Thought it was time for another of these. I'll just cut-and-paste the opening of the last thread:
The useful Bunbury Guide to Spotting Community Disruptors is constantly evolving.
The best research and advice is not to engage with community disruptors and trolls. As ever, if you suspect troll activity, report it to MNHQ.
This is a continuation of the first Public Service Announcement thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3438714-Bunbury-s-Public-Service-Announcement-2
Thread 3 was deleted with this note from MNHQ; We're sure there will be a Bunbury 4 around soon, but we'd be grateful if we could draw a line under the issues raised in this thread if there's to be a new one.
If and when you see threads plopped into FWR, especially a curious repeat of well worn topics, maybe check for poster history before engaging.
There are a number of posts/posters/threads that are reproduced on Twitter or Facebook to foment controversy using screen shots & flagging to either MNHQ to have threads or posters deleted. Sometimes, it’s used to approach commissioning editors with ideas for articles. It’s a tiresome tactic that we’ve had several community disruptor posters who themselves post the comments that they then highlight elsewhere as purported evidence of racism, religious intolerance, anti-men sentiments, or transphobia.
Some helpful links can be found in the first posts on thread 2 (linked above) but in essence FermatsTheorem recommended “that in the absence of a block/hide poster button, I suggest the following strategy (given that you're talking to the lurkers).
Do not name check the sealion. Instead, respond to a depersonalised paraphrase:
"It is sometimes erroneously suggested that blah. Blah is wrong for the following reasons (short and pithy). If you need more information re. debunking blah, here's a link."
Then (this next step is important to combat derailment) go back up thread to the last useful contribution to the discussion, make sure you do name check that contributor, and pick up the discussion from that point.”