Twisty, I’d like to respectfully disagree with your OP’s premise, that since Silo changed his handle, he has become a pretty decent guy. Myself, I didn’t pay attention to him when he was Michael Masterson. I just generally don’t read threads with titles like “I LIKE ANAL SEX!!!” I have no grudge against him for that idiotic behavior, and when he changed his handle, he did change his behavior. However, he’s still a jerk. A less obnoxious, in-your-face jerk, but nevertheless, a jerk. I think his behavior is considerably worse in #straightdope than on this message board, though, which explains why the people who knock him most are regular chatters, like pricciar and aenea. In chat he has made homophobic comments (often when actual gay people are in the channel; not that it really matters, but it is pretty offensive), and his favorite topics of conversation are his penis, how much money his parents have, how much money he’s going to make in computers, and how much pot he has done in the last week. Basically, he’s kind of annoying - and not because of his previous trollish behavior.
Silo ? Who is that ?
Really Silo? Is this true? Are there chat logs of this?
I would really like to hear what you think about this, Silo…
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=27960
Satan said and I quote:
I assume that the general consensus amongst the people that attended that gathering felt that Silo took everything in stride with regards to aenea giving him a hard time. I also get an assumption that aenea did not find him as repulsive in real life as she appears to on the boards. Oh and I think (not that I know what Satan was thinking) but I think that is a typo and should have read smashing. I also think that he meant he was surprised at how well they got along, not that they were the best of buddies at the fest but got along in a civil manner.
In speaking with Silo, I feel (I am not talking for him) that he was and is genuinely hurt by her actions towards him on the boards. He went away from that gathering feeling good about everyone there, including aenea. In the weeks and months that have followed she seems to go out of her way to call him an asshole and when he says something to defend himself people do their best to defend her when she was the instigator to begin with. Look, if anyone needs to have a little talk to it is aenea.
aenea, please, whatever your problem is with Silo, let it go. It is getting tiring and frankly shows the level you are willing to take things simply because you can’t forget the past. I have nothing against you personally aenea but I do feel you have taken this a little far. I have kept out of it for the most part but since the topic is open for discussion I will have my say.
As for kelli, look kelli if you don’t care one way or another then why get yourself involved? There are topics on this board that I go out of my way to avoid so why don’t you do the same? You have made your point, we got it, okay?
Twist, thank you for this thread. The thread that was an attack on Silo last week was closed before I had a chance to respond. I don’t want to dredge up old wounds but because a few people are so hell-bent on making Silo into some punching bag for the boards I just may do that.
Regarding Silo and his penis. Okay, most of you men out there are very tuned into your penis Silo is just more vocal about it. I am aware of this and tune him out when that topic comes up. He has a lot of other things to offer and he is a great person from my perspective. Again, the penis thing is something I do not get involved with. As for that picture he sent me, I apologized to him for bringing that up to the general public. I never meant for that to come back and bite his ass. I have forgiven him for sending it to me and he has forgiven me for announcing that he sent it. In hindsight I think it was actually kind of funny.
When I started the SDMB Men’s pages I asked for nude pictures, I got one…as a joke. So he will forever be known as the guy that sent me the picture. Well, I was the person he sent it to not you. So everyone get over it. I still giggle over it.
Kyla, you bring up chat in here. Although I have not been in chat much lately, his chat sessions are no less drivel than any of the other nonsense that gets posted in the room by everyone – myself included. So he made a few blunders, we all do. What I don’t understand about this whole situation is let us bring up 5%-10% of his contributions and turn it into something that makes him look bad. Only because of his past trolling behavior do people hold it all against him. He has worked hard at being a contributing member of this board and from my knowledge there are a lot of people on this board that have left that behind him and don’t hold it against him.
I remember one particular event, one very strong one that happened in chat. I stated my problems about that here and everything got out of control. All over one unnamed Doper (not Silo) that started a conversation in the chat room about ladies and penis size. Look, if that is something that Silo should be quiet about I just don’t understand it. We all know what took place afterwards so I won’t get too into detail.
The thing I see, from my perspective is, there are a select few on this board that make it their mission to not forgive and not forget in life. If you don’t like your neighbor ignore him. If you don’t like the person, good for you. But to constantly badger a person is no less than bullying and it stands out as a serious character flaw in my opinion.
