[HALLIEBETH87]

I'm having huge amount of anxiety about possible trolling here. I mean, my therapist couldn't care less but what if psych students or what have you started trolling sites like this and just observed us like mice in a maze???!

Maybe I'm losing it. I forgot my meds today.

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

I'm having huge amount of anxiety about possible trolling here. I mean, my therapist couldn't care less but what if psych students or what have you started trolling sites like this and just observed us like mice in a maze???!

Maybe I'm losing it. I forgot my meds today.

I think it's entirely possible. I could see someone(s) in psych studies starting thread(s) just to get reactions.

Maybe if they are just trolls its a game?? Make a situation worse and worse for attention ?

I understand the anxiety for sure.

[HALLIEBETH87]

It's really bothering me.

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

It's really bothering me.

((( hugs )))

I think this is possible too. I have seen several people on the board mention they are going to school for psych. My husband worked in mental health. He has no interest in going on a psych board at all. I think it's people with problems they are looking at finding solutions or answers to. I'm looking for my people here. People who understand and maybe even sees things like me. I hope we meet. Time will tell. So people come on for a variety of reasons. I've seen people who say they have no problems but just to help others. This is very kind. I keep troll lists. A list of people I'm suspicious about. It can switch rapidly and all around in many ways. It's natural to be suspicious in a place like this. We are being vulnerable. But we are hiding behind a screen name too. I personally think this helps us be honest but fosters paranoia to a degree.

How much is this bothering you?

[HALLIEBETH87]

A whole bunch

[bioChE]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

A whole bunch

I wouldn't sweat it. Most people have much better things to do than randomly troll MI support forums. Lord knows I do. The only reason most (if not all) of us are here is to get help.

[Wild Coyote]

In time, we can observe continuity in members' posts, which may be an indicator the person is being genuine.

Due to my PTSD, I can sometimes catch myself feeling unsure of new posters, which I quickly realize is not "fair" to new posters, as we all have to start posting as a newbie.

The whole "anonymous" type of community can feel a bit limiting, while also granting us freedom for more fully sharing while maintaining anonymity.

There may be a troll here and there, since this is the open internet.
I accept this and continue to find value in the forum.

I hope you feel more comfortable soon.


WC

[PenguinExMachina]

I've seen trolls on numerous other community boards. Heck, trolls were a daily occurrence on Babycenter (a pregnancy/parenting forum). But it's never occurred to me that trolls might frequent an MI board. I guess, for some reason, I assumed this kind of thing would be...off limits? Or just, I don't know, I guess I just didn't think about it.
Now I feel like I'm going to be looking everywhere.

[Icare dixit]

Isn't life a maze?

I think everyone here is trying to help each other succesfully navigate it.

When we're more aware of the maze, we won't be so often dissapointed. It sets us free.

I do suspect that some psych students join or lurk these forums for the sole purpose of observing us, but I don't believe they're trolls per se. I think they sit back and observe because of their curiosity.

But observation is a bit scary anyways. Who is observing and why?

I suppose in theory that a psych student could join and troll all of us, but I don't know what they'd get out of it. Plus, the mods here are pretty fast. You could make a troll post or a troll thread, but it'll be taken down within a few hours. Other people will recognize when someone is trolling and will probably report it.

The only thing a psych student could do is ask genuine questions like, "what are your triggers?" or "what led you to get diagnosed?" Things like that. That's as far as they'll get

[Unrigged64072835]

I don't worry about trolls here. The admins and mods are pretty good with keeping up the site and people are usually quick to report a person.

[raspberrytorte]

I could see psych students observing, but why would they want to actually troll? I think it would be hard to stay a troll in disguise over a long period of time and would they have the time?

Hugs, hallie. I think about these things too sometimes.

[Trippin2.0]

Idk about psych students in particular, but I can think of at least 4 members on PC (not specifically on this forum) that I'm sure live under a bridge. It's very covert though, so can't report anything based on assumptions.

ETA: Oops sorry, that wasn't mean to spike your anxiety, just wanted to commiserate.

[Wonderfalls]

Troll: "One who purposely and deliberately (that purpose usually being self-amusement) starts an argument in a manner which attacks others on a forum without in any way listening to the arguments proposed by his or her peers. He will spark of such an argument via the use of ad hominem attacks (i.e. 'you're nothing but a fanboy' is a popular phrase) with no substance or relevence to back them up as well as straw man arguments, which he uses to simply avoid addressing the essence of the issue."

I can't see the problem if therapy students are interested in becoming more informed about the client side of things. You can monitor plenty of therapist sites if you want to see how they look at things. The more information the better we can understand all of the workings of therapy.

[Moose72]

I can't see them finding this forum, looking up bipolar, looking through posts and finally seeing my handle and avatar and saying "it's her!". Nope. Besides I'm pretty sure my Pdoc has my blog address and that has lots more detail than here

[~Christina]

I think what Hallie was trying to convey is anxiety over people roaming PC and posting stuff to see how people will respond.

I think the "Trolling" bit is like Jane or John Doe starts threads and the OP keeps evolving into more and more complex situations seemingly based off people's responses to them.

And there are numerous people around PC that are In fact in studies to be a T or whatever, hense anxiety , I can relate to that. I myself know some members that are in school.

I highly doubt a T or Pdoc would have time nor interest in following us online , but students ? Sure why not.

It's okay to possibly be the mouse in a maze, but it's also common to have anxiety over it .

Jmho

[Faltering]

I don't think trolls would be likely to target this forum. People typically seek this out for support. I'm actually a psych student and I have no interest in observing anyone. I'm here because I can relate to you all.

[leejosepho]

Originally Posted by Faltering

I'm actually a psych student and...here because I can relate to you all.

I think it could be said we are all "psych students" in the sense of always learning more about ourselves and what we need. I do try to be careful about not giving away the kinds of details that would make it easy for someone with ill intent to take advantage of me, but those are the kinds of cautions I try to practice everywhere and not just online.