Colyn Serfontein makes libelous statements about me.

Author: GuyMcLaren  |  Category: I say

Colyn Serfontein is once again making unsubstantiated remarks in a forum where I am unable to defend myself. This state of affairs continues unabated. His allegations are as follows.

I quote (all text in blue are quotations.)

Sorry to dig up a corpse but I am sure many of you knows that Guy McLaren is actively smearing and slandering COPE members on his blog and everywhere else where people tolerate him.

I have been targeted by him and I am not concerned about it because the things I questioned was detrimental to the planned COPE WEB PRESENCE and he was not listening to reason.

However I replied to one of his posts about me …

#comment-469


# Colyn Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Thanks Guy … you have dug out some stuff that was done in the 90’s … I must say it is good to see some of the old stuff.

I am glad to see you avoid the issue on the court case. The large numbers of litigation referred to is noted and will be investigated. Most of our litigation is around violations of our Patented Technology.

I think you need to consider reformatting your post because it looks crappy when you mix font sizes in a document.

The issue around returning links is an old issue and well known. Also the weight that they carry.

I am just curious how your clients must feel with the way that you conduct yourself on the Web and they are forced into it by association. No need to reply just something to ponder.

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This is his response …

# GuyMcLaren Says:
January 6th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Colyn left a comment which I declined to post. He was mostly negative about the fact that I have different sized fonts in this blog, Guess he doesn’t know what a header is either.

There was some ranting about court cases and sites from the 90’s, when the copyright says 2006, so I didn’t see the relevance to this particular blog.

Oh yes he said that there were different values for different types of links, I guess that was a little on topic here but not so much that I would care.

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Here is an interesting link that sheds some light on how he operates.

http://www.vincentmaher.com/?p=54

Sorry for the interruption … the show can now continue :)

I want to advise Colyn Serfontein that telling out right lies about someone is slanderous. I am by no means slandering COPE members. I have used Colyn Serfonteins sites as examples of bad design. I have made not one slanderous allegation against any member of any organisation.
Using the above as an example, Colyn Serfontein said “you have dug out some stuff that was done in the 90’s” The images below taken from Colyn Serfontein’s SMS 4 Info website, will answer your question as to whether Colyn Serfontein is being entirely truthful.
Colyn Serfonteins SMS 4 info website

Colyn Serfonteins SMS 4 info website

Colyn Serfontein's SMS 4 Info website

Colyn Serfontein's SMS 4 Info website

He also said “ am sure many of you knows that Guy McLaren is actively smearing and slandering COPE members on his blog” Once again, I would like to see substantiation of that statement. Please point to anything that is slanderous posted on my site or anywhere that points at any individual or member of COPE. Once again I ask, Is Colyn Serfontein being truthful?
The Vincent Maher post is relating to an argument that I am attaching my answer below. If you read the comments you will find that Vincent was questioned about his journalistic skills. But none the less if you want to know more about that particular argument, feel free to start with Uno deWaals interview of me.

Unlike Mr Colyn Serfontein I do not use unsubstantiated innuendo and allegations from third parties with an axe to grind. I made my arguments based on fact. If Colyn Serfontein, thinks that my posts are slanderous then he should get legal advice.
I know that I will be getting legal advice about the following statements.
Guy McLaren is actively smearing and slandering COPE members on his blog and everywhere else where people tolerate him.”
I also include the following for information, This was first posted as a facebook note.
As i have been accused of improprieties and attempts to vilify my name have been made I will answer allegations made about me related to the front page of Google, Feel free to ask any questions about anything if you don’t understand. If you Google my name you will find much that seems to be interesting.

But most of it is hot air. Lets start with the results. I have taken page one from Google here. and will discuss each article below the listing.

#
Guy McLaren | web design | web development | SEO | Photography · chezzu + 2 · Photos
Guy McLaren can now be found at his new home http://guymclaren.com He will still be just as wise, just as entertaining and just was outspoken as always, …
http://www.guymclaren.co.za/ - 18k - Cached - Similar pages

The first two links are to my own site. If you want to know anything about me, read here or on the new site. I am open, honest, full of shit and very expressive. If you don’t like controversial stay out of this one.

