Today the following question was posted on MP, "Why does this girl at church ignore me when I say bye and say hi in a rude tone?" A long involved story is then detailed explaining why she is apparently upset over something that happened at church. For long time members you will recognize this as a repeatedly asked question. I received many reports about it and so I wanted to just take a moment to comment on it. First, I will mention I was traveling all day today so apologies if it took a bit longer than usual to take down. It is down now, and the member account has been permanently disabled.
More importantly though, in response to some of the comments I received I wanted to take this opportunity to clarify my thoughts and actions related to this topic. I absolutely agree it is annoying and frustrating and a complete waste of everyone's time. It is obviously not an authentically asked question. In fact, we are not the only site out there plagued by this question. If you google the text you will find many very very similar posts (almost word for word) posted on many different sites under many different aliases over the years. I do not have any understanding at all of why someone or someones would want to do this. It's a mystery, and I would be happy to hear any thoughts or theories as to the purpose of this kind of post.
But whatever the purpose, to be clear, each and every time I receive a report of this kind of post I delete it ASAP no questions asked and permanently disable the account. Unfortunately, for those with enough determination and nothing better to do they can create new accounts and ask the same question again. It seems to occur 1-2 times a month.
Bottom line, I share your frustration with these posts, and agree 100% that they need to go. I will continue to be vigilant against them and act as swiftly as possible to delete them.
I just wanted to try responding here with a public post rather than write 30 private message notes. : )
Thanks to all who reported -that and deletion are our best defense for now it seems.
-M.
You are doing a fine job M.. Honestly, I don't find the post the least but irritating. I just simply move on.
M.! YOU ROCK!!! Thank you for being interactive with us and listening to our complaints and compliments!
I'm sorry that you had to work on a weekend!
Does MMP not have a IP address tracker? If so - it would cut down on the people trying to create new accounts from the same IP and pretty much shut them down.
Why doesn't it happen? Because the people are mentally ill and need attention. that's my opinion of it. It's about drama and people giving them attention. There was one here a few years ago - about being at a McD's and busting the ketchup packs open. It was posted on many websites.
thanks again!!
I don't know why people do this. I think some of these types of questions are from teens (maybe groups of teens), some are just pure trolls who get a charge out of either being answered or being shot down, and some are from really needy or disturbed individuals or those with something like OCD who just can't let something go. Sometimes it's hard to tell.
One technical enhancement that would stop these, along with the "My buddy's step aunt makes $68 an hour..." and the soliciting ("What do you think of...." followed by a website), is if every single first question from a new account had to be reviewed by the Moderators before it posted. Sites like Freecycle do that - a new account holder can post a listing, but they get a notice that it has to be reviewed/approved before it "goes live." I know that makes more work for you in the beginning, but it's probably not any more work than looking at 20 "reported as inappropriate" messages, investigating, and communicating with the poster. That would, actually, also let you respond to the medical questions or the "not nearly enough info" questions before they post and we all spend time on them. I realize it might delay answers for some new posters who want info right away - you'd never be able to take a day off unless you have back-up!
There is a range of motivations, from unsupervised bored kids trying to prank the members here all the way to the seriously mentally disturbed individuals. I generally do not respond and just hit report.
However, there are some that are very disturbing, and they are the ones of a sexual nature regarding children. No real parent would ever talk about their children using those terms and descriptions. I truly believe that the person or persons who post these things are seriously disturbed individuals who want responses, any responses, because then in their sick minds, they've engaged someone else in their sick scenario. When they get any response at all, no matter what the responses say, it just feeds into their twisted fantasies and keeps it going. Hopefully, when we see those, we will all just hit report.
M.-Thanks for all you do to remove the inappropriate ones from the board. It's much appreciated!
Thanks for removing them. I've started to just write 'reported' because some moms are new and don't recognize that these questions are not legitimate.
This one you mention in particular posts everywhere, even on baby forums. If it is legitimate (in that the person really is this socially inept and upset) then us answering her questions - I agree, is aiding their obsession. If that's what it is.
I've noticed that when she/he posts on thread type forums, her language sounds very similar other troll-like questions we get. So my best guess - same person posting different questions throughout the month.
The other day there was a question on here that Julie pointed out had been asked a few times, just tweaked. Maybe the person just wants support. I don't know. But it is a bit odd - it's like they don't like answers so try again.
I don't think those ones are troll types. I think they just want validation maybe.
The ones I don't care for are the ones that seem perverted. I'm a typical mom. If I wouldn't say this stuff (ever) about my kid, chances are most moms wouldn't. So I will call out people on here who seem to want to start discussions that seem 'off'. I've just been hitting the report button and so must others - because thank you, they get removed promptly.
The ones from kids .. I had to laugh because these kids are good - most moms are tired and just put down the bare minimum to get the point across when they ask a question. These kids used exact times, and quote what people have said, and add lots of description. More like short stories. No mom would put in the effort :)
Thanks M. for doing a great job :) Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
I think we keep getting certain questins bc people respond. Zero responses may discourage the ridiculous questions. Otherwise we are feeding the beast.
Yeah... M. ...!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you think about it, copy/pasting the same weird question into a bunch of forums means that someone can troll several boards at once. And cause a little bit of infighting, too, as some declare the post legit (without bothering to look into cited claims of it being a troll post) and chastise those who don't 'believe' it or aren't 'bothered' by it. I just reported it. If, after 3 years or so of this same question, "Ashley" hasn't decided to switch churches-- that's really not my problem to figure out. ;)
Thanks for staying on top of it!
Sometimes I think it's just a spam bot that goes around seeding the same question in many multiple sites.
There are several of these type things that have happened over the years. One shows up maybe once a year - someone who talks about toys with batteries. She isn't really annoying - we all start laughing about it "Here she is again!" and then she removes her question all by herself. I'm not sure why, LOL. (ETA - Yes, Julie S, that was her name, Helixen! I got a kick out of her "thing" with toys that made noise.)
One that I remember pretty vividly was someone who made up an entire "life" over many many questions. She pretended she was in law school, but her writing was atrocious. And then she let slip that her school was a community college. One doesn't go to law school at a community college. People had already been questioning the validity of the poster, but then everyone smelled a rat. It really made everyone angry because we had wasted our time on this troll - a lot of time. Blech!!
I guess people have a lot of time on their hands to be able to just make up stuff online. Too bad they don't have a real life to enjoy...
"I do not have any understanding at all of why someone or someones would want to do this. It's a mystery, and I would be happy to hear any thoughts or theories as to the purpose of this kind of post."
I am with JC. I do not see the big deal of her posts. If I feel like answering it, again, I do. If not, I don't.
I assumed this question is to mock these site that help people. I think the poster is trying to show the past 'church lady' is now the new mom Q/A sites.
Do gooders (church goers and people who have all the answers online) who actual cast stones when provoked. I try not to fall for these questions.
It is not that big of a deal to me. I figured it could also be boredom.
We appreciate you tackling on these posts and inappropriate messages and removing them in such a quick manner. I have seen troll posts and posts that sound outlandish in many advice forums and support websites, not just here. I guess people are curious to see how gullible others may be in responding and falling for their post, or not. I guess that, as others suggested, they are just losers who have no life and no other way to keep entertained than trying to ask stupid or provocative questions.