I have a few on this board that I would like to see tarred and feathered but you don’t see me jumping around the boards barking at them every time they post nor do I even go out of my way to read what they say. I would rather politely ignore the people and keep this board a civil place. I also applaud the one particular person for doing the same in return with regards to me.
In addition, we cannot get along with everyone all the time. So we bark a few times about it then get on with life.
After I wrote this I felt I need to say something else here – not like this isn’t long enough. If he said something to offend anyone I am sure he has his reasons. I may not agree with his stance but one statement or conversation does not make a whole person. I live with a family that is VERY conservative Christian. I disagree with there views very strongly on many avenues but I do not disregard those people based a disagreement in what we believe in.
I have to agree with kellibelli. I don’t understand why I get called a bitch because I don’t talk to strangers, and when Silo calls someone a pathetic cunt we’re supposed to consider him a lovable lunkhead or something. I’ve seen no evidence that he’s changed his ways. (“What’s your favorite position” anyone? It’s his current thread in IMHO.) Some people will just never like him, nothing you can do about it.
Thanks, Techie.
I have very little interest in the whole matter. But I’ve long been of the opinion that no amount of badgering warrants yelling “cunt” at a woman. Any woman.
But that’s me.
andros,
If some people or one person followed you around and badgered you constantly, would you sit back and not have a strong reaction?
Come on folks. I don’t condone what he did but I can see where he is coming from. If someone constantly made remarks to me, in real life or on the boards, calling me a bitch I would do the same damn thing.
What it comes down to is the fact that certain people on this board refuse to let go of the old stuff. They constantly read into things that aren’t there and even when he is making an innocent comment he is attacked. Why? I don’t know.
Please note the exchange, unprovoked where aenea called him an asshole:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=41606
If you view this as innocent on aenea’s part I shake my head to you and wonder why she was in the right for even stating this.
aenea said
Which, at that point was a compliement. Everyone that went to the gathering thought he was going to be an asshole. He was Michael Masterson for God’s sakes. She goes, and he isn’t as much of an asshole. A backhanded compliment for sure, but still a compliment.
She said nothing to deserve being called a cunt. This is why they probably closed the other thread, it was just getting too personal, but it has been brought up again, and I don’t like aenea being painted as the bad person in all of this.
pat
P, this goes deeper than just one comment.
In my opinion, she should have left “asshole” out of the wording all together or not said a word. I think he is tired of what he has to put up with and if it were me shit would have been flying months ago.
That’s my opinion.
You all can take that as you will. I am not defending him so much as I see his point of view.
I stress, if you don’t like a particular poster you have two choices:
-
Don’t respond to what they say.
-
If you must respond, do your damndest to keep it as civil as possible, don’t drag the rest of the board in when you are dealing with areas other than The Pit.
I work on these two principles for the most part, I will probably back slide, call me on it if I do. I may, and have, taken people to task here but I do it in the right place and not jabbed them with a fireplace iron in other forums. If I have a beef, depending on the severity, I take it to The Pit or I take it to email.
I have seen one of my non-favorite posters respond to a thread in which I was still very angry with this person, deserved or not. This person responded in a manner that I agreed with about the OP, as much as I didn’t like that because of my feelings, I did respond in a manner that gives no person that does not know the two of us any reason to believe there were problems. Again, I applaud this person for returning this as I attacked this person pretty harshly.
So, if this is about Silo and him venting his frustration, I think he is in the right even if he took it to an extreme. Many of us have been there. Does it make it right? No. Does it make it wrong? No. He is a feeling human being. How he reacts is up to him, not for you or anyone else to decide. Right or wrong, that’s up to him to decide.
But where should anyone feel they have to put up with constant bullshit? Why should he have to put up with it? Because certain people are long time members and chat frequently or whatever the case may be? I would like to know.
In my opinion, if this were any other person the matter would be let go, quickly for the most part, and my views would be brushed aside. Damn the past will haunt you.
I have no problem with either of the posters personally.
The two did get along fine in real life. Silo was pretty much shy (believe it or not), and aenea seemed to, after initial hard-assedness (that’s an SAT word), get along with him and realize he’s just a kid with a propensity for sticking his foot in his mouth.
My guess is that somehow, both parties forgot about what the other was really like, a comment by someone was misinterpreted, a retaliation was over-the-top, and next thing you know, they hate each other again.
