"Watch closely because, remember, the clues are there, as we go

Routledge

One forum, One Poster

From my reading of the threads in this forum, there are a large number of posts written by the same person, under different guises, specifying different ages/circumstances etc. (Its the internet, so I accept thats its open to such abuses).

But what I cant quite understand is that the respondents (apart from the ones that appear to be written by the poster themself) are genuine, informative and generally offer (reasonably) sound advice?

Can they not spot, what appears to me to be the obvious?

Same writing style
Same usernames derived from topic etc

Alanstrainor

take it to feedback

Sherifu

And add links next time...

biko

Even if an original poster may be fake the question may warrant answers, in case someone else has the same issue.

Also the mods can see what IP posters come from, to weed out trolls.

Routledge

biko wrote: »

Even if an original poster may be fake the question may warrant answers, in case someone else has the same issue.

Also the mods can see what IP posters come from, to weed out trolls.

I can undertand that. But the very fact that people are being taken for a ride shud be of concern.

Plus the extent to which the poster dreams up these quite detalied different and varying scenarios is strange and worrying in itself

Clare Bear

Routledge wrote: »

I can undertand that. But the very fact that people are being taken for a ride shud be of concern.

Plus the extent to which the poster dreams up these quite detalied different and varying scenarios is strange and worrying in itself

How do you know this for sure though?

Routledge

Clare Bear wrote: »

How do you know this for sure though?

I cant be sure. I could be wrong. But in this instance I think Im right

Alanstrainor

Routledge wrote: »

I cant be sure. I could be wrong. But in this instance I think Im right

what instance? links?

Gordon

Report the posts if you think there is some dodginess going on.

Moved from PI.

Sherifu

Routledge wrote: »

I cant be sure. I could be wrong. But in this instance I think Im right

I thought I saw a pussy cat.

JeanClaude

Routledge wrote: »

I cant be sure. I could be wrong. But in this instance I think Im right

post links or it didn't happen..:D

Dudess

Routledge wrote: »

One forum, One Poster

From my reading of the threads in this forum, there are a large number of posts written by the same person, under different guises, specifying different ages/circumstances etc.

How come only you have spotted that and others haven't? And are you aware of the anonymous posting facility on this forum?

But what I cant quite understand is that the respondents (apart from the ones that appear to be written by the poster themself) are genuine, informative and generally offer (reasonably) sound advice?

Can they not spot, what appears to me to be the obvious?

Same writing style
Same usernames derived from topic etc

Obviously not, or they wouldn't be posting advice. But I'm not entirely convinced that this isn't a figment of your imagination. As I said, if it's true and you've spotted it, wouldn't others? What makes you so much more capable of spotting it? Especially considering you only joined recently.

I can certainly think of a couple of people who have taken the piss out of Personal Issues in the manner that you've described, but they have been weeded out by the moderators.

Routledge

Dudess wrote: »

How come only you have spotted that and others haven't? And are you aware of the anonymous posting facility on this forum?

Im probably more sceptical than most, which has its advantages aswell as drawbacks.

Obviously not, or they wouldn't be posting advice. But I'm not entirely convinced that this isn't a figment of your imagination. As I said, if it's true and you've spotted it, wouldn't others? What makes you so much more capable of spotting it? Especially considering you only joined recently.

Absolutely, no more capable than others are. Call it a hunch than.

I can certainly think of a couple of people who have taken the piss out of Personal Issues in the manner that you've described, but they have been weeded out by the moderators.

Fair enough.

Its just something thats stood out to me in reading a good few of threads.

mp3guy

biko wrote: »

Also the mods can see what IP posters come from, to weed out trolls.

But that breaks down if it's an internet cafe, the person doesn't have a static ip (most home internet users), college computer, apartment wifi, or even if the posters live in the same house.

AlmightyCushion

I don't have a static ip yet mine rarely changes.

hullaballoo

Routledge wrote: »

One forum, One Poster

From my reading of the threads in this forum, there are a large number of posts written by the same person, under different guises, specifying different ages/circumstances etc. (Its the internet, so I accept thats its open to such abuses).

But what I cant quite understand is that the respondents (apart from the ones that appear to be written by the poster themself) are genuine, informative and generally offer (reasonably) sound advice?

Can they not spot, what appears to me to be the obvious?

Same writing style
Same usernames derived from topic etc

Yeah, you're right. There are a number of users who set up 'troll' threads. So what? I'm not trying to be dismissive; I just don't see that you have a meritorious point.

People take each other for rides in every aspect of life. What's the difference that it happens here? Though it is a good thing for you if (as you claim) you can spot people who are wind-up merchants, what difference does it make to those who can't?

I could understand your point to a greater extent if the winding up was being done face-to-face. What makes it wrong is that people get humiliated by it. Here, however, the (pretty pathetic and deranged) person who makes up the story can laugh all they want. The likelihood is that no one will hear them (because they live alone/with their mothers) or that anyone who does hear them won't care (because they're pathetic and deranged).

