The Trolls Have Taken Over - How Can They be Exterminated?

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Is there anything that can be done about trolls and abusive posters?

Over on the Haven (TV) forum, we have a serious issue with 2 troll/bullies who get every thread where an opinion that differs from theirs is posted. The forum has become a JOKE. There are serious fans of the show who wan to to have active, enlightened, intelligent discussions, and we cannot because of 2 people. We have reposted them, but in turn, they have reported every thread we differ in opinion from theirs. From what we can conclude, the deletions are automated. Nobody bothers to read the topics or the posts. Is there any way to get these 2 users permanently banned so that the forum can be a place for fans (not trolls) who actually wish to discuss the show?

Pixydoodle

3 Posts
1 Reply Like

Posted 7 years ago

7 years ago

Emperor, Champion

6418 Posts
3021 Reply Likes

Tricky one - although IMDB won't discuss their systems (to stop people gaming them), it does appear that the post reporting system is at least semi-automated, which is clearly open to abuse.

The system does have in-built checks and balances though - if they keep reporting the same people then sanctions will be applied to their accounts. I'd hope this would also mean that a human would cast an eye over their reports, but it is difficult especially if you are reposting deleted threads (as the assumption is they've been reported for a reason, so reposting is a violation of T&Cs).

Hopefully, staff can give more input into this, as there is no easy fix that I am aware of.

3 people like this

7 years ago

bluesmanSF, Champion

10815 Posts
6434 Reply Likes

I would, if I were you, post a couple threads that you think might be deleted, ensuring they are completely on topic and could not be offensive in any way possible, then bookmarking them. If they become deleted as a result of abusive reporting, you could then send a message to the Help Desk, with the links to those threads. staff won't discuss it with you, but would, theoretically, sanction their accounts by removing their ability to report abuse or removing their authentication.

Help Desk contact form is http://www.imdb.com/helpdesk/contact_...

3 people like this

7 years ago

DrakeStraw

286 Posts
132 Reply Likes

Allowing people to delete their own posts opens opportunities for a lot of hit-and-run trolling. I don't like seeing posts that are deleted by the user or even edited after someone has replied. Sockpuppet creation is also abetted by this liberal self-delete policy. If people want to delete their own posts they should have grounds for reporting their own abuse.

3 people like this

2013-06-10T20:34:19+00:00

bluesmanSF, Champion

10815 Posts
6434 Reply Likes

I agree. This site is better, blocking editing or deleting once there is a reply.

At least, though, if a bookmark to the deleted posts or thread can be supplied, staff can still see deleted content (at least for a period of time) by which they can determine if abuse was committed.