Mike Greathouse [you decide]

[critical bill]

Antagonism to moderators is what it says

No I understand that part. I just don't understand why Jim K thinks Bobby should assess himself warning points as well. Bad blood? I just don't understand why he would say that. Not important really though.

 

[Griz]

I have to admit.....I really am getting to the point where I don't miss this place. It's nothing against you Rich or Fauna but some of the personalities. I simply will not call a known good guy a scumbag without at least getting some additional information. That's disappointing Bobby. It's disappointing that any of this is happening but I am equally disappointed in attacking someone without hearing there side especially when that someone has been considered a friend to many here.

I am not saying any of this is believable or simply a work of fiction. That's up to you to quantify but to get to the point of personal attacks on a friend without allowing that friend to explain is simply a HUGE character flaw in some of you.....us even. Guys, if Mike does not explain after adequate time then let the roast start then but it's only been a few hours. I simply don't miss most of this......

Griz

 

[Stardust]

I have to admit.....I really am getting to the point where I don't miss this place. It's nothing against you Rich or Fauna but some of the personalities. I simply will not call a known good guy a scumbag without at least getting some additional information. That's disappointing Bobby. It's disappointing that any of this is happening but I am equally disappointed in attacking someone without hearing there side especially when that someone has been considered a friend to many here.

I am not saying any of this is believable or simply a work of fiction. That's up to you to quantify but to get to the point of personal attacks on a friend without allowing that friend to explain is simply a HUGE character flaw in some of you.....us even. Guys, if Mike does not explain after adequate time then let the roast start then but it's only been a few hours. I simply don't miss most of this......

Griz

I agree with you. Questioning is one thing, but out right attacks before more info is giving or Mike comes on here is totally unwarranted and why some people choose not to participate.

 

[Dr Owens]

Don't you think it may have been a good thing at the time to take all the evidence you collected and present it to Mike? I'm not saying you enabled him to continue on the path of the dumbass, but you certainly didn't help yourself or anyone else, or even the site if he was responsible for the DDOS attack, by not nipping it in the bud when you could have. You could have clothes-lined the guy with solid evidence and took the wind right out of his sails. Did you enable this situation to this point? I think you could have disabled it very early on instead of being the wind giving this situation more momentum.

Actually, I did say something to Mike. I told him that I knew that Shrillomn was him in February...of 2007. Of course, he denied it, but within approximately one week, he abruptly stopped posting, and didn't post again until June of 2007. He knew darn good and well that I was right on the verge out "outing him," but I was just waiting until my schedule was a little less hectic to do so. Once he quit posting, I just kind of blew it off...it's easy for me to do that with the type of schedule I keep.

Does anyone else find it interesting that a frequent participator on this site would all of a sudden stop posting...especially after being confronted about an on going lie that he had been perpetrating? If someone didn't have something to hide, why would they "hide?"

At least in the case of Walk of Life, he listed his location as "Chicago". So can two people, one in Chicago and the other in Florida have the same IP address? Not damned likely.......

Let's not forget, that this isn't just two matching IP's. They also both posted from a Road Runner account in Tampa Bay...that's a long way from Chicago...


72.187.158.29 : 29-158.187-72.tampabay.res.rr.com

• Mike Greathouse 72.187.158.29 [Find Posts by User] [View Other IP Addresses for this User]
• Walk of Life 72.187.158.29 [Find Posts by User] [View Other IP Addresses for this User]

I want to go on record here and say that I have nothing personal against Mike. Even though I don't know him personally, I have always thought that he seemed like a good guy. However, the evidence is damning, and if you know anything about how the internet works, there's no way to rationalize that THREE matching IP addresses (at least the types in this instance) are not from the same guy. People don't win the lottery multiple times.

Mike,
If you had just left well enough alone, this topic wouldn't be here. You brought this on yourself by not quitting when you were ahead. I tried to warn you a year ago...

 

[varnyard]

why not throw yourself some warning points as well

Jim, maybe you missed this part, this is what the user said to Webslave:

Originally Posted by bigmonitor13
Try going and jacking off or something.

As for Griz, I must agree on one thing, it is very disappointing, however, I would love to hear the excuse....