Guy Mclaren Interview Technorati Tags: guy mclaren, traffic department, muti, spam …. Take the Guy MClaren issue a while back. His submissions weren’t welcome on Muti, …
http://www.unodewaal.com/2007/09/10/guy-mclaren-interview/ - 32k - Cached - Similar pages

Uno de Waal was the first person to actually ask me what was happening. This was the first time in the foolishness that I was actually allowed to answer any questions. You will note that there was a lot of hostility about. In fact as I recall my intelligence was questioned, Some claimed that Richard Catto had written my answers for me.

All in all this was added at the end of the fight. Read it and see my answers back then already.

Guy McLaren - Father, Husband, Photography, SEO and Web Design · Tina2 + 1 · Photos
The Rantings of Guy McLaren, Webdesign, SEO and Photographer.
http://guymclaren.com/ - 48k - Cached - Similar pages

The next one is my new website. as linked to from the first one.

The Colony: Congrats- Guy McLaren.
There is this chap in Nelspruit called Guy McLaren. Guy owns and operates a business called Trafficdepartment.co.za, which sells people websites and the …
http://thecolony.co.uk/2007/09/congrats-guy-mclaren.html - 42k - Cached - Similar pages

This was the article that stated the brouhaha. As the colony is in the UK, I have been unable to eliminate him (Malema style) ;). This fella that had never met me, spoken to me or tested my system decided that it was a scam. Being a man of many opinions I would have accepted that he had a point if he had done any homework at all.

I made the error of offending him somehow and I still don’t know how I did it. The Uno De Waal sites questions are probably a clue. I responded and had a marketer nightmare occur. I was targeted by a number of people that I had had no prior communication with.

Gregor Rohrig · Photos
… 2008 / 445Commentshttp://www.gregorrohrig.com/2008/the-best-smile-in-the- world/The+Best+Smile+in+the+World%212008-12-28+08%3A41%3A40Gregor+Rohrig / by …
www.gregorrohrig.com/ - 61k - Cached - Similar pages

Beats me what the relevance of this site is. I am guessing he references me somewhere. Using my name can sometimes give a spike in traffic, Another name that does that is my arch nemesis and former supporter Richard Catto, well hated by Afrikaners and the far right for his foolish notions that Afrikaners should all be shot.

Ideate - Small Business in South Africa
6 Sep 2007 … Guy McLaren, I pretty much disagree with everything you have to say, but I reckon you got a good thing going here. You’re hilarious. …
http://www.ideate.co.za/2007/09/06/guy-mclaren-star-wars-kid-or-gary-brolsma/ - 38k - Cached -

An almost funny question, I enjoyed the sense of humour.

Pedal for charity · Weblogs
Author: Guy McLaren | Category: Thoughts. We need your support in this mammoth project. The Cycle tour for charity is a tour with a difference, …
http://pedals.co.za/ - 55k - Cached - Similar pages

A project I put on hold because of COPE. I think as COPE has no need for my services and attitude I may just get this back on track.

Backstabbing is hurtful « Web Traffic Made Easy
11 Oct 2007 … Justin, as I said, Keep Well! Guy McLaren. Posted October 11, 2007 at 1:16 pm | Permalink. Personal attack? I don’t understand.. Guy …
http://webtrafficmaker.wordpress.com/2007/10/11/backstabbing-is-hurtful/ - 45k -

Ahh Bolton Deventer, I was accused of being he and I so dearly wished it had been, The publicity that this stunt generated was awesome. I think Richard Catto still cries himself to sleep about this. He got really bent out of shape. I saw so many different allegations as to his identity including Vincent Maher.

I am saddened that we don’t know for sure, because this bloke is a genius marketer. Pity he did not gain any real benefit from it.

There are many other names that entered this scenario, Nic Haralambous, Justin Hartman, and a few others that still refuse to acknowledge my genius, Some like Nic that won’t even let me follow him on Twitter. I guess sending them lawyers letters really made them unhappy.

There is a reason I wrote this, A gentleman by the name of Vincent Keller is using this mess to try and destroy my reputation.

There was another name mentioned. I was Lance Rumgee and had a website called okidoki.co.za for a short while. This spoof was after numerous insinuations that I designed websites that looked like they were designed in 1996.

I showed using Rumgee as an alias what design looked like in 1996.

Another thing that came up was stream of Gold. ( It was also known as pissing in the wind) I had a blog on MWEB that had quite a following because I was controversial in your face and crude. Nothing much has changed. I have toned down the crudity some but on occasion it does creep out.

I have a severe problem with stupidity, and I spot stupidity very clearly.

