Thumbman is a fake!
This image on the right of a man looking like a thumb was sent to Steven Fry this morning by i_charlie, Stephen Fry then RT (retweeted) the image and being Stephen Fry, the unofficial emperor of twitter, it has quickly done the rounds across the web (twitter, facebook and our office). I even posted it on my own blog…
Useless internet crap being shared is nothing new but what I think is interesting about this internet meme is the twitter user thumbman. The user was only created today and his second ever twitter post was “@StephenFry linked to my picture!! Does that mean I’m going to be famous? Maybe the world isn’t ready for me”.
As the twitter account was only created after the image began spreading across the internet. My thinking is that someone saw it posted on Stephen Fry and saw a opportunity so created a fake twitter account.
Since creation, twitter thumbman has been busy adding up anyone mentioning or retweeting the thumbman image, and encouraging users to photoshop his thumbhead as they see fit.
It looks as though fake twitter thumbman is trying to grab as much online attention as possible. Within a hour of posting my blog post, the twitter thumbman has commented on it with a link back to his twitter. This makes me think fake thumbman has been montoring twitter & google blog search for mentions. Predicting that thumbman is going to be notorious, fakethumbman is trying to captalize on it by already offering merchandise (under the guise of charity but really only 10% is going to charity).
I think who ever thumbman is, he’s spotted a potential earner and trying to game it for his own return, which I can’t blame him for, but what I really want to know is who is the real thumbman?! (apologises for my photoshop skills)
Update: Fake thumbman now has a website, check out the funny pictures
5 Responses to “Thumbman is a fake!”
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Thumbman on January 29th, 2009
You don’t understand. Thumbman is in all of us… We can all have fun with a tounge in our thumb cheeks. Spread the #thumbsup love!
decoy12345 on January 30th, 2009
anyone able to find the original picture then if it’s a hoax?
i_charlie on January 30th, 2009
Hey – good article. I guess I’m largely responsible for this meme as it was me @i_charlie who sent it to @stephenfry who then kindly retweeted it. The image tickled me so I thought I’d pass it on. I’m certainly not seeking fame though, and am wise to the fact that the only reason I’ve got an extra 200+ followers was due to @stephenfry’s retweet. You’re right – he is the godfather of twitter. I agree decoy12345, wouldn’t it be great to find the REAL origins behind this photo! I’d imagine a US college photo perhaps? Whatever, it’d be good if this chap emerged to take the credit for his wondrously thumb-shaped head. Could the REAL ThumbMan please stand up.
eyesnight on January 30th, 2009
@i_charlie where did you find the image originally? Being on Stephen Fry’s twitter is probably better than the front page of Digg these days!
I now know the true identity of fake thumbman but I don’t think I’m going to reveal it…just yet.
i_charlie on January 30th, 2009
Hi eyesnight – a buddy sent it to me via old’ fashioned email. I simply popped it on Twitter via TwitPic. And yes you’re totally right – the @stephenfry effect is profound. Do tell us the real identity of ThumbMan… he deserves the credit.