@patg7590 I just read your article and I agree with most of what he is saying, however I disagree that because someones job is SEO it automatically makes them shady. The article you provided states Google revolves around a link system in which the number & quality of links determines trust & rank… I completely agree.
What really bothers is that getting these links can be difficult and if someone who refers to themselves as an SEO has found legitimate ways of building a sites popularity while also gaining links then how can you without question label them bad, stupid, or downright evil?
To be clear when I say legitimate ways of building links I am not talking about link spam, I am talking about utilizing quality content promoted through social networks and the blogosphere.
Really I am asking how can you place the label of SEO in a negative light if your definition/references to that label consist of only the negative and doesn’t touch on the positive? To me it is no different than saying Accountants are evil because they embezzle, cheat on their taxes, and work for the mob regardless of the fact that many are perfectly honest.