I reported it to Google.
It is better that they hear about it from me first. The only viable reason as to why that person even created the page in the first places was that they were going to “alert” google anyway when the proper moment came – but in an effort to frame me. If I report it first they will have a hard time framing me.
I also think that they are interested in what evil minds are doing to effect the SERPs and I can’t think of any reason not to give it to them because they are more likely to figure out a solution to my problem if they know it exists.
I also think they appreciate that information. Even if its a non-technical way to manipulate the SERPs at least they know it’s there. That alone could save good websites who are being victimized, because if it is figured into the formula now that this can/is happening, they can program the algorithm in a way that would not punish the reciever of the actions.
For instance they could create a filter that would simply not regard a link on any PR3 or below page as a high enough quality link to help you at all. But having such a link definetly would not HURT you. In addition since a real site would eventually move from a PR3 to a PR4 anyway, having links on a sublevel page would still help you in the long run provided it was a quality site in to begin with (or became one)
Additionally if Google is going to begin using a human element more and more then those sites would of course eventually be banned if they show up in the SERPs using slimy maneuvers. (or before if you alerted them to the existence) – Thus the demand for creating them evaporates because:
(a) they dont work for the purpose intended (getting “real” sites banned for spamming)
(b) the site is useless for any other revenue model as it gets quickly banned in google.
(c) bigger “free” blog sites will probably become more strict in signup methods if the activity prolifierates as google can probably call them up and pull some strings if policing it gets out of control…
just my thoughts… back in from the grocery store :drink: