

I agree, trolls like this can cause potential damage once they start browsing around. I am sure he is having fun now, getting plenty of attention, and is sure to come back.

OP posts:
PussinJimmyWhoooos · 13/10/2008 22:52

You know, you would think I would have some decorum and would name change to discuss my lost tampax but perhaps not...

(I think I did take it out btw for any interested parties...my Gran freaked out when I announced I couldn't remember and told me to go and have a fish(!!) around to prevent TSS)

NappiesLaGore · 13/10/2008 22:53

well if it makes you feel any better, i tried to put one in once and discovered id already done it. twice. wasnt room for a third...

beanieb · 13/10/2008 23:00

you'll never get anyone to agree to one way of dealing with it. Some people like to spar with them, some people like to ignore them. WHen it's something like that one, I think swift repoing and then a few good insults works.

PussinJimmyWhoooos · 13/10/2008 23:01

I do feel better....but you can see how easy it would be to be mistaken for a troll though....agree something needs to be done - I mean this is meant to be a site to support parents and with all this going on, people may start to leave (look at what's happened with Cod) ...perhaps a membership fee? I for one, wouldn't mind subscribing and paying a yearly fee or something to stay on ment and I'm sure loads of others wouldn't. Would sort the wheat from the chaff but then someone searching the net for advice on stuff wouldn't be able to click on the links to mnet that google brings up...

Its a tough one..

NappiesLaGore · 13/10/2008 23:07

yes jimmy. i agree its a puzzler.
ive been thinking id do well to spend a bit more time in the 'real world' anyway... this'll blow over no doubt. tis good its free. and maybe its served its purpose for a lot of 'oldies'?

i know what you mean baout easily mistaken for a troll, i used to change my name like i changed my knickers, but people is all suspicious of that sort of thing atm

FimboGotAxed · 13/10/2008 23:09

I think when its particularly nasty (like the one pretending to be Rosemary West) then we multiple post to get prevent it being posted on, until mn have time to delete it.

PussinJimmyWhoooos · 13/10/2008 23:11

Yes but Mnet is great - I couldn't be without it and I wouldn't want to step away from mnet just because of the trolling iyswim? Obviously, if you feel you want to do that, then its your personal choice, but I'd rather tackle the problem head on. I do think that the flames are fanned though when people post oh bugger off troll or whatever as its getting a reaction...albeit a negative one, but still a reaction....

NappiesLaGore · 13/10/2008 23:11

ew fimbo. agree with you there (missed RW one)

Candlewax · 13/10/2008 23:15

I made a comment to a Troll and little lapin thought I was being nasty. I think it is very hard when trolls appear and not everyone is aware that they are indeed a troll.

HRHSaintMamazon · 13/10/2008 23:15

My SIL actually goes trolling.
She deliberatly baits people so that she gets a reaction. she isn't at all bothered by insults. in fact that is exactly what she wants.

If she is ignored and gets no reaction she see's the site as "boring" and leaves.

it really is the best way of dealing with them.

S1ur · 13/10/2008 23:16

No.

I like the trolling. There has been some hilarious trolls in the past, some mediocre vaguely amusing trolls, and a few high profile nasty ones.

I will resolutely resist fee paying and restrictions on namechanging and labels/tickers annoucing regularity.

Because.

I believe that mumsnet is a bit unusual, and it is a source of free and open support, advice and wit. Part of that is the familiarity we can have with each other.

We feel confident to 'play' occasionally and to make each other laugh with silly troll threads. And we are big enough and strong enough to sit on most minor dull annoying trolls.

There have been some high profile ones recently and that has left a bad taste. But I am certainly not going to risk throwing the blardy baby out with the farking bath water (to hijack a rather old fashioned phrase)

solidgoldskullonastick · 13/10/2008 23:19

PMSL at the idea of someone pretending to be Rosemary west, wish I'd thought of that one.
Now I know that Cod has had a problem with someone attacking and threatening her (which I hope she has reported to the police) but in general trolls are either funny or a minor irritation. I really don't see why so many people start foaming at the mouth and filling their knickers over the idea that not every poster may really be all that s/he claims to be. When it's people on line that you are never going to meet, what does it actually matter if their stories are true or not, if the stories are either entertaining or spark a good debate.

SaTanicGore · 13/10/2008 23:24

If you genuinely believe someone is a troll, ignore them.

Report the posts.

Continue to ignore them until MNHQ deal with them or the thread drops of the board.

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 13/10/2008 23:27

Well here's our current troll policy. We wrote this a while back but it pretty much still applies. If you don't agree with it, do shout.

littlelapin · 13/10/2008 23:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 13/10/2008 23:33

Not really, if I want my relationship to survive.