potentialgeek - 5:51 pm on Oct 21, 2007 (gmt 0)

Google isn't under such immense pressure to perform in very difficult times that you could easily imagine SERP manipulation. Its stock has not been diving. Investors are not bailing. There's no run on the banks.

Is the benefit of ruining SERPs high enough compared to the risk of a whistle-blower exposing deliberately bogus SERPs?

If the allegation were to be made from within, it's easy to imagine a mass exodus to Yahoo and MSN coupled with a stock crash of up to 25%.

If the choice at this point is between incompetent engineers and corrupt leaders, I say its weak engineers.

Also, is there any sign of a mass exodus of engineers? Purist workers who've seen scheming from the inside and can't justify working for the "don't-be-evil" Wallstreet darling any more?

Do we need any more internet conspiracy theories?

p/g

P.S. Too bad you can't cross post in this forum. It'd be good to get AdWords folks to weigh in.