moTi - 3:26 pm on Aug 12, 2010 (gmt 0)

Google on the other hand, believes the user is an idiot

and since 80% of people are idiots, google is mostly right.
the problem with that practice is a problem we find in so many occasions on the net, especially where algorithms have taken control over common sense: the "one size fits all" approach, namely that the average has to be good enough for everyone.

what is mostly swept under the table is that often enough the group of sane users is outnumbered to be sure, but naturally more sophisticated and influencial than the average joe. consequently they feel intellectually offended when they are taken for fools by an algorithm that doesn't regard their requests.

in consequence, if as a company your only focus is on pleasing the masses, you continue losing trust by the relatively small but nevertheless extremely important group of smart minds and opinion leaders, putting your business at risk. that's where google is heading more and more with their serp tuning. it's heading in the wrong direction.