I had to all the way to page three to find more, Vincent Mahers article is worth a read. The others are just more of the same unfounded crap.

Some more stuff you may enjoy

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8 Responses to “Colyn Serfontein makes libelous statements about me.”

  1. Vincent Maher (2 comments.) Says:
    Hey leave me out of this!!!

    Vincent Mahers last blog post..Another Iron Fist

  2. GuyMcLaren Says:
    Not me that brought you into it, The person used your crappy post to justify his attack on me. :)
  3. Vincent Maher (2 comments.) Says:
    LOL, no harm done. Fight the good fight.

    Vincent Mahers last blog post..Another Iron Fist

  4. Re@PeR (5 comments.) Says:
    Wow, I can’t believe anybody would go that low, take this Colyn Serfontein dude down, he’s just working on my nerves. If I had the time, I would’ve joined you, as this is a good cause in cleaning up the web.
    Anybody who calls himself a professional web developer AND designer while using Frontpage is a LIAR!

    Re@PeRs last blog post..Collapse of the US Economy, Dollar & Stock Market, what’s next?

  5. Tokolosh (2 comments.) Says:
    I am also in Nelspruit. I also dab around in web dev. All I can say is that Guy McLaren is a real good in SEO, but some tactics are questionable in that I think they cause more harm to his cause than good. Colyn Serfontyn and his clan are good software developers and have had good ideas that they have been patented (which they are trying to protect, I think they are going to see their rear ends, but hopefully not)However from my experience from talking to them they are clueless about SEO.
    One thing is definitely sure is that both of them can’t design a website, most of the websites that I have looked at on behalf of clients are pretty pathetic.
    The point is everybody has their forte’ and it is difficult to be the expert on everything.
  6. GuyMcLaren Says:
    Tokolosh

    Thank you for the statement that I am good at SEO. I don’t understand, which tactics are questionable. I feel you may be confusing SEO and something else.

    Maybe you don’t approve of my articles about Mr Serfontein, yet when you search for Mr Serfontein these articles are on page 1 of Google.

    Maybe you disapprove of some of my Social networking efforts, but surely you cannot say that my SEO strategies are questionable if they achieve the goals they set out to do?

    I will not comment on your thoughts about the financial status of the Serfonteins as I neither know or actually care.

    The thing that I do care about is that they proclaim themselves to be SEO gurus, yet facts speak for themselves. They proclaim themselves to be web developers, yet facts speak for themselves.

    As to your point about design. I differ from you in many respects. Design is very subjective. I acknowledge that some of my websites don’t look great. In fact some of them I think are awful, I can’t stand the colour combinations on some, but the customer has a corporate identity, The customer may love bright orange and neon green. If this is the case, I design within those constraints.

    Good design varies from person to person. For instance I love the Fiat Multipla with it’s odd placement of headlights. Most people think its a frightfully ugly vehicle.

    I think the new BMW’s are awful looking vehicles, but many think they are splendid. So I would never focus on something as subjective as the look of a website to decide if it is a good design.

    Your website or splash page if you prefer, holds no value to me at all. It holds no value to anyone really but it looks nice. The only thing that could make it less useful is a flash intro.

    I would have loved to have critiqued your websites but I can’t find any.

  7. Tokolosh (2 comments.) Says:
    Hi Guy

    I agree with you on design and corporate image and that is the challenge. I get the logic on your site design, in design against speed. It has always been the nemesis of web developers but I feel it is far less of a restriction these days with more and more people on high speed lines.

    You are absolutely correct in the SEO part and “yes” I do feel you sailing close to the wind in what is acceptable, I should have differentiated. I took the liberty of studying the link strategy of one of your sites and learn’t a lot there from.

    As mentioned I am in Nelspruit and have not left a valid email address or site address as I feel I would not like the risk of confrontation at a local level. I feel there is more than enough business in our area and should be on good terms with each other, but from what I have seen over the past on the internet, it seems that Web Developers in our area are at constant war. I just do the business and give my clientèle the best service against my abilities.

  8. GuyMcLaren Says:
    Feel free to contact me, I only go to war with people who attack me. Seriously I agree that there is enough business and would love to work with a local web designer.

    Most clients need some design help and yes that is not my strength, all clients need SEO help and that is my strength.

    I did a SWOT analysis and acknowledge that mostly my design is safe and boring. It makes life simpler generally.

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