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David Cohen

Thank you for all comments, even the ones that kind of make me look like Satan’s spawn. I’m starting with just one response that covers the recurring questions and criticisms of me and my alleged specific role(s) and actions here. Because I am quoted, alleged, and accused of various evils it’s my responsibility to answer for them all publicly. If you have a specific question, criticism, or claim please ask me directly on Twitter or in Twitter DM if you’d like to keep the conversation private. https://twitter.com/explorionary

A colleague of mine attended both days of YoastCon and communicated the PR spin narrative: this was a planned and orchestrated attack by a group of accused “trolls” hellbent on hijacking #YoastCon hashtag to personally attack the CEO of Yoast because we allegedly “Hate women, especially women in leadership. That Yoast CEO was our target woman leader. And YoastCon was our target location.” And that I am the accused ringleader of it all.

The other story going around the various SEO chats, groups, DMs, Slacks is that the accused group of trolls were driven by some bizarre fear, jealousy,

People can believe what they wish. Or people can know by finding the truth. I’m not here to convince anyone of anything. But I am responsible to publicly or privately answer questions about what’s published by Sarah.

Why and what is the motive? Both questions deserve a response. The answer is: Believe women first – Know something, say something.

As for my character and behavior around women, I have no scripted narrative, acronym or label like male feminist. If you want to know you can speak to my girlfriend or my mom. Or my business partner. Or women who worked with me 10 years ago or work with me today.

For 10 years in professional marketing roles, I’ve hired, promoted, mentored, and supported women in their professional career. Accordingly, I’ve been in every situation imaginable with women where booze and opportunity existed to do something sexually inappropriate or aggressive.

“The rockstars are going to dig up dirt on your now!”. If that’s the case and there are allegations of sexual harassment of women, which make me look like a fraud, I will address them vs spinning this into an ego-crushing, slanderous, witchhunt cooked up by a syndicate of SEO male feminist trolls conspiring to destroy my career. Trust me, I’ve dealt with far worse in this life.

But, is it really “trolling” to dare ask people this question … does SEO have a toxic masculinity problem as you’ve all been hearing for years? Or is it really toxic male feminism problem?

Response to questions…

Some response to recurring allegations and accusations communicated to me from YoastCon which match those in the comments. And from Twitter (where you can ask me direct questions publicly or privately – https://twitter.com/explorionary)

“Hates and fears women in leadership!”: Dumb claim with zero proof. My business partner of 2+ years is a female founder and CEO of our company. You can ask her what it’s been like working with a monster like me. Or a woman and leader like Brittany – twitter.com/explorionary/status/1093912879831621632

“Personal attacks!”: Wrong but relevant question. Nothing I’m quoted saying is about a single person. It’s about a known problem in a multi-billion dollar SEO industry – where you will meet the kindest and most fascinating people imaginable – people you just instantly love forever. But SEO industry has a needlessly dark reputation to people in other realms of the marketing world. Which prevents more growth, jobs (and stability), innovation, and more opportunity to earn – in both wealth and professional reputation.

But, known how? By already seeing what you saw in the tweet archive and videos … between the time they were filmed until our current day and being turned off, for lack of a better word, by this already mysterious world of SEO. It’s a lie that I used and “leaked” the public tweets from Yoast verified Twitter account and the SEO event videos with the Playmates to launch some global troll war on the gods of SEO while they gathered at YoastCon.

What I’m attacking is how dumb it is for harassment/reputation issues to still exist in 2019 and continue holding back a vital industry that in my view has knowledge and power of the internet – maybe the wildest invention of our age – in ways that are uncommon but needed now more than ever.

“Evil motives?”: Valid question. Answers and accountability from leaders who make claims and say words about their male feminism but have the actions and outcomes been there? I’m just a messenger of this questions. That’s it.

“Self-righteous!”: Sure. Because I can be and don’t care if people call me this thing. Better than being called male feminist or “rapey”. As you’ll hear other people described at SEO events.

“Orchestrated attack”: Wrong. This began as a solo mission days before YoastCon. If you want to know more on this ask me in Twitter.

“No proof – can’t be true!”: Ignorance. Ask me how.

“Saw Yoast tweets in 2014? Why did you wait?”: I didn’t wait then, as in the context in which wait is being used. You just don’t know the whole story. You’re jumping to an uninformed and illogical conclusion but if you wish to know you can ask me this too.

“Russian troll! Works for Kremlin!”: Perhaps? But prove it.

I may respond to individual comments over the weekend but for now I will respond to any question in Twitter. Public or private (DM). Thank you.






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