As someone who I think gets along with both parties, allow me to make a compromise:
Silo - Show everyone that you are changed and mature and apologize publicly for calling aenea a cunt. I did this as well to another poster, I am not proud of it, and I will even take this chance to apologize to PunditLisa if I hadn’t already done so.
aenea - Accept silo’s apology. Remember him as the sheepish kid who blushed when you asked him to “whip it out” and not the antagonist you think is there now.
Now, kellibelli, I know that my words probably don’t mean much, but trust me: Silo is not a bad kid. He fucked up, he admitted it, and he is STILL paying for it.
Aside from him defending himself (and taking that too far, granted), please someone show me a post or thread where Silo is being a troll or an asshole unprovoked.
I urge everyone if they don’t like Silo, fucking ignore him. And he knows I already told him that he should ignore people who refuse to believe him no matter what he does or says.
And I hope that everyone involved will look at this:
http://pages.prodigy.net/briank.o/Pix/NCDopes/aeneasilo.jpg
Maybe this will show that these two CAN get along…
Yer pal,
Satan - Commissioner, The Teeming Minions
TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING:
Six months, two days, 22 hours, 41 minutes and 50 seconds.
7437 cigarettes not smoked, saving $929.73.
Extra time with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 4 days, 19 hours, 45 minutes.
Okay, since this thread was started essentially in response to my plea in the IMHO thread, I guess I should respond.
In my opinion, Silo takes a whole lot of shit around here with a smile. He takes things in stride that would have some of our more hyper posters starting Pit threads laden with childish obscenities and other bullshit.
Silo was a troll. That is fact. His threads when he posted as Michael Masterson were stupid and obnoxious. People could see his name on the thread and choose not to look. Well, here’s a revelation that some of you might not have had: You can also choose not to look at threads that have the name, Silo on them. It works exactly the same way.
If you cannot separate the troll that used to be from the poster that currently exists, then just reprogram your brain to filter out posts by Silo. It is that simple. No one wants to go around seeing little snipes and vicious comments directed at someone who is just posting like everyone else. I have been guilty of doing this in the past with at least one poster who pisses me off to no end. However, since then, I just try to avoid his pathetic posts. There are plenty of people who post here that I truly and deeply dislike. Some of them know it but most don’t. Why? Because my personal opinion about certain posters is just that–personal. If someone wanted to know who they were, they could ask. Privately. The point is, I’m not going to subject everyone else to my ugly feelings about people they may or may not like without letting them know up front (like in the title of a Pit thread) who I am going to be insulting.
I know some of you are going to claim (and have) that Silo is still a troll. To this, I say bullshit. There are plenty of posters around here who start threads just as obnoxious as MM used to and they don’t get railroaded for it. I am not talking about trolls and sockpuppets, either. I am talking about regular posters. I will not link to any of them (go on, flame me for that) because I think there are enough personal squabbles, vendettas and grudges going on around here—I refuse to add to that childish element. However, every single one of you knows that it is true.
Now, I realize that Silo is being held up to a higher standard than other posters because of his trollish background. I think that’s only fair—to a point. Someday we have to say that he has paid his dues and he has earned the right to post a thread that would get chuckles if say, Coldfire or Demo had started it.
I mean, earlier in this thread, Kyla mentioned that among other things, one of Silo’s favorite topics in chat is “how much pot he has done in the last week”. Well, that also happens to be one of Homer’s favorite topics of conversation. I’m not ragging on Homer—I think the world of him and he’s one of my favorite posters. However, if Silo had started some of the threads that Homer does, he would be flamed mercilessly just because of his past. Do you see where I am going with this?
So, Silo likes to talk about his penis. DRY likes to flirt, Crunchy Frog likes to talk about Monty Python, purplebear likes to give hugs, ChiefScott hates smilies—to each their own. Don’t like hearing about Silo’s penis—skip his posts!! There are plenty of posters around here that when I see their name on a post I can pretty much bet that if I read it I will end up pissed off. So unless I am looking for a reason to get pissed off, I don’t read it. That’s what is great about the medium—for the most part, I don’t have to read anything I don’t want to and neither do you.
However, if I am in the middle of a thread where we are discussing something as innocuous as our favorite children’s book, I don’t want to accidentally stumble across someone making snide, childish comments about a poster whose only current crime seems to be participating in that particular thread.
