Trolls on these boards

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clariceak
clariceak Member Posts: 752

I can't say enough positive things about these boards and the wonderful support that is offered by the women here. I am disturbed by a very active poster who seems to have adopted multiple identities although lazily keeping her signature run on sentences, unusual spelling, dropped apostrophes etc.

At the time when we are dealing with a major life changing event, she is sucking up support that should only be offered to legitimate posters.  She also has a mo of asking people for personal messages and then asking for personal emails so she can send disturbing notes and photos. 

Is there anything that can be done?  

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Comments

  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited October 2009

    So...who is it..? I say bring em out. ..lol.

    Send the mods a message.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    The best way to deal with someone like this - is to expose them.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    I agree - who is it???  And, have you reported this person to the moderators?   Maybe we can all do a group block on him/her?  Some people just don't have anything better to do than bother and harrass others.

  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited October 2009

    I will pm all of you and you can make your own decision.  Can anyone tell who the mods are?

  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited October 2009

    yes..pm me.

    I think there is a button or report section somewhere..I have not used it yet!

  • Morgan513
    Morgan513 Member Posts: 664
    edited October 2009

    PM me too.  I'd like to know who it is!

    Lorrie 

  • Mantra
    Mantra Member Posts: 968
    edited October 2009

    Yes, PM me too!

  • Sunris
    Sunris Member Posts: 120
    edited October 2009
  • Nico1012
    Nico1012 Member Posts: 1,492
    edited October 2009

    I reported this to the mods on Oct. 8. They agreed that there was something unusual about the members posts and they contacted her by pm. Since that time, she has not posted that I have seen. If you see a post or receive a pm from her you can notify the mods via pm at "Moderators".

    Nico 

  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited October 2009

    Nico - Thank you for your help. 

     I need to leave for work so I won't be able to pm the information to anyone new.  If you would like to know right away, perhaps you can pm on of the posters above who I have shared information with.

  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited October 2009

    Please PM me too, I would like to know who it is. I will just ignore this person's posts from now on. Thanks for telling us about this person. We go through so much and don't need someone who isn't sincere.

  • cs34
    cs34 Member Posts: 253
    edited October 2009

    i don't post too much so i didn't experience what you all have but i post enough and cannot believe this. how horrible! i'm outraged that someone could do this to us/my other sisters with everything we're dealing with.

    i've got A TON of other expletives but i'll remain a lady...

    stunned. can't believe it.

    i'm sorry for whoever was in this loser's path.

  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited October 2009

    As an ebay seller, I spent time on the boards where trolls are rampant.  I understand that they are sick individuals who either enjoy stirring up trouble or simply enjoy the attention their tales of woe create.  The individuals on breast cancer boards are an incredibly supportive and trusting group, which makes the trolls behavior especially despicable in my eyes.

  • Sunris
    Sunris Member Posts: 120
    edited October 2009

    Is this some sick individual that gets their kicks out of "pretending" while the rest of us are fighting diligently for our lives ??  

  • cs34
    cs34 Member Posts: 253
    edited October 2009

    can i just say that karma is a "funny" thing... i actually feel sorry for whoever this was. they've got some tough times ahead in their lives for this one...

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    Please PM me too!

  • clariceak
    clariceak Member Posts: 752
    edited October 2009

    It was just pointed out to me by a wise woman, that posting using a portable device such as a Blackberry can result in less capitalization, missed punctuation and run on sentences are more common with younger generations. I know I'm guilty of this when I'm texting. This might explain why certain posters resemble each other so strongly in their writing styles.

  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited October 2009

    I remember a long time ago, and this happened more than once, a woman on the board was accused of being a "troll."  As it turns out, one woman in particular was not at all accomplished on the computer, from an area of the country with high illiteracy and her writing style was suspect.  She wasn't a troll after all, and was indeed a woman we grew to love.  She died about 9 months ago of Stage IV. 

    I guess my point is .. if the poster is a troll .. then fine, out the person.  But we need to be sure before we do.

    I'm an editor and a transcriptionist of many years ... and when I post on this site, I try to watch my spelling and grammar .. but I do that for a living, so for the most part, I just skip all that on here.  I also know a couple of ladies on this board that use "..........." when writing their posts.  These are college graduates and professional working women.  Just their style of writing on BCO.

    If someone is sending PM's and has directly emailed your home account with objectionable material, then I sure do agree with outing that person.  Also, contact your email provider and make them aware of the situation.

