To think that adults calling other adults 'silly' is patronising.

[breatheslowly]

It makes me think of a primary school teacher who has become a bit institutionalised and can't distinguish between talking to children and adults.

Don't be silly

Don't be silly.

I agree.

I only ever use it when I want to be patronising

Worra! You beat me

Yes it is and so often excused for men's lazy behaviour

Oh don't be a Silly Billy Luis

Silly moo.

YAN/BU.

Some people are fucking idiots, but "silly" is a nice, gentle euphemism.

Silly is polite-speak for twat/wanker/arsehole or another expletive of choice.

I use silly and twit and plonker.
I don't use casual swearing.
If I swear, I need to really mean it.

I'd rather be called something more accurate. I've seen it a couple of times on MN recently and I don't think that twat/wanker/arsehole would have been the alternative. Perhaps foolish, naive, an idiot.

Well maybe if you add something stronger...
Silly twat
Silly wanker
Silly cunt
???

Silly sausage Worra

It's meant to be, that's the point!

Or, it's a nice, mild way of saying 'you are either nuts or woefully ignorant, you cannot possibly believe that. Contemplate your own ignorance and come back with better thought-through answer. In the meantime, don't imagine for a second that I or anyone is taking you seriously'.

So, imploring them to act as a grown up, for which purpose, pointing out the childishness of their comments linguistically, is entirely suitable and very effective!

You really are being silly, OP

The thing with silly, is it conveys 'we're not taking you seriously' without wasting time analysing the nature of the person's silliness or descending into personal insult. it's deliberately dismissive. It's up to them to come back with a more credible comment if they wish.

In that case I think it is being misused/overused.