Jobs in SEO and the use of forums

As a resource they are nicely split into many relevant topics, such as 'directories', 'google updates' each with some pretty handy references to many a useful tool or article somewhere else on the net.  However, I do have a significant reservation in recommending these forums to people with new jobs in SEO, more specifically, I refer to what I know as the serial 'doom mongerers'.

The postings on forums are populated by a mixture of

a)  SEO experts who really do know what they're doing, but perhaps aren't that great at     explaining it to lesser experienced mortals
b)  People who really haven't got a clue about search engine optimisation, but would like you to think that they do
c)  The 'doom mongerers'.

In the case of group 'c'.  The best analogy I can think relates to food stuffs.  These days, it's probably possible to find research to prove that absolutely every food out there is 'bad' for you.  In reality, whilst there is some truth in these pieces of research, in that they have indeed shown negative effects, more often than not, it's a tiny element of truth in that it was demonstrated, for example, by someone consuming an unrealistic quantity of the particular food.

For jobs in SEO and those looking at forums it's worth bearing in mind that the same principle can apply.  The doom mongerers tend to want to declare from the hill tops that nothing works any more, and google is out to destroy the world.  Fortunately this simply isn't true.  Common ones I've come across are

Directories don't work
Paid links are dead

Well as statements on their own, these simply aren't true.  Directories certainly do still have impact.  What is true is that google is quite rightly working to devalue any directory which could provided an 'automated' rather than a manual submission.  With regard to the second statement, the element of truth is that google would indeed like to devalue links which are simply bought and therefore don;t really represent a genuine vote for your site.  In some cases, such as software laid links throughout a site, I do think google can spot this one...but a strong link on related site, which you happen to have paid them for, how on earth could google spot this.

In summary, if you are new to jobs in SEO, use the forums as the tremendous resource they are for learning your subject.  However, be guarded against the doom mongerers, take individual comments with a pinch of salt and try to measure these up against the mass of information available elsewhere.
Good luck