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Who is David Thorne?

By theGypsy | February 10, 2010

Shortly after we started the site last week I received an odd and cryptic email. It was a fella named David Thorne. I’d personally never heard of this dickshit…that was about to change. It seems this ego monster was the fella that published the whole ‘I want to pay you with a spider’ viral bit some time ago…

As it turns out he has a habit of being a public shit for brains that likes to publish email conversations that he has with people on a regular basis to belittle them and stroke his own fucking dic.. erm.. I mean ego.

Anyway, since that’s the way he rolls, I thought I’d publish his emails to me so you can judge for yourselves if this guy is an asshole or not…

Email 1 from David Thorne;

Really? http://www.27bslash6.com

My response;

Yes really; http://www.stockxpert.com/browse_image/view/2322901 – it’s on iStock Photos as well (another stock photo site). If yer designer told you it was his or you owned the rights… methinks he was full of… well… bullshit :0)

I’m sorry if you were lead to believe otherwise…. don’t shoot the messenger bro

Email 2 from David Thorne;

Not a problem. It is your choice to look like you trying to ride on the coat-tails of more successful sites. As the design of your site is slightly below that of which a primary school child could do, it hardly matters, just thought you would be embarrassed.- Good luck with that.

I left it at that….

Ain’t he a piece of work?

I didn’t bother responding because there really wasn’t any point in doing so… especially since I can do it HERE… He does like pissing on people in public you know (go read the first post on his blog)… so we’ll put the response here for him;

Hey Dave… why don’t you take you fucking head outta yer ass and grow the fuck up! Ok? I mean, seriously. If you are so goddamned worried about yer image/brand then maybe you shouldn’t be such a fucking cheap skate and actually BUY the rights to the image. Ya know? Or shit… spend a few bucks and commission yer own. I don’t give a shit WHO you think you are… because I’d not heard of you nor your site before now (seen the spider thing, but that don’t mean shit bro). So piss off.

We started this site on a whim… it’s about the content not the fucking design!

Oh and hey… looks like mister ego-head has some more people to send arrogant little piss-ant emails to – (click here)

Who is David Thorne?

Live by the sword….

So my friends.. I leave it to you. Who is David Thorne? Blogging maverick? Or ego centric fuck nuts that lives in his sociopathic dream world where we’re all just looking to ride his coat tails?

Sound off in the comments!

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  • Who is David Thorne?

Topics: Non-SEO BS | 113 Comments »

Posted on 10 February 2010 by David Harry

Just a ranting and rambling search geek.... Web gypsy and renaissance man! When not losing what's left o' me mind here, I can be found blogging on the Fire Horse Trail and hanging wid me peeps at the SEO Training Dojo

has written 19 articles for SEO Bullshit

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  • http://www.search-marketing-answers.com/blog alanbleiweiss

    David Thorne, ego centric fuck nut. that's my vote.

  • http://www.laurentbourrelly.com/ Laurent

    I like the picture, though :D

  • http://www.google.com/profiles/barry.adams Barry

    I actually thought that first post on his blog is pretty funny. Doesn't make him any less of an egocentric fuck nut though.

  • http://www.seobegin.com/ Dean Cruddace

    Who? i had not heard of him until now. Is he after the linkbait or does he just like swearing too much.

  • http://www.huomah.com theGypsy

    Fer sure man. There are some good things there and he seems like a creative guy. But I really had no clue at the time who he was and thought maybe, “Hey, this guy's designer mighta told him he owned the rights”…

    Seems it was bad form not to know who he was… sheeeeit. Fuck, I would have even changed it if he had actually cared and been civil. Any other pic and the content is the same. Now? Not a chance… she is now the icon that stands for what this blog is about… hehe…

  • http://www.hobo-web.co.uk/seo-blog/ Hobo

    Over a *&^%ing stock image??!! LOL

    Shaun

  • http://twitter.com/matt_davies Matt Davies

    Epic! As if he had the cheek to suggest you shouldn't use the image because he got there first. Maybe he's just become overly attached to Tabitha Gnillort (as he's named her), having “created” her via Twitter and Facebook accounts.

    He's a funny guy but clearly doesn't know when to stop being an arsehole.

  • Kara

    Is that a DOORWAY page? Holy shit and he's giving YOU hell for a picture? What a loser.

