I don't think it's accurate to say the moderator has not responded. There has not been a post about it, but I'm not seeing any of those troll posts at all, and the private message I received has also disappeared. So I think the moderator did take the reporting seriously and acted thoroughly - unless there's something up there that I missed.
I am keeping a record of the troll names & posts though, because I think some of them keep reappearing with a similar-sounding name. Or once they are deleted, they open up a new account immediately (even under the same name). I'm also keeping track of who comments on another troll post - not the "regulars" but one troll commenting/sending flowers on another troll post. They may be the same person, or they may be 2 friends operating together.
I expect the problem will go away as soon as the spring break is over. I think it will show up again at the start of summer vacation. That's been the pattern in the past. There are always a few "strays" who troll at odd times.
I think just reporting the trolls and NOT commenting on their posts at all, even to say "go away" or "reported", is the best strategy. There will always be a few people who think the trolls are legitimate and go ahead and answer the post (like a serious answer to whether syphilis is still a problem), but we can't stop that. Our posts to alert others that these are trolls are just feeding the trolls, as other members have been suggesting (wisely I think).
I agree the threats are a problem, and I think the strategy proposed by several people to take a screen shot (and decide whether additional reporting is needed) is a good idea.
I also think it's really really interesting that 3 people are already posting that they were part of the group posting joke questions and they thought it was funny and now they are so sorry. Suddenly they finding eloquence and making apologies. I'll be watching those folks for a while - because they're all new accounts. I'm amused that they are giving advice to US to not post any responses and just report them. Hmmmm…..
I have no idea if BBB reporting would have any purpose.
I do think the technology of the site is a huge problem - so antiquated, so many good responses being lost, etc. I also wish we could clean out our in boxes of all the flowers and just see the messages that have regular content. According to MMP, that can't be done. Anything you try to do in that regard doesn't work. So going back to find someone who messaged you is impossible because you have to go through pages and pages of flowers.