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Original poster

Influx of Trolls/ Transphobic Posts on These Boards

155 replies

terfing · 21/04/2018 15:09

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?

OP posts:
MaisyPops · 22/04/2018 14:50

I think what people have to realise about 'big names' on social media is that they are the type to prod a dog with a nice big stick and then run home crying when they get bitten (and then claim the dog should be put down for being such a dangerous dog).

Anything you say will be twisted until you lose your temper and then they'll go "see... look how mean everyone is". You can't reason with people like that so humour them, deprive them of attention amd the drama they crave. Eventually they'll be so desperate for drama they'll shoot themselves in the foot and look like idiots.

R0wantrees · 22/04/2018 14:59

MaisyPops I also think that the reactions to individuals is used by both activists and lobbyists.
The nature of SM, especially Twitter is that it moves so quickly, the response to 'being prodded by a big stick' becomes completely detached from the incident...

jammydodgerer · 22/04/2018 15:01

what is SM?

MaisyPops · 22/04/2018 15:02

SM = social media

thebewilderness · 22/04/2018 18:37

I do not think trolls would be as much of a problem if the mods recognized them when they see them.
There is one right now arguing in favor of puberty blockers for children. That is all they post. Claims that they are harmless and easily reversible all evidence to the contrary, and dismissing the doctor who just came out in opposition to their current use.
Believe it or not that does not violate talk guidelines. Free speech for trolls is the new motto here.
At this point restricting commenting by new registrants is the opposite of what the MNHQ team has decided on.

2rebecca · 22/04/2018 18:49

I support free speech and letting pillocks post if they want. They usually reveal their true colours and as long as we don't encourage them and report if they're offensive or argue back I don't see it harming us.
I spotted one as I'm on a different time zone atm. I didn't report as I don't think I've ever reported anyone. They're capable of hanging themselves.

TallulahWaitingInTheRain · 22/04/2018 18:59

I don't think posting restrictions are necessary. Let's just go on sounding as sane as possible, allow our opponents to do their thing and let history (and the lurkers) judge us all.

MadBadDaddy · 22/04/2018 19:00

"At this point restricting commenting by new registrants is the opposite of what the MNHQ team has decided on."

I can't say I'd like it, but I wouldn't begrudge it.

(plus, I am really a nigerian prince with a temporary banking problem)

IndominusRex · 22/04/2018 19:00

Yeah I've noticed this.

NannyOggsKnickers · 22/04/2018 19:05

Bertrand speaks a lot of sense, as always.

grandplans · 22/04/2018 19:10

In recent months I've seen Jennifer James, Dr Nicola Williams and Jean Hatchet joining/rejoining and posting on here. A 30 day rule would have affected them too.

I've never seen Julie Bindel post on here but what if she wanted to join in the thread about the Bristol meeting?

The more I think about it, the more it feels like an own goal that would only serve make TRA trolls feel important.

This ^^

Ofspartacus · 22/04/2018 19:16

I know I posted before in support but actually I think I had slightly misread what was being discussed. I would be in support on a ban on members posting new threads for the first 30 days- not commenting on others. Alternatively (although it would increase moderation) having to have threads started by new users auto moderated by mnhq before being visible.

I do remember the poster on the domestic abuse thread and understand the concerns. However under the proposed new rules she could still have posted in relationships or elsewhere on the boards and still reached support.

I'm more in favour of the auto mod thing probably. It would stop the overnight issues at least.

Ohforfoxsakereturns · 22/04/2018 19:24

I don’t think the threads and posts by trolls have amounted to much.

I do think we should all remain polite and not make personal statements about the likes of LM. They love the attention. Stick to ‘they/them’ and initials are identifying enough. I’m not interested in individuals, i’m interested in seeing the debate reach a conclusion which serves both women and trans people. Not one that suits the bigoted TRAs. There’s nothing to be gained from giving them attention.

Wombman · 22/04/2018 19:34

I can see your point re new posts but feel being silenced for 30 days isn't free speech. I found mumsnet for the first time because I suddenly peaktransed and really needed to engage because you just dare not talk about it in public. I thought I must be going crazy till I found mumsnet (emporers new clothes feeling). I've got children and I do think as mothers we have a certain edge regarding grasping what being a woman actually is.

MrsUnderwood · 22/04/2018 19:37

I don’t like the idea of a 30-day restriction. I get that dealing with trolls is exhausting but I think the way we’re already dealing with them is working- calling out and then reporting reporting actually transphobic posts, WTGLWGH, tea and bee detailing, and sounding reasonable and sane. I’ve seen a couple of suspicious threads recently where someone has started a thread in the guise of a genuine poster to bait people into transphobic comments- they didn’t get the reaction they wanted at all and I was very proud of MNetters for responding sanely. We can spot the faker because (surprise) 20 year old student union oiks aren’t very good at pretending to be middle aged women.

I agree that the many threads about LM have been a tad dickish. LM and their cronies are complete wazzocks and should be called out as such, but if there needs to be a thread about LM, focus on their behaviour instead of attacks on personal appearance etc.

MaisyPops · 22/04/2018 20:27

i’m interested in seeing the debate reach a conclusion which serves both women and trans people. Not one that suits the bigoted TRAs. There’s nothing to be gained from giving them attention.
I agree.

This is what the silly TRA need to realise. Most people with gender critical views do not hate trans people.

it suits them to present any criticism of their ideology as transphobia.
If anything good has come of all this nonsense it's that people will be explicit in communicating their issues.

TerfsUp · 22/04/2018 20:36

If TRAs want to make me a target on MN, I can deal with them by reporting offensive posts.

Radfempirate · 22/04/2018 21:11

I agree with a time limit before being able to post

OvaHere · 22/04/2018 21:27

If it wasn't for the fact we have a lot of serious activism going on at the moment I'd agree a time limit before posting but as other posters have said it would equally prevent people we do want to hear from joining. Jennifer James and others like her would not have been able to join up and post under these rules.

Most of us here are confident in the merit of our arguments so I think we should continue to debate opposing views. Obvious trolls should be ignored and reported.

It's not perfect but nothing ever is and I wouldn't like to see this become a closed off board right now.

womanformallyknownaswoman · 23/04/2018 07:48

30 days won't stop the trolls - as Reddit have found out (some subreddits impose minimum time up/karma before being allowed to comment). It makes no difference to the amount of trolls/trolling - the only thing that stops them is informed, active moderation and deletion/banning of them and their tactics.

Trolls aren't like normal users - they'll just set up 10 usernames at once and wait

It's the moderation policies and implementation that need to change here

Juells · 23/04/2018 10:47

Most message boards I've belonged to, new posters are in pre-mod until they've reached a certain number of OK posts. That can't be too difficult to organise.

RedToothBrush · 23/04/2018 10:52

Are you in favour of free speech or not?

Think about this carefully. Censorship of any kind is not necessarily helpful and in your interests.

Imagine if some had something truly amazing and worthwhile to add to any thread. You wouldn't be able to hear it.

grandplans · 23/04/2018 11:01

Are you in favour of free speech or not?

Think about this carefully. Censorship of any kind is not necessarily helpful and in your interests.

Imagine if some had something truly amazing and worthwhile to add to any thread. You wouldn't be able to hear it.

This ^^

womanformallyknownaswoman · 23/04/2018 13:19

I'm in favour of free speech for feminists, which can only be guaranteed by feminist aware mods who understand threat attacks - Reddit GC manages it. We seem to do more than our fair share of emotional modding here, which can be very onerous as well as triggering for those who have been in abusive relationships already

womanformallyknownaswoman · 23/04/2018 13:19

Not in favour of thought policing and PC modding….

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