  • http://www.seobegin.com/ Dean Cruddace

    To be honest i much prefer the stylings of http://davidthorne.co.uk/ or the talented organist http://www.guildmusic.com/artists/thorned.htm or even the Jazz of
    http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=22019

  • http://www.gospelrhys.co.uk/ Rhys

    It'd be great to find that woman. Get her to post an image of her by David Thorne's website on a laptop & her flicking the V's at it.

  • http://www.huomah.com theGypsy

    At the end of the day it surely helps us reconsider the whole marketing 'rock star' crap. We may be known in certain sets, but none is really a household name or anything. The egos need to stay in check. Something we know all to well in the search blogging space. Oh well…shits and giggles mate.

  • http://twitter.com/matt_davies Matt Davies

    To be fair, I don't think SEO is a big consideration for that site. Used to be that the only way into the site was to click on the girl's middle finger on the homepage.

  • http://www.seobegin.com/ Dean Cruddace

    Valid point, i could not name one electrical engineering blogger but i am sure if you were in that space on a daily basis the names would roll off your tongue.

  • http://www.seobegin.com/ Dean Cruddace

    Valid point, i could not name one electrical engineering blogger but i am sure if you were in that space on a daily basis the names would roll off your tongue.

  • peteyoung

    What a cock!!!!

  • http://www.matthewsdiehl.com/ matthewdiehl

    Sorry, never heard of the guy. Better luck next time trying to pull some sort of rank online. What a capital DB.

  • felixthek

    Wow… sounds like an angry mob prepares to lynch David Thorne.

    I really dig Mr. Thornes Blog because its freaking genious/hilarious. I also follow you on Twitter for a long time and think of you as THE source for real SEO-insights. Since I knew 27bslash6 before seobullshit my first thought was: “Why would he copy Davids logo and add those fugly colors to it?”

    The SEO within me might prefer your blog but If I had to choose between the both Id choose Davids blog. Its unique.

    Your blog is just another SEO-Blog. One of the best though but I can find that knowledge elswhere. But where could I find this: http://www.27bslash6.com/speech.html

    Youre suppling me with knowledge. David is giving me FUN and entertainment. I know my brain good enough to know what its preferring ;-)

    I think you should keep up the email conversation with David. Id love to read the whole thing – ON HIS BLOG!

    No hard feelings.

    Felix

  • http://fyrfli.net fyrfli

    Funny, there is a whole Wikipedia entry for this dude … and, er, “his” girl … Nah – must be part of the whole joke he “created” around the image.

  • http://www.huomah.com theGypsy

    And it is entirely cool that ye do prefer that. Shit, most of the time I am writing about search patents and other sleep inducing items. So it's to be expected. We sling a wee bit o' mud around here as well… which he seems fond of. Also cool.

    What isn't cool, is acting like a self absorbed deity. Making the assumption that I even had a clue who you are never mind that I am somehow looking to emulate. Once more, it isn't “Davids logo” – it is a bloody stock image used many times around the web. I'd venture a guess those peeps don't know whom he is either.

    If he had been civil, I mighta' thought “Oh fuck… this has been done before.. Better change that” – now? meh… whateva'… get on wid me life. I don't respond well to bullies.

    Happy to have yer comments on it tho… all perspectives are welcomed.

  • felixthek

    Beeing civil is not why most people read his blog. I read it because he pushes the limit to a point where Id never go because I was raised to well. (fortunately/unfortunately). So its kinda his “job” to write in way were your response is likely to be pissed of. Id feel kinda honoured If Id get a mail from him (I guess that sounds stupid.). But if he´d send me a mail Id try to give him a good “fight”. Its like getting roasted by Leno. Its maybe embarrassing – but hey, its Leno!

    I think the both of you could pull off one great piece of online-comedy here…

  • http://www.david-whitehouse.org/ David Whitehouse

    To be honest, I'd also heard of 27bslash6, and thought it was funny you were using the same image, my first impression was that you stole it, then I realised, due to the nature of the blog, you're unlikely to be that stupid and suspected it was a stock image.

    If you followed David Thorne before you, you would realise that the email he sent you is actually quite pleasant.

    He no doubt gets a lot more traffic than SEO Bullshit, mainly cos he appeals to a bigger audience.

