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?

no no no, i mean having an option like a 'hide poster' but not hiding them, just greyscaling their posts so that they are less prominent in the thread. i often find i read loony posts without realising it, whereas i think i would get used to ignoring them if they were paler or something. but if i needed to, i could check back for sense.

i would hate to hide people altogether, in a way, as it's so contemptuous and doesn't allow them to change iykwim?

and obv they wouldn't know about it, it would be in our personal settings.

I'm afraid I just enjoy getting my big boots on and jumping all over trolls. Back when I was PG (before I discovered MN indeed possibly before MN existed) I used to take my Pg-hormonal-rage for a workout on things like American anti-abortion talk groups and even more hilariously mental Mens' Rights groups. It was fabulous fun as they would just explode in fountains of raging testosterone because they could not win!

I like the greying out idea, it would help. And sometimes I forget the name of someone who has been a PITA 6 months ago, it would be nice if MN remembered for me...

Hi just to go back to points that were made further up the thread. I am a long time lurker and am really enjoying reading the threads on the feminist topic. Just getting up the courage to jump in on some of them now.

The topic itself will attract trolls but I find the topics very challenging and thought provoking. I never thought of myself as a feminist before but this has clarified a lot of ideas for me

yes, true.

its open forum people can and will post as they wish.and that includes trolls.i find the troll patrol squawking troll are you newbie intensely annoying

mn has had trolls for looong time,always will.a degree of internet savvy required too,before too much disclosure and sharing.after all tis open and accessible to many.individually people need to take care of themselves

and mn tends to self regulate,and trolls dont last so long once rumbled

would that were the case, sm.

aye loads trolls came and went
calpol mum
the mammie posting as teen mum
the fake lawyer
pram scam mammies

troll is a feature of any board,no biggie

Would they just namechange like mad, though.

sm i think this is a problem specific to this topic, though. agree with you on board in general, but this topic is being hounded and it seems like it's impossible to have an interesting discussion without some moron turning up and ranting.

ok oh.why this topic specifically?is there more jip than usual

There actually do seem to be a few absolute bucketheads who seek out 'feministers' to basically wave their scabby undesirable cocks at. And once they've found what they think is 'uppity wummans' they drag all their crazyscreechymonkey sockpuppets virtual mates in to have a go.
It's not quite the same as the easily-dismissable Sex Tecnics-type 14-year-old boys, or the other clammy-handed types who occasionally start a sex thread - or indeed the vampire trolls (probably the most distressing type) like CVQ and wossname-with-the-teddy.

Thanks Lenin and Aitch

Toes dipping in the water!

wasnt aware there had been probs,shame.but on other hand posters are robust and smart enough to send em scarpering.

you;d think... am not sure now. they don't seem very sane, so it's not a question of besting their arguments.

No, they appear to have ishoos. They are not to be reasoned with.

We're robust and smart, but it takes all our energy, and gets in the way of the actual argument. A thread started a few days ago has 800-odd posts on it - over 200 of them from a complete loon who just attacked randomly. That's the sort of thing we're talking about.

I'd be in favour of a "hide poster". I'd use it very sparingly, for the specific sockpuppet trolls that turn up in the feminism topics, because it would allow me to talk around them. Wouldn't block generally.

Not very sane, and riddled with ishoos. It's like a glimpse into some dank, fetid, atavistic corner of the world.

Tortoise, I feel exactly the same way about MN and the feminism board. I'm in Australia too and there is nothing out there that even vaguely rivals MN. Lurking here has become a bit of a lifeline.

The feminism board has been a revelation for me. I've always thought of myself as a feminist, but it was an instinctive position rather than a reasoned one. The debates on here have been stimulating and illuminating and I'm truly grateful to, and a bit in awe of, those posters who take the time to post such impassioned and thought through arguments. The links are brilliant too.

The current rash of trolls is disconcerting, especially as there is something perverted in the posters obvious relish, and because a disproportionate number are directly, and immediately, aimed at Dittany.

Well done Kate seemed to do the trick, but doesn't prevent the actual conversation being derailed. Wukter's haiku defense - water, stream, rocks - is probably the only real solution.

"I'd be in favour of a "hide poster". I'd use it very sparingly, for the specific sockpuppet trolls that turn up in the feminism topics, because it would allow me to talk around them. Wouldn't block generally."

I totally agree, Tortoise. Pretty much with everything you ever say, actually

I'd like disclaimers to appear on the annoying people's posts, so that no one else responded to them. Not because what they have to say is important, but because it gets in the way of the interesting conversation. Although I'm thinking of persistent offenders with very well known MOs not one thread trolls. In fact I guess I only really would like to have everyone ignore one person really. And I'd like it to be bloody obvious to her too. The online equivalent to the cold shoulder.

Cripes, it's back.

BOF, I am all a'blush.

I agree that this topic does attract more than its fair share of trolls, and there have been times when it has felt like an invasion - guess it indicates that there are people who still fear feminists and will do anything to silence/belittle etc. I like the greying out idea as you could read round the spurious bizarre ramblings, or frankly offensive crap that some people spout. I also agree that it is energy sapping and sometimes you just want to give up - I would be really unhappy to see this topic area go though.
I am with Nooka thou' there is one poster I would (and try!) to ignore!!