People have already made the point that these threads (or at least some of the more credible ones) are potentially of some use to people who actually do find themselves in one of life's surprising situations, so I do not need to expand.

If I may comment on a personal level, it strikes me that your complaint is not really a complaint, but more a cry for validation and recognition insofar as you are able to spot a clown when you see one. Well, congratulations.

johnathan woss

Routledge,

I've thought for a long time that anything up to maybe 75% of the threads on that forum are started by one, or maybe two or three people.

But there are some genuine and worthwhile threads on there too.

johnathan woss

Look at the current thread "Don't Know What to Do" written by "DontHaveAClue".....

You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes ........

MizzLolly

Routledge wrote: »

One forum, One Poster

From my reading of the threads in this forum, there are a large number of posts written by the same person, under different guises, specifying different ages/circumstances etc. (Its the internet, so I accept thats its open to such abuses).

But what I cant quite understand is that the respondents (apart from the ones that appear to be written by the poster themself) are genuine, informative and generally offer (reasonably) sound advice?

Can they not spot, what appears to me to be the obvious?

Same writing style
Same usernames derived from topic etc

Maybe its the same person with a few seperate problems??!! I haven't really noticed anything like that!!

johnathan woss wrote: »

Look at the current thread "Don't Know What to Do" written by "DontHaveAClue".....

You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes ........

I still don't get it??? lol I'm just not with it today!!! But that's only one thread? How does that mean somebody's trolling?

KyussBishop

Unless you check the persons IP address, you can't know for sure whether or not they are making bull**** posts, so there isn't much point in openly speculating about it as you will just make people unnecessarily paranoid.

In any case, if there are people making such posts, then I think that in itself signifies genuine personal issues.

Faith

I know of one user who has had many accounts banned in the past and still pops up repeatedly on PI with new dramatic problems, but I think he/she is just a really pathetic person who adores getting attention.

It's the internet, there's all sorts of people out there. PI is a huge attractant for trolls, but as long as they're not blatently taking the piss, then they're really not doing any harm.

javaboy

Just to stir it up, what if the person the OP is talking about is the OP themselves? You know, kind of like "I'm so S-M-R-T you can't catch me!"

It might explain how they and only they have spotted this mysterious multi-aliased poster.

Discuss.

^The above may/may not be the ramblings of an unsound mind

Nevyn

Look even if it might be a troll the PI mods err on the side of the fact it may not and
that the help or discussion that comes after may help other people either no or a lil later on if a person googles looking for help on such a matter.

IF you don't like the look of a thread report it and don't post in it.

Marksie

Its pretty much as thaed says.


When posting anionymously, the posts have to be approved in any event and a lot of the more obvious trolls can be weeded out that way.
If the Issue is reasonable, or can be read by people who are in similar situations then fair enough.

I dont have aproblem with that. In the end it is pretty quickly obvious when someone is trolling and one or two of the mods are pretty good at matching writing styles.
We have occasionally had one poster who registers and reregisters so that it circumvents the approval system. They have been caught pretty quickly.

Occasionally too we have locked threads based on trolls only to have the OP query the locking. So it is swings and roundabouts.

I cannot see what is your problem with it though?

Dudess

Faith wrote: »

I know of one user who has had many accounts banned in the past and still pops up repeatedly on PI with new dramatic problems, but I think he/she is just a really pathetic person who adores getting attention.

I know which person you mean and I wouldn't be surprised if this person is actually suffering from some sort of delusional disorder and needs help - I'm not trying to be nasty, I'm being very serious.

javaboy wrote: »

Just to stir it up, what if the person the OP is talking about is the OP themselves? You know, kind of like "I'm so S-M-R-T you can't catch me!"

It might explain how they and only they have spotted this mysterious multi-aliased poster.

That's the first thing that popped into my head...

Routledge

That's the first thing that popped into my head...[/quote]

Yet its the last thing you thought to post. Mmm I dont think so.

Plus, I think I'll continue to set the bar in my life somewhat higher than posting on an internet forum which some of the posts have suggested was designed by me, the op, as a way of seeking attention. Thats gas...!

Ah well, well done folks, keep the blinkers on.

Marksie

Routledge wrote: »

Plus, I think I'll continue to set the bar in my life somewhat higher than posting on an internet forum

Good idea, the rest of us will enjoy boards.

Routledge wrote: »

Ah well, well done folks, keep the blinkers on.

Cool, keep in your own self important little world..have a good one

Routledge

Marksie wrote: »

Good idea, the rest of us will enjoy boards.



Cool, keep in your own self important little world..have a good one

Build a Bridge Man. Im out.

Dudess

Routledge wrote: »

Yet its the last thing you thought to post. Mmm I dont think so.

