Coping with Trolls and Derailers

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

There have been some very persistent posters on here recently - some of them funny (unintentionally), and some of them not - dragging threads off track so we have to go back and explain something over and over again. I'm all for a lively debate, but there always comes a point when you realise that they are not listening at all, are on a blatant wind-up mission, or are just insulting posters with no intention of debating the original issues.

If we don't want this to happen, and bearing in mind that some people spot the pattern quicker than others, I was going to suggest that we have something like a warning word/phrase that could alert other posters to the fact that they are wasting their time. What do you think? Is this a stupid idea?

Saying "ah, a troll" just adds fuel to the fire you see. But if you were to say "I blame Princess Michael of Kent" or something, and then everyone disappears...well it might work?

Actually mosta re dittany, people I recognise from round and about MN

It really should be dittany. None of this "by parents, for parents" shit.

And it's so much more inclusive! Tanya and whatever he's called will be so happy.

I was just really enjoying the fact that YDW said that Sebastian Horsley helped prostitutes (by using them), and then expected us all to believe that s/he works rescuing women from prostitution.

Blimey that thread is bonkers!

I think what has happened on it has worked TBH.

People saying "this is bonkers and they're never going to stop so let's call it a day" and doing it.

The very very annoying thing about all of this is that we never get to bloody talk about anything, we keep getting chased off threads.

To try and continue posting on a thread where someone is talking directly to you and saying all sorts of inflammatory shit, is impossible.

MN were talking for a while about making some private spaces for people to talk...

Yes absolutely. But this trolling is getting ridiculous...

Was just a thought. That maybe we could post on here normally and invite everyone who turned up along but we'd be able to keep out the loons - but I guess it could go all mouldy on us.

It's just getting so frustrating.

Wow! That thread is shocking. Good job I missed it.
How would 4 or boden work?

"trolling" was on the ITV news this evening

in relation to FB bullying and some poor boy who committed suicide because of it

That FOSH thread made my brain bleed.

:( AF. Not the first case of online bullying I've heard of.

Sancti - that's really shocking about your friend. How awful. How the hell do you deal with something like that.

Makes me .

Thank god for people who care enough to do something. Makes me feel impoteant and at the same time.

As Lenin says, ignore is the best policy. They can't silence us if we just keep talking around them. Like water in a stream flowing around rocks

wukter...that poetry is profound

you have a gift

I can not get off the FOSH thread.

Not even the offer of choc biscuits will do it.

I have no restraint.

I can not let it go.

I know not of this FOSH thread

I think it best to stay away though

I used to post on another forum where you could ignore anything by a particular poster, if you so chose. I imagine that doing that here would depend on whether the forum software that mumsnet uses allows that - but having had a look at the FOSH thread, there are a few posters there that I'd like to ignore permanently.

Im so naive I wouldnt spot anything. What threads are they most likely to be on? I dont suppose there is anything you can do except not go into it. Its a shame for the genuine posters.

Can I just say that as someone who has only recently joined Mumsnet, but who has been lurking for a while, that I've been very disappointed with the way that my views have been dismissed by the regular established posters. If I didn't have particular interest in one thread and if I wasn't concerned that an injustice was being done I would have been scared away. Is this how you welcome new members?

I think you posted on a very emotive thread, where feelings were running high, and where people had some very strong opinions. Should they have soft-pedalled those opinions on a serious matter in order to lay out the welcome mat, woodstonobserver?

That thread's unbelievable isn't it? All those random full stops and ellipses - what's wrong with those people?

woodston, your views were dismissed because they were thought to be silly. You're quite at liberty to go and argue robustly and bump the thread up to 1000 posts. Some people like arguing about the bible, I'm sure you'll get some takers.

StayingDavidTennantsGirl - I'm with you. People come and go on here a lot, and change their names so we never know who's who, and the whole point of the place is that discussion is allowed. If we were all to bite our tongues lest some new person were to feel less than coddled it would be really silly.

To HerBeatitude, you might think my views are silly, but they are genuine. Everyone deserves to have their views treated with respect, even if you don't agree with them. Manners do not cost anything.

Also we don't know s/he's new.

The one with the random full stops has just referred to viper's nest. OK it's a standard expression, but still....

I diasgree woodstonobserver. There are some views which are too silly to treat with respect, or too offensive, or are obviously only being expressed in order to wind up everyone else.

For example, would you treat Nick Griffin's views with respect? I wouldn't/ don't.