    One thing I do know for sure is that in transcribing, I am hearing different accents and speech patterns from all over the USA.  Oh my!  As a transplanted southern Calif gal to the southern VA area, sometimes, I am at a total loss ... due to the cadence and speech patterns of the area.  The writing style can also be very different ... depending on where you are from.

    Bren

    PS .. Clarice .. thanks for editing your post above.  I see you removed the subtle reference to the person you were talking about.

  • konakat
    konakat Member Posts: 6,085
    edited October 2009

    Hey -- I'm curious -- I'd like to know.  I usually just report the post for people that are obvious trolls.  But I look at them as a simple nuisance -- I mumble a few curses, report the post, and then get on to the real women.

    I've gotten better at figuring out the fakes.  I had a couple of times written some heart felt responses only to later find out that it was someone out for their jollies.  It's annoying but now I ignore them. 

  • mittmott
    mittmott Member Posts: 409
    edited October 2009

    Can't always go by spelling and punctuation either.  I'm plain out lazy, and will type sometimes with all lower case letters, etc.   It's just easier that way.

  • bluedahlia
    bluedahlia Member Posts: 6,944
    edited October 2009

    I read the posts.  I can't remember who the poster was but I do remember that her sequence of events didn't make much sense.

  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited October 2009

    Hey Blue .. I read her posts .. and they seem to be in chrono order.  Newly dx'd and starting chemo and had scans, etc.

    love you buddy,

    Bren

    Edited:  But, geez Blue .. I've been wrong about lots of things before!  Are you feeling better?

  • jader
    jader Member Posts: 223
    edited October 2009

    I know for me, I sometimes use my iPhone and it's difficult to use punctuation and there is no spell check!  I would guess that these girls are using their phones as 'puters as was already said in another post above.

  • bluedahlia
    bluedahlia Member Posts: 6,944
    edited October 2009

    Maybe I missed something.  Wouldn't be the first time.  I'm still feeling pretty lousy.  Hoping the antibiotics kick in soon.  Kids cooked a nice Thanksgiving meal for me though so I'm grateful.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2009

    Trolls are annoying.  Especially so when they are encountered on this discussion boardYell I have not really posted for very long here, but IMO I think that those who come here have to deal with enough anxiety let alone dealing with the stress of trolls.  I came to this website for the support and information I needed to deal with this beast, and join in some meaningful discussions.  I am curious who this is.  Just the other day I got a pm from someone questioning my stage and pathology.  It was a little disconserting so I pm'd her back and informed her/him that my onc had staged me according to my pathology report and referred her to breastcancer.org on staging. I would like to know if the person who sent the pm was this troll.  Thanks!

  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited October 2009

    I often get the vibe that there are women on here that are making everything up; though writing style, grammar and punctuation have never alerted me to it. What I do find strange though, particularly in the Stage IV forum, is one woman in particular who always posts contradicting info. I find that more disturbing and it's become increasingly clear to me that she makes stuff up just for the sake of posting. That worries me due to the fact that for us, this forum is life and death. It's scary that she posts bad advice, incorrect info, etc. I often sit back and wonder if she has bc at all, let alone metastatic. Must be bored or something.  That's the chance we take here, I guess. You just never know and always have to be careful whom your sharing information with. Thank goodness there are more good than bad and hopefully we can all weed them out on our own.

  • leggo
    leggo Member Posts: 3,293
    edited October 2009

    Just had to add a comment on the recent irony. Just because someone's only had 30 some posts, they're driven off the board yet someone who's posted crap for years; nobody says boo to. How strange.

  • Meece
    Meece Member Posts: 19,483
    edited October 2009

    Could you PM me who this was, because someone has made attempts to get more info from me, but the last contact was just before the person you mention was PMed by the moderators.  I noticed this person who was contacting me has not posted since that day.  I am curious...

  • saint
    saint Member Posts: 1,877
    edited October 2009

    Good point gracie!

    And Bren said what I was thinking---over the last 5+ years I have met a lot of trolls (more in chat, of course) but you have to be careful you don't wrongly accuse! That person MAY be legit & NEED the help she is getting here...I have found this to be true more than once.....just an observation from another perspective. You wouldn't want to tarnish the rep of someone who is un-educated & innocent of wrong-doing.

    be well & stay strong 

  • CapeBretongirl
    CapeBretongirl Member Posts: 364
    edited October 2009

    My grammar sucks, punctuation is non-existent, my sentences aren't really sentences, just rambles that go on and on and on.  Please pm me too!!

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