Well it was but I chose not to say it, but then someone else said it so I agreed with them.

Plus, I think I'll continue to set the bar in my life somewhat higher than posting on an internet forum which some of the posts have suggested was designed by me, the op, as a way of seeking attention.

Cool. Boards and pomposity don't mix well...

Sherifu

Ta ta Routledge.

hullaballoo

Routledge wrote: »

That's the first thing that popped into my head...

Yet its the last thing you thought to post. Mmm I dont think so.

Plus, I think I'll continue to set the bar in my life somewhat higher than posting on an internet forum which some of the posts have suggested was designed by me, the op, as a way of seeking attention. Thats gas...!

Ah well, well done folks, keep the blinkers on.

Dear Majesty,

We defer to your superior status and intellect, of course. What we have done to lose such a valuable and rare commodity that is the great mind of Routledge, we do not know, nor do we expect that your eminence will grant us acquaintance of such.

We are most penitent.

We are, majesty, yours humbly,
Us.

P.S. If it please, sir, do not let the door hit your ass on the way out, sir.

eth0_

Dudess wrote: »

I know which person you mean and I think this person is actually suffering from some sort of delusional disorder and needs help - I'm not trying to be nasty, I'm being very serious.

That's the first thing that popped into my head...

Who do you think you are? Accusing someone of having a mental health problem based on a few posts on an internet forum?

Even a psychiatrist wouldn't make such a statement about someone they know NOTHING about. I really think you should apologise to Routledge.

Faith

eth0_ wrote: »

Who do you think you are? Accusing someone of having a mental health problem based on a few posts on an internet forum?

Even a psychiatrist wouldn't make such a statement about someone they know NOTHING about. I really think you should apologise to Routledge.

Dudess was talking about a different poster, not Routledge. Calm down.

eth0_

Faith wrote: »

Dudess was talking about a different poster, not Routledge. Calm down.

Fair enough but it doesn't really matter who she was talking about - it's not cool to accuse someone of being mentally ill.
People who troll on boards are just as likely to be bored in work and doing it to kill time.

Crash

Mentaller.

Faith

eth0_ wrote: »

Fair enough but it doesn't really matter who she was talking about - it's not cool to accuse someone of being mentally ill.
People who troll on boards are just as likely to be bored in work and doing it to kill time.

That's the thing, the person Dudess and I are discussing doesn't troll - I think she honestly believes her lies or delusions or whatever you want to call them.

eth0_

Faith wrote: »

That's the thing, the person Dudess and I are discussing doesn't troll - I think she honestly believes her lies or delusions or whatever you want to call them.

How can you know that for sure? Do you know this woman personally?

Dudess

eth0_ wrote: »

it's not cool to accuse someone of being mentally ill.

Heh, "accuse". With that term, you're actually likening having a mental illness to committing a crime...
If one objects to speculation by another that a person might have a mental illness, then that's just further reinforcement of the stigma.

eth0_

Dudess wrote: »

Heh, "accuse". With that term, you're actually likening having a mental illness to committing a crime...
If one objects to speculation by another that a person might have a mental illness, then that's just further reinforcement of the stigma.

I'm actually studying to be a psychologist, and I know diagnosing someone with a mental illness is something that should be dealt with very delicately and you have to be 110% sure before you make a diagnosis because of how it will impact on the client, even if your diagnosis is correct. I used the word 'accuse' because of the context it was used, by someone not qualified to make such a judgement.

Dudess

Well of course, but there's a difference between speculation and diagnosis. Most of us have some familiarity with mental illness - whether it's being ill ourselves, or being related to/friends with someone or a number of people who are/were mentally ill and we gain a tiny bit of knowledge through that. I note I used the words "I think" in relation to this person, maybe I should have written "I suspect that".

Nevyn

eth0_ wrote: »

People who troll on boards are just as likely to be bored in work and doing it to kill time.

Is that a confession ?

Wibbs

Meh so what. If someone is inventing issues either because of other issues in their heads or for fun(much the same thing), I don't really care. As Marksie notes we sometimes close threads that look like trollage only to find out they're not. Doubtless either pranksters or walter mitty types of a "delicate" nature get through. Personally I couldn't give a flying one, simply because if it looks like a real issue, others with that issue or similar may get some help, different viewpoints or advise that they may not otherwise get. All good. It may even help the troll. Storm in a teacup on a slow weekend.

RoundyMooney

I don't see a problem either, a query is a query is a query, and thanks to you guys, trolling and flamefests are non existent.

Chinafoot

Faith wrote: »

That's the thing, the person Dudess and I are discussing doesn't troll - I think she honestly believes her lies or delusions or whatever you want to call them.

Not really the place for such a discussion though is it?

I'm in the "if it helps even one person it's all good" camp.

Dudess

Yeah it is good if it helps someone, but it's also a rather obnoxious trick to play.