David Thorne

David Thorne is an Australian humorist, satirist, and author known for his viral email exchanges and internet content that gained widespread attention in the late 2000s. His work frequently features deadpan humor and elaborate pranks conducted through email correspondence. Thorne's first book "The Internet is a Playground" became a bestseller after its 2011 release, compiling his most popular email exchanges including the famous "Missing Missy" cat poster thread and "Seven Red Spiders" payment attempt. He followed this with additional books including "Look Evelyn, Duck Dynasty Wiper Blades" and "That's Not How You Wash a Squirrel." The author maintains an active online presence through his website 27b/6, where he continues to post new content and exchanges. His work has been featured in various media outlets and has influenced internet humor culture, particularly in the realm of email-based comedy. Beyond his writing, Thorne has worked as a graphic designer and has applied his satirical approach to both written and visual mediums. His distinct style combines professional formatting with increasingly absurd content, often targeting perceived bureaucracy and social conventions.

Readers appreciate Thorne's email exchanges for their escalating absurdity and deadpan humor. Many cite the "Missing Missy" cat poster thread as their entry point to his work. Fans highlight his ability to maintain composure while pushing conversations into bizarre territory. What readers liked: - Quick-witted responses - Professional tone contrasting with ridiculous content - Creative ways of frustrating unreasonable requests - Visual elements and design work integrated into exchanges What readers disliked: - Repetitive formula across exchanges - Some exchanges feel staged or artificial - Later books don't match the freshness of early content - Occasional mean-spirited tone toward targets Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: "The Internet is a Playground" 3.9/5 (24,000+ ratings) - Amazon: "The Internet is a Playground" 4.4/5 (650+ reviews) - "Look Evelyn" averages 3.5/5 across platforms Common reader comment: "Hilarious but best consumed in small doses rather than reading straight through."

The Internet is a Playground (2011) A collection of email exchanges and articles featuring absurdist humor and confrontational correspondence with various individuals and businesses.

Look Evelyn, Duck Dynasty Wiper Blades. We Should Get Them (2014) A compilation of essays and correspondence detailing personal anecdotes, family interactions, and various encounters in everyday life.

That's Not How You Wash a Squirrel (2016) A collection of humor pieces centered around parenting experiences, workplace interactions, and general life observations.

I'll Go Home Then, It's Warm and Has Chairs (2017) An anthology of humorous articles and exchanges focusing on workplace dynamics, customer service interactions, and personal relationships.

Someone Has To Set a Bad Example (2018) A series of essays and email exchanges documenting various confrontations and misadventures in both personal and professional settings.

John Hodgman writes humor essays that blend deadpan delivery with absurdist facts and scenarios. His style combines intellectual references with mundane observations, similar to Thorne's approach to finding comedy in everyday exchanges.

Justin Halpern shares real-life conversations and experiences with a focus on wit and sarcasm. His work chronicles actual interactions and correspondence, particularly in dealing with difficult people and awkward situations.

Allie Brosh uses simple illustrations combined with text to tell stories about daily life and human behavior. Her work features similar themes of dealing with frustration and miscommunication through humor.

David Sedaris writes personal essays that find humor in uncomfortable social situations and human quirks. His work often involves email exchanges and correspondence with others, examining the peculiarities of modern communication.

Douglas Adams creates scenarios that highlight absurdity through logical progressions and deadpan observations. His writing style uses similar techniques of taking ordinary situations to their logical yet ridiculous conclusions.