 

[The BoidSmith]

Good post Bob. That's the reason why Rich has decided not to ban Mike upfront. My initial post on the topic (early this morning) was made out of complete disappointment and a sentiment of betrayal. After an 8-hour drive back home I had ample time to reflect. The question I kept asking to myself is: why? I never engaged in "conversations" with Shrillomn/Mike (simply because he was an anonymous entity) but some of his points were thought out and valid. In fact some folks even gave him positive karma points for them. Some people think the end justifies the means. In all honestly I don't think so, but let's give Mike the chance to explain.

Thanks

 

[Dr Owens]

I would love to hear the excuse....

Bad guys make excuses for their misdoings. Good guys own up to their mistakes. Let's give Mike a chance to respond.

 

[Junkyard]

WOOAAH! I cannot believe what I just read. He was one of the best guys I met at Daytona. As of this point, I am going to refrain from making any decision, this is not easy information to swallow.

 

[varnyard]

Bad guys make excuses for their misdoings. Good guys own up to their mistakes. Let's give Mike a chance to respond.

Fair enough...

 

[Suncoast Herpetological]

You guys are a class act.

I have watched the last several pages unfold on this thread with a variety of reactions. Those of you that know me well also know that Mike Greathouse has been my best friend for close to 15 years. I would trust him with my life. The reactions have changed based on the statements made. The first reaction is actually amusement to think that anyone who has frequented this site for any length of time would think that Mike would create an alter ego because he was afraid to voice his own opinion. Look at his posts. He has always voiced his opinion. Those of you that call him a coward IF that his what he did are way off base. Anyone ever hear of Dramatic effect? Poetic license? It is obvious to anyone who has gone through the original Shrilomn posts that the creation of that particular entity was for the express purpose of deflating the bloated ego of Wilomn after his thought provoking and somewhat nauseating journey of self reflection into the inner workings of his megalomaniacal psyche. “Wilomn...a Brief Expose”...good God! After that, the persona took on a life of it’s own. However, anyone who wants to take the time should do two things. First, ignore the fact the Shrilomn was not a real identity. Then, read through the 50 some posts by this character and tell me how many you do not agree with. If you are honest, it won’t be many. Truth and sound judgment can be dispensed anonymously. Sometimes with great effect.

What a few of you are also glossing over is the fact that Mike has done more to support this site over the last several years than just about anyone. He organized auctions, contributed regularly, purchased the first Endowment Membership and had one of the first GCC certificates displayed on his site as well until it was pulled. Coward?...he never had a problem voicing his opinion or thoughts to anyone including Rich. An awful lot of the members here adopted the “it’s his site, he can do what he wants” attitude when Rich dropped the reins here six months after collecting a tidy pile of cash from everyone. We were even treated to a nice shiny picture of what our money purchased prior to his abdication. Mike was one of a few who very professionally pointed this out to Rich. And now a select group of you have actually paid for the privilege of running this site for him. That is one of the better pieces of business legerdemain I have seen pulled off. A few of us called him on it. Myself included. Based on the lukewarm responses from others in the threads concerned, a lot of you though the same way. If the point was punched home by someones alter ego....who cares. It was effective.

Anger probably rolls up next. If some of you find the use of an alias distasteful, that is your choice. Myself, I found most of Shrilomn’s posts amusing and thought provoking. If they came from Mike, I enjoyed them no less. You are all entitled to your own opinion on the use of this sort of a technique to get a point across. However, for Rich and others here to make the idiotic jump from an alias to throwing allegations of site vandalism and DDOS attacks is not only reprehensible, it is downright low. For you to even allude to that Rich without a single shred of anything to back it up is despicable. And to now backpeddle and say you did not say it after anyone can plainly read it in your first post is beyond gutless. The few of you who are tossing around terms like Bad Guy and Scumbag based on nothing but an alias ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Whether they were Mike in disguise or not,again, read through the posts. What damage did they do? The lot of you watch the antics of Wes and his pet monkey Kimmel parade around here showing their asses daily and, at most, grumble a bit. Wes has been banned here for behavior unbefitting a human a dozen times. Kimmel, at least a couple. They have stalked people with no reason, harassed people across every thread they posted on and insulted and belittled half the damn membership. Has Wes helped oust a bad guy or two? You betcha. Accidents happen. When you attack anyone and everyone who disagrees with you, you are bound to get lucky once or twice. Even a blind egomaniacal jackass of a squirrel finds a nut now and then. And these two are the ones that I believe someone referred to as two of the most reputable members of this site. What a joke.

