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?

fo' sho'...

Yep.

Killfiles?

Do you think the troll can get to 1000 posts on its own? (interested emoticon) It is quite fascinating to watch in a 'look at me' kind of way....

I counted 15 posts now.

I love the Window theory, too.
Similarly to Aitch I never heard of killfiles.
Oh, and thanks a lot for showing how to use 4 or boden to signal a troll.

actually my biggest laugh was when someone (seriously) referred to YouDont as a "very lovely lady".

ahem

killfiles?

PMSL.
I think it's up to 12 posts now

I count 10

I had a look at that other thread. That poster had 221 posts in just two days. I do not think I had as many in the 5 years I visit Mumsnet for.

That has really gone into serious "not well in the head" territory, hasn't it?

well you'd better buck up yer ideas then, hadn't you ginger?

This thread has so many intelligent, adult posts in it (only 6 pages as well), that I could only lower the tone.

BeerTrickPotter You have just made me so happy. I was wondering whether it is just my English or do those posts make any sense at all. Obviously I did not read them all.

so how does a killfile work, len? is it as good as my moron setting? perhaps it should be called a biscuit setting, for politeness?

Wow! There was a time when I thought DP was a man.
Although I must stay you never "like" a football player if you are a supporter. You either idolise them or hate them. (Coming from a football mad family.) Sorry for the very non-feminist derailment, but this is my observation.

I haven't been on the thread that went crazy. I was on the recent lap dancing thread and I thought the treatment AF got was pretty bad, although it was on AIBU and not the feminist section.

I think the whole window thing and talking to 19 lurkers is really great if you are feeling strong and feel that you can promote your ideas to many others.

I am not sure I can feel like that about feminism. It isn't like gay rights where I can sit and take a load of grief because I am not gay so it is not really happening to me.

But I am a woman, and I feel that the feminism section has been over taken by people saying the most awful things about women, over and over again, and they are talking about the real lives that we have to live. It isn't a theoretical argument - it is about our real problems in life. I am not convinced I am strong enough to deal with that, and I wonder how many lurkers feel strong enough to deal with it.

So sorry to be a bit depressing and ramble on this thread of positivity, although I did find the Backlash quote cheered me up a bit.

Oh, sorry LeninGrad.