Now, so far as the whole thing with aenea and Silo goes, ordinarily I would say it was a private matter between them. However, it has spilled over onto the board so now it becomes everyone’s problem since sometimes when we stumble across it, we have to read this bile. I think Satan pretty much summed up the situation by explaining the difference between the IRL life meeting and the way they treat each other on the board. If either of them wish to dispute Satan’s take on how the IRL meeting went, I’m sure he would be glad to hear how his perception was completely incorrect.
However, assuming his perception is somewhat accurate, we can see where Silo might have gotten a little overly defensive at being “attacked” by aenea on the board. I’m not saying they have to love each other. In fact, I don’t care if they secretly plot ways to off each other in their spare time. I can and do try to ignore personal sniping on the board. If two people who don’t get along are interacting in the same thread, I brace myself for the fact that it may get ugly. However, that doesn’t mean that those squabbles should be there in the first place. Take it to the Pit. That’s why it’s here.
Okay, now, so far as the IMHO thread in question, (see here, Silo said,
So, aenea did say what she thinks. She thinks he is more of an asshole on the boards than he is IRL. He asked for opinions and he got one. She could have said it without the profanity and/or used a smilie and Silo could have just let it drop. However, she didn’t and he didn’t either. This has everything to do with their personal relationship. My request was that they didn’t turn that thread into some sort of mud-slinging match that caught the rest of us in the middle. That’s all.
Basically, what I’m saying is that if I can ignore posts by people I don’t like, everyone else can to. You do not constantly have to point out that Silo was a troll or that he likes to talk about his penis. (Unless of course, like mouthbreather, you feel strongly enough about it to start a thread in the Pit–then, it’s your time and effort and I can choose to read it if I want.) If you don’t like him, don’t read him but for the love of all that is decent and respectable–QUIT RAGGING ON HIM JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN!
…and that’s the problem.
VV, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly apologize to you. I totally saw where you were coming from in the door-holding thread, and pretty much agreed with you and LaurAnge, and I said nothing. While you were reamed, somewhat ironically, by the defenders of politeness and good will towards humanity, I chose to avoid stepping into what I figured would be a force-5 shitstorm, and me without my parka. I could say something like, “Just 'cause we don’t say anything doesn’t mean there aren’t people out there who agree with you,” but that’s bullshit. What the hell did I register here for if not to post what I think?
TwistofFate saw what he thought was uneven treatment and said something about it, as did techie, Satan, and evilbeth. I’ve personally had no complaint about Silo since his penitent return (I hadn’t heard about any homophobia, which does disturb me, until now). But either way, you guys have been speaking your peace with aplomb, and I admire it.
evilbeth said:
Thank you kindly for bringing that up. I have been in chat and seen it across the board (myself included) and in both forums, alcohol and drug use is an abundant on this board and in chat.
Yes, people are holding Silo to a higher level because of his past. Yes, when it comes to other people that same damn behavior is brushed aside. Is this fair?
So Kyla, as much as I have enjoyed chatting with you, how do you deal with the fact that many other Dopers are very involved in their “drug” of choice but many feel the need to single out Silo? I don’t mean to pull punches with you but I can name at least 4-5 other posters/chat room people that fit that bill. Myself is not included in that but if you want to make it so, then 5-6.
Look, I am not here to make enemies or make a federal case out of the unfair treatment I see happening. I am looking for honest answers to these things. A few people here exempt themselves from the same behavior but when it comes to Silo all hell has to break loose.
Not to quote him but to give you all an idea of what has/had happened over the months since he joined the SD pretty much in his own words:
He came to this board thinking it was a joke. He didn’t know for one second at the time how close a community we are here. He played the MM game until one day he realized what the SD is all about. He was relatively new to boards such as this. Many other boards or BBSs are so impersonal so it was a game to him, as I understand. Most of us and I think I am included in this, aided him in his behavior. It was funny at the time for him until he realized what the real scoop was.
When he realized the errs of his ways he asked the admins/mods to change his name. He straightened up and became a better poster than any of us thoughthe could be. He told us who he was and frankly, unless he had told us I don’t think that most people would have really known who his original screen name was, if not suspicious. That is honesty.
He has always felt bad about that time and wishes it would go away. He has spoken to me in detail about this subject and even brought it up to the Vegas Dopefest people. I think he is honest in this matter and cares what you all think even if he doesn’t come across that way.