    Funny that the gauntlet is thrown down, can't wait to see the backlash LOL

  • http://www.search-marketing-answers.com/blog alanbleiweiss

    Nobody's gonna get me to take the SEO Bullshit badge off my site. I think she's fuckin hot, and her attitude mirrors mine. So Thorne can kiss my ass. I think his initial email and follow-on response puts him in the “I'm as cool as Steve Jobs, so I can claim ownership to things others have done before me, and all i have to do is act like Steve and others will cower” category. Or if he thought he could use this as fodder for another of his otherwise entertaining blog posts, he clearly had no idea of the hornets nest he stepped on. We'll fucking shred his ass cross-cut style. :-)

  • http://www.huomah.com theGypsy

    lol… well, sorry I ain't got the time to play email circle jerk. Seriously, over a stock image of someone I'd never heard of? Meh. No interest… The question is, or lesson to be learned, is that one should protect one's branding (or client's) by actually acquiring full rights to an image. And no, I fail to see how that being 'quite pleasant' is any kind of endorsement except one towards our own complacency.

  • http://www.hobo-web.co.uk/seo-blog/ Hobo

    You could have just send him the actual image back as a reply lol

  • http://twitter.com/NicholaStott Nichola Stott

    According to my online bullshit set of top trumps, being a shit hot SEO has a max of 300 points, (theGypsy) and doing pie charts has only 10 (David Thorne). I think the Wiki page might fuck things up a bit though.

  • http://www.seobegin.com/ Dean Cruddace

    seo`s are very dangerous people remind me never to cro… ah bugger it the badge is staying firmly in place on mine too

  • http://www.resourcenation.com/ Michael Martin

    I'm surprised he wasnt trying to extort royalties for Ms Britney Spears due to its image semblance of her crazy pink wig wearing days ;)

  • Guest

    “What isn't cool, is acting like a self absorbed deity.”

    Haha, thanks for that. What was the point of this website again…

    Dude I love the stuff on the Huomah website but this side of you ain't so hot.

  • Tabitha

    Lol. Really? A page dedicated to me? P.S. Nice scarf. I used to know people who tried that look. Usually with canvas shoes. And the beard. One of them actually managed to get a girlfriend and the others wouldn't let him be in their wow club. Web gypsy? additional lol.

  • Tabitha

    “We started this site on a whim… it’s about the content”

    But the content is more tripe than the design. Not starting off well is it?

  • http://www.huomah.com theGypsy

    The point of the site was for those in the biz to put their frustrations out. If ye haven't read the 'About Us' page…give it a go. Or listen to the podcast from Webmaster Radio. Plenty more insight there.

    And thanks on the other blog. It makes the point of why we started this one as I am sure a lot of search geeks aren't into this type of presentation. Ya know?

  • http://www.huomah.com theGypsy

    Thanks for dropping and making my points for me. I am not going to sit here and make personal attacks on people's appearance because that's just plain petty. Dedicated to U? erm… ok, if that's how yer ego needs things to be… I thought it was more about some arrogant fellow that likes to belittle people. When in Rome…

    We did as authors decide that personal attacks such as calling people a 'fat fuck' or the like wasn't going to fly. But I will leave yer comment cause, well, I can take it. Once more, if you guys are such brilliant marketers, it might have been a good idea to not use stock photos for the branding. Or what that the plan? Put it out there as a stock photo so you could go piss on those stepping on your (perceived) brand? Dunno… once more, I had no idea whom he was and if he'd politely brought it to my attention, I'd likely have changed it. Now? More the principle of it all. Bullying is simply bullshit.

  • jeffsebring

    Not too 'tripe' to comment on though huh?

    Sesquapadalian's should at least try to spell correctly . . but I guess it doesn't matter when you are posting anonymously does it?

  • Emma Jenkins

    I don't want to upset anyone or go against the grain but this page actually makes you sound like a bit of a dick. You will probably get more hits by using David thornes name on here but from a casual reader, it really does look like you are trying to ride his coat tails. The problem is that his branding (the use of the girl image) is much better than your use so yours looks like a very poor effort to copy. Also, his content is brilliantly written. Some of the most brilliantly written stuff I have read actually. You on the other hand are not actually a very good writer. This lives your content lacking and your design following. So what is your point?