Personally, whether Mike is one or all three of the entities mentioned, I couldn’t care less. His seven year tenure on this site helping folks with questions, supporting this site when the owner did not and his all around positive influence and willingness to voice his opinion when needed far outweighs any such paltry infraction that some of you want to read into posting under an alias.

Oh and Bobby...I did catch your attempt to expand the lynching through association. I noticed that the pet monkey chimed in right after. Theres a true braintrust. As someone who has flip flopped for and against this site over the years so many times they can't be counted, you more than anyone should be ashamed of yourself. I realize that the vast majority of thoughts that enter your head are hand placed there by Wes or Kimmel but for God's sake...try thinking once in a while before you hit submit.

If you like i can get you the name of Mike's second grade teacher...she was probably in on the conspiracy too.

This place has just gotten sad.

 

[Dr Owens]

John,
I am sure that you know that I have nothing but respect for you...I think that goes without saying.

I talked with you a little over a year ago about the whole Shrillomn situation, and you are one of the only people outside of Rich and the other mods that I discussed it with. I called you because I figured that you knew Mike better than anyone. At the time, you told me that this was all news to you, but that you couldn't wait to ask Mike about it the next time you talked with him. Since that time we haven't talked again, so I'll ask now...

Do you have any knowledge as to whether or not these allegations against Mike are true? You certainly didn't deny anything in your previous post...in fact, it seemed to be more of a defense of his actions than anything else.

(btw...I do understand the fact that you and Mike are best friends. In light of that fact, I will understand if you decline to answer this question, and it will not affect my opinion of you one iota. I mean that. )

 

[shrap]

Personally, whether Mike is one or all three of the entities mentioned, I couldn’t care less. His seven year tenure on this site helping folks with questions, supporting this site when the owner did not and his all around positive influence and willingness to voice his opinion when needed far outweighs any such paltry infraction that some of you want to read into posting under an alias.

As I said in my first post. Many of the things these sock puppets said have a lot merit to them. I will be the first to stand up and say so. But...

You knew there was a but right... to say he was just

posting under an alias

would not be entirely accurate. Stirring shit and attacking individual members was in there too. That is the part I call cowardly. If you want to stir shit and attack individuals then man up and do so as yourself.

As far as posting with an alias to get your point across, I said so on the phone today with Bobby that it is not as big a deal as he and others are trying to make of it. So we agree on that aspect of things, but not the entire ball of wax.

 

[WebSlave]

An awful lot of the members here adopted the “it’s his site, he can do what he wants” attitude when Rich dropped the reins here six months after collecting a tidy pile of cash from everyone. We were even treated to a nice shiny picture of what our money purchased prior to his abdication. Mike was one of a few who very professionally pointed this out to Rich.

Yeah, right John. I thought you were in the banking business. YOU sell animals. YOU know what they have sold for. Or at least what MINE have. I produce MORE than you, sell MORE than you and been doing so LONGER than you have, salting away the money when I could. And my home and land are paid for, and been so for 16 years, and have NO children to have to support. Run that through your banking brain calculations to see where the money for my "shiny toy" came from. It's also pretty obvious that you have NO idea on prices of "shiny toys", either..... But maybe $28K for a vehicle is a LOT to you..... I made that just in the surplus adults I sold that year.... And THEN some. I think I am entitled to buy a toy now and again in my older age, don't you? Especially after all the work I put into my reptile business year in and year out. Or should I just keep buying total utility vehicles and such like I have been doing for the rest of my life? Heck, the pickup truck I bought before that didn't cost much less than the "toy" did, so what's your beef?

I have made it VERY plain that I will no longer support this site with money made from my reptile business. "Tidy sum" my ass........... Anyone with simple math skills can easily figure out that I'm not making any mint off of THIS site.... Yeah, $25 memberships is certainly going to fill up the bank to bursting.....

