Reminder: We're a friendly Forum. Calling other people trolls isn't friendly

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi folks

Just a reminder that if you think someone is trolling you MUST click the report button on their post and MUST NOT reply on the thread.

Our Forum, and this board in particular, are friendly ones and we rely on you, our regular forum members, to help us keep it that way.

However tempting it may be and however frustrated you may feel you must not respond.

Here's why:

• The person you think may or may not be trolling, may or may not be breaking the Forum Rules.
  
• If YOU reply in an unfriendly way you are definitely breaking the Forum Rules and we would have to give you an infraction.

Please help us help you. Just report the post or posts and, if it's someone whose posts you generally don't like please block them by adding them to your ignore list.

If you're ever unsure about something you're thinking of posting, our Forum Rules are at the bottom of every page on the site so please do check there.

Thank you for all your help.

Now back to saving some money :T

Ames

We've been asking for clarification on this since the middle of last month. There's a thread in site feedback with several in depth questions on how to deal with regular AEs and, yes, trolls.

With all due respect, I think answering those questions would be more productive than repeating vague advice and 'telling off' the regular posters who make this forum so useful to everyone.

NeilCr

Ames wrote: »

We've been asking for clarification on this since the middle of last month. There's a thread in site feedback with several in depth questions on how to deal with regular AEs and, yes, trolls.

With all due respect, I think answering those questions would be more productive than repeating vague advice and 'telling off' the regular posters who make this forum so useful to everyone.

Absolutely Ames.

Seems like it suits MSE for existing posters to "sort out" trolls. But, all that is happening is that regular and informed posters (like Sangie) are hassled off the board and the place becomes lesser for that. And the trolls return

It would appear that MSE has no strategy, nor is prepared to invest a bit, for dealing with the trolls that perpetuate these forums. Very sadly, those who arrive here in a vulnerable state, possibly following Martin's name, are afforded no protection against incorrect advice/information by MSE.

As I have said before MSE Andrea says, in her biog, that she engages with CitA in campaigns. As a CitA volunteer I would have hoped she would learn from that interaction that some posters come here in a very raw and exposed state. The last thing they need is trolling or, deliberate, misinformation.

I, sincerely, hope that one day Martin Lewis revisits this forum so he can understand what is really going on under his name

thorsoak

So, the next time a "new" poster starts a thread about uggs, school uniform, toilet problems at school/doing pe in underwear and it is reported by the first person to see it, it will be removed as spam?

I do hope so!

panagia

thorsoak wrote: »

So, the next time a "new" poster starts a thread about uggs, school uniform, toilet problems at school/doing pe in underwear and it is reported by the first person to see it, it will be removed as spam?

I do hope so!

And don't forget the myriad 'cheating spouse' threads/AE accounts.

waamo

I've reported threads on a few occasions. Other people have also reported the same threads.

Nothing has ever happened.

Robisere

There is one simple answer to anyone you think is a Troll, Don't reply, don't comment. They wind up talking to themselves.

NeilCr

Robisere wrote: »

There is one simple answer to anyone you think is a Troll, Don't reply, don't comment. They wind up talking to themselves.

Again, this is fine in principle.

When there is a troll giving incorrect information/advice on a board like the benefits one to someone who is clearly vulnerable you can't just ignore it.

This seems to be something the MSE "moderators" don't seem to grasp. Especially, given their lack of speed in responding to spam reports. By then the poster involved could have made, entirely, the wrong decision.

eschaton

The trolls on this forum are treated better than the actual contributors.

panagia

Robisere wrote: »

There is one simple answer to anyone you think is a Troll, Don't reply, don't comment. They wind up talking to themselves.

And put them on ignore. That way they can't PM you either, win-win.

k3lvc

So, radical solution, how about a Troll button which allows the board guide to make the decision rather then a number of diverse reports.

There are a number of live users with posts which, when reported in isolation, will no doubt be deemed to be acceptable yet when taken in their entirety and in context are far from it.

Experience suggests that reporting has little effect unless done in a pack mentality against regular, value adding users (one of whom has already been mentioned and has subsequently taken their valuable knowledge elsewhere) making your note a little futile