  • Tabitha

    Please. Hornets nest? Cross cut style? Do you and the 'gypsy' dress up as star wars characters, lock sabres and discuss these terms? There is no fodder to be had here, this environment is sad and pathetic and requires no joke made of it. If there was indeed any semblance of 'fodder', you would last mere minutes in any 'ass shredding'. Back to your search engines and star trek collections wow geeks. Leave the internet to those that know how to truly exploit, use and have fun with it. Stick to the little league.

  • David Thorne

    Actually, my email to you was simply “Really?”
    Your reply was pompous. As would be expected from your photo. Also, I do not have a designer. I write all my own material, design, build and maintain the site. I have been in the industry for over fifteen years and my site generates between 40,000 and 180,000 unique visitors per day. I paid for the rights to that and three other images from istockphoto. I was vaguely unimpressed when the photographer placed them on other stock sites then a year later reuploaded them to istock but as that particular image became the 'brand' of the site, it was not an issue. My “really?' was more a “hello” to see if you were cool or a complete dick. I had not seen your photo at that stage.

  • http://www.huomah.com theGypsy

    Hi David, nice to talk to U again :0) – I am sure we can agree to disagree. A one line email is certainly not exactly a common courtesy of any kind. It could just be my sensitivities, fine. Maybe 'Hello' would have set us on a better course. I really had no clue who you were and thought that maybe some designer/photographer had pulled a fast one on ya'. If you'd care to have a civil discussion about it all, I am more than happy to use something else and even kill this post. On the other hand, if you (and crew) care to make personal attacks, then I don't see a reason why I would. It reinforces the motivation to leave it in place. I have been in the business for 12 and my partner and staffers well over 15, not sure what that has to do with it. I also work with/manage brands/sites that are more trafficked. Not sure what that has to do with anything either. I can be cool and I can be a complete dick. It really depends on the situation and how I am being treated. It's entirely possible we got off on the wrong foot… let us see what the future holds.
    I truly thought you were being screwed around by someone… I was only a bit short as I am not a fan of one word contacts. I've never done it, never will. I would politely contact the blogger to express my concerns sincerely. I would say 'hello' when I mean hello. If you had responded with what you now have above (that the photographer had, unbeknown to you, kept selling the image) I would have surely felt the frustration and gone in another direction. It doesn't really mean that much to me… Oh well, shits and giggles. Get in touch if you'd like to start over… I am more than happy to tear it down and make a new friend. :0)

  • http://illuminea.com/ Miriam Schwab

    I actually saw your header image and thought “I saw that on that other awesome blog I read a while ago.” That other awesome blog turns out to be David's. When I first found it I couldn't stop reading it's so hilarious and smart.

    Funny thing is, your blog is hilarious and smart too. Maybe you both have too much in common.

    Anyways, I think neither of you communicated very nicely here, so maybe you should just call it even?

  • nomadhar

    you really just don't get it, do you. (shakes head) the few David Thorne readers that passed by are likely laughing it up. i guess i have to spell it out for you.

    it's a set of stock photos for a fake persona that he had some fun with for a while. note that he never asked you to take it down/change it/burn it with fire.

    built for content, not design? please. if you believed that, then you might have bothered to make your site conform to accessibility standards. green on green? and i guess the choice of photo in question was totally random. right.

    and wow, you really can't do even a little bit of give and take on the insult game. he gives you a funny little prod, and you decided that the rational response is to throw a hissy and curse like a 5th grader playing Halo. overreact much? he was just taking the piss. he makes fun of himself all the time.

    in case you haven't figured it out yet, you've been trolled. he hardly even had to do anything to get you to reveal how much of a hypocritical, humorless and pompous douche you really are.

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  • casualObserver

    David Thorne 1 – theGypsy 0

  • tylerbrainerd

    hahahaha. of course david is an asshole, that's why he's so funny!

    you suck gypsy. cry some more.

  • DT+1

    I only came to this site because Google found David Thorne's name here. After reading all the comments I am still with David Thorne. You should really read his articles.

  • Jackbanzai

    Agreed.

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  • timmy!

    Same here

  • Katya

    David Harry is just jealous that David Thorne didn't think he was funny enough to post the exchange between them on his site.

  • Katya

    He doesn't even know who “Tabitha” is. lol

  • elle

    Funny I only arrived at this site after Googling 'David Thorne' so that says it all.

    To be honest you're the only one that looks like the dick after you posted this article. Your 'reply' has just proved you to be a pomous asshole. And it does look like you're riding on his coat tails – your use of the image looks like a bad photoshop job.

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