Look, if you don’t like him fine, let it go. The thing I ask as a friend of his is to ignore him or shut up, if you think his topics are off the wall by all means ignore it. If the admins/mods think he if off the wall in an inappropriate manner he will be called on it by them or email them if that is your choice. But don’t sit back and jump on his ass and have double standards, that really chaps my ass.
Silo is my buddy, I have many buddies on this board and would go to the same lengths for them as I am now. The problem I see is I wont have to for them (and you know who you are) because they don’t have that background. I wish for Silo that he had never done his MM persona and just been what he has been since his name change. I guarantee that most of you might look with tilted head but would not go to such lengths had he never gone that route.
He is done with his trolling days…many, many moons ago. Please, if you have a problem with him then let it go. But know that he is a nice person if you get to know him and help to nurture (sp) that special person I see you might be suprised. If you can’t do that then please do what you can to avoid him.
Oh and BTW Kyla, I have a very rich daddy, does that make me an aweful person for saying so? I hope not because I am proud of what my father has accomplished. I am proud of where he came from and where he is. Yes, it’s not always appropriate to discuss such matters but I do believe that a child should always be proud of their parents if warranted.
I also understand that Silo thrives on this fact…I have been there and been as strong about telling people about it in my past for many reasons. In fact I was pretty snotty in my late teens and early twenties over the fact of my father’s wealth.
I am 32 years now and the matter is not as important to me except for the fact that I love my father and proud of what he has done in his life. In addition to that, I know that I will pretty much be taken care of for the rest of my own life. I am damn proud of that, and make no bones about that.
Hows that for honesty?
Silo is proud of his father, he honestly believes that he will be successful in computers, he has a good outlook on life. There are few that I know that want to be more or as “good” as thier parents, Silo is an example of that even if he is braggy about it.
Okay, time to attempt sleep. I am sorry if this is choppy but it’s been a rough couple of weeks for this kid.
Evilbeth and Tech…
Thank you for having the Patience to type all that out… its what I would have liked the OP to turn out…
thanks guys…
See Kyla, I like to respond to what you said here because it’s ovious (to me) you’re trying to get a rise out of people by manipulating things.
As for the homophobic comment, this has been addressed before and I think very low of you to bring up a one time misunderstanding from many months back.
As for what you said about my favorite topics, I have to wonder why you twist things to try and make me look like a jerk. You can take almost any person in chat, take things they’ve said, twist them around and make them look like an asshole, pervert, etc… I also have to wonder how you can say these things when you and I are not usually in chat at the same time. Where do you get off saying things like you do?
…
Satan and others, my comments toward aenea were harsh. It’s very rare for me to go off on someone like that and I only will do so after much repeated abuse–thus as I have a long fuse, so to speak. I may apologize in the future, but as for now I’m still urked by the whole matter. I know it takes two to tango, but she has been the main instigator in this whole thing. I think she owes me the apology.
Maybe down the road we can both mutually make amends. That’s all I can say for now.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!
You know, I apologized to someone publicly on this very board even though I did not feel I was wrong and I felt I was the person who deserved the apology and it was a very public dispute I was in.
However, the person who asked me to apologize was someone I respected, and even though I did not get an apology in return to me, I know that I showed the person I respect that I could swallow my pride and show some extra class.
If a stubborn asshole like I am can do this, Silo, I was hoping you would as well.
Or maybe you just don’t respect those asking you to apologize as much as I respect the person who asked me…
Yer pal,
Satan
*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
Six months, three days, 17 hours, 10 minutes and 56 seconds.
7468 cigarettes not smoked, saving $933.58.
Extra life with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 4 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes.
I slept with a moderator!*
Then again, Satan, remember that it took you quite a while to apologize, too. Sometimes it’s best to let the situation get a little less heated before trying to make reparations.
I was at the meeting of Silo and Aenea. We were all joking about getting Silo to “whip it out and prove it” beforehand. Frankly, I continued to think it was a joke, until the thread about Silo’s penis in the Pit came along, and Aenea seemed to hold it against Silo that he DIDN’T whip it out. This seemed very strange to me, so I can’t imagine how Silo felt, being badgered about the whole thing months after it happened.
Frankly, I like the kid. He’s never been anything but kind to me. Maybe, just maybe, that’s because I’ve never been anything but kind to him.
A whole (well in part anyways) pit thread devoted to me? :eek: And it doesn’t even have my name on it! Cool! 
Sounds fine by me.