As for "dropping the reins". Yep I did for a while. So what? Lots of people recommended that I take a break for a while when it was stressing me out. Then when I do as they suggested, they STILL whine about it. Go figure.............

Anyway, nice try at deflecting this thread. That's enough about me in this thread........

 

[varnyard]

Wes has been banned here for behavior unbefitting a human a dozen times. Kimmel, at least a couple. They have stalked people with no reason, harassed people across every thread they posted on and insulted and belittled half the damn membership. Has Wes helped oust a bad guy or two? You betcha. Accidents happen. When you attack anyone and everyone who disagrees with you, you are bound to get lucky once or twice. Even a blind egomaniacal jackass of a squirrel finds a nut now and then. And these two are the ones that I believe someone referred to as two of the most reputable members of this site. What a joke.

Personally, whether Mike is one or all three of the entities mentioned, I couldn’t care less. His seven year tenure on this site helping folks with questions, supporting this site when the owner did not and his all around positive influence and willingness to voice his opinion when needed far outweighs any such paltry infraction that some of you want to read into posting under an alias.

Oh and Bobby...I did catch your attempt to expand the lynching through association. I noticed that the pet monkey chimed in right after. Theres a true braintrust. As someone who has flip flopped for and against this site over the years so many times they can't be counted, you more than anyone should be ashamed of yourself. I realize that the vast majority of thoughts that enter your head are hand placed there by Wes or Kimmel but for God's sake...try thinking once in a while before you hit submit.

If you like i can get you the name of Mike's second grade teacher...she was probably in on the conspiracy too.

This place has just gotten sad.

That is funny John, I will say this about Wes, Chuck, Sammy and myself. If we have a problem we are all right up front. We say what we think with our "REAL" names. None of us run around like a hidden back stabber, or cover the tracks from someone that does.

I might not be shy, but no one speaks for me. I need no monkey, or three hidden troll accounts.

 

[KelliH]

I don't think what Mike did (if he did it) makes him a "bad guy/scammer/scumbag etc". He was playing a game. I wouldn't do it, but I don't think it's nearly as horrible as some hear make it sound.

Some of you might be surprised to learn that there are others here that have ghost accounts as well... and you might be even more surprised to find out who those others are.

 

[KelliH]

I wouldn't do it, but I don't think it's nearly as horrible as some here make it sound.

Fixed.

 

[varnyard]

I don't think what Mike did (if he did it) makes him a "bad guy/scammer/scumbag etc". He was playing a game. I wouldn't do it, but I don't think it's nearly as horrible as some hear make it sound.

Some of you might be surprised to learn that there are others here that have ghost accounts as well... and you might be even more surprised to find out who those others are.

I'm sorry Kelli, I did not hear you, did you say ghost accounts? Or troll accounts? I only have one, and it is all me!! However, do these "Ghost" accounts use them to make personal attacks? As well as attacks against the site? And by all means, don't hold back now, spill the beans!!

 

[Stardust]

John,

I met you this summer as well and I just can not think of either of you as bad guys in anyway.
I will say that, again, if Mike did have alias' I wish he would have just posted this under his own name. Perhaps cowardly was too strong of a word perhaps not.

I will say that unless there is undisputed proof I would not believe that Mike would try to ambush this site and making other accounts is not ambushing. Therefore, with just the alias' I would still say I would buy from him and consider him to be a good guy as well as talk with him again.

I would even go so far as to say that I wish this thread was not made on the BOI. As it does not pertain to making a transaction. Perhaps anger and hurt? Who knows.

 

[ravensgait]

Well Kelli out with it then !! seems the thread to clear the air with so go for it..

Myself while I don't know Mike personally I have always respected the person I saw here. The evidence seems pretty heavy against him and he was participating in the other thread where this all came up until he was called on it and left. Even though it is most likely he did it I too can't See him as a bad guy as far as doing business with him goes. I don't like what he did but wouldn't join a lynch party over this that's for certain.. Randy

 

[SPJ]

Let Mike respond before you guys go tearing him apart.