Influx of Trolls/ Transphobic Posts on These Boards

[terfing]

Over the past week, there's been an influx of new users posting transphobic threads and comments. I suspect that they are doing this, taking a screenshot, and then posting it on Twitter etc to show how "anti-trans" we all are... They seem to come out at night when moderation is slower and so their threads stand for longer.

Is there much we can do about this? It's clear that they're trying to close the discussion down and paint us as transphobic. Maybe we could ask for new posters to not be allowed to start new threads here at night?

I think a 30 day rule will just take the heat out of the situation. The more meetings that go on, the more the reasonable debate and discussion continues, the more the TRAs look completely melodramatic and really rather silly

Like others, I'm on a new account and would not be able to post under a 30 day rule. I would also support this action.

In the meantime, I think that when we see a poster who is new to MN posting controversially on this board, the best thing to do is ignore.

However, there was a thread yesterday that was derailed magnificently until MNHQ were able to take it down, and it was a pleasure to watch unfold. More of the same could be no bad thing.

T

Reddit limit when new members can start threads, and also how often they can post. No one seems to mind.

The thing is, people are hearing our argument and are moving across to support us. Twitter is showing this (My account anyway). We have people coming here saying they have #peaktrans all the time. Our voice is getting louder (Guardian for example). The louder our voice gets the more the TRA will try to shut us up. MN is in the spotlight now, so being attacked. It's likely to get worse as we get louder.

MangoesAnd Matchsticks
Hello, I'm new too & I'd fully support it.
Was that the fruit tea thread? I saw that one & wondered what was going on but think I understand now, having read this one!

That's a good point, spontaneousgiventime (fab username)

We've had troll threads here forever, they will be more as media coverage increases, and it will die back down again.

As well as encouraging the trolls here, more normal people will join and start taking notice.

I still think limit to who can start a thread could be beneficial.

Threewheeler I'm not new-new, just a new account. Had my old one wiped and dereged. It descended into something about toilet roll and loo cleaner.

it may be tricky to bring in a rule when Justine & Mumsnet have taken a stand for free speech...

As someone has pointed out on the site stuff thread, isn't the real solution is for MN to pay for mods at night?

We've had troll threads here forever, they will be more as media coverage increases, and it will die back down again.

Yes. At some point, some other organisation or company or other entity will attract the ire of the TRAs and that'll be the enemy du jour for them for a while before the next target presents itself and the cycle repeats.

I'd support a requirement for X length of membership or X number of posts before contributing to FWR, if only because any feminist forum will be subject to waves of attack from various woman-hating directions. But I do think transactivism will move on soon.

I agree with @R0wantrees TBH, it's hardly an open debate if you don't want to read the opposing view point.

It clearly evokes strong feelings in people - but there's also a fine line between the trolls and those trying to genuinely engage

It would be very difficult for Mumsnet to defend however consistent with rules on other boards

But it's not blocking free speech at all. Both TRAs and gender critical posters would be free to post on the board after they have been a member for a while.

It would just mean people would have had to made a bit of investment in Mumsnet, and had time to think about things, which would improve the debate all around.

The posts we have had this week have not simply been giving an alternative view. They have been hateful and transphobic. For example, the troll last night made several comments about wishing to harm trans people and also made several posts about the genitalia of trans people. That is hate speech and needs to be stopped.

I'm just talking about the perception. It would likely be seized on by those who claim MN is transphobic etc.

FWR has always been occasionally subject to mobbing by mras when it becomes temporarily impossible to hold a sensible conversation about anything.

They soon get bored and go away and I don't think this is any different.

As for screenshots, anyone open-minded enough to come and have a look for themselves will immediately see that they don't represent us. As camper says, all we have to do is remain civil. (Watching the tras rage at the sight of people being impressed by our reasonableness makes it all worthwhile)

Pleased there's a thread about this as it was obvious the place had been flooded by trolls. I reported a couple and gave up as I get the "not broken talk guidelines" line from mods - they don't get the pattern of abusive and controlling behaviour - because they are focused on the single bad comment, which like coercive control, is not that these trolls do - again I recommend the mods get coercive control training.

Sad when people do these things. :( Maybe new members have to get their posts approved by a moderator before they are posted. That said, how new is new? Someone familiar with forums could knock of 20 posts very quickly and time delays can be sat out.

Like the idea of pre mod approval for new posters. However I've only ever reported once and mods deemed the thread genuine...was surprised!

30 day rule at the moment would impact regs who've deleted and re-regged because of an interesting approach to data security at times. Probably better than nothing though.

To be honest though a dedicated troublemaker would just go hide in another forum and manipulate to hit trending for the screenshot anyway.

womanformallyknownaswoman
again I recommend the mods get coercive control training.

I second that. You are absolutely spot on with that analysis.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3228240-daughter-getting-5-detentions

Hmm 🤔

I have de and re regged - losing a five year track record here but never mind...
... and I’d happily support a 30 day wait.

Coercive control training for mods is an absolutely excellent idea. If I had my way it’d be on the school curriculum.

i genuinely think a lot of posters need a little holiday from all this. just, i dunno - go outside for a bit. look at a tree. this is all going stratospherically bonkers. a little perspective, please.