Originally Posted by crankydave

Let me see if I can clarify John since you leave me with the impression I didn't explain my point very well.

Let's take this thread and page for example.

We know that the SE's can "see" the links on the page. What we don't know is if the SE's "count them" and for how much when it comes to ranking. Another example might be with the actual links themselves. We don't know if "more" ranking value get's placed on a link that uses the anchor text in the URL and if so how much more ranking value.

Same kind of thing can be said of the text. We don't know whether or not the text that's in close proximity to the link makes it stroger or weaker and importantly, how much stronger or weaker if it does. Page placement as well. We don't know how much stronger or weaker page placement affects things on a page and again importantly, by how much if it does.

Dave