Search Engine De-Optimisation - Myth?

Hey there,

Kinda like my first few posts here, hi guys.

Btw, I read a thread previously about someone damaging another person's reputation online.

Is there a way to "deoptimise" a site?

I've heard arguments like
"Google wouldn't allow that, you can't derank a site by spamming their URL. Everyone can do that to their competitors if that's the case."

vs

"You can absolutely do that, just spam their url! Google hates spammers & duplicate content, just get their site content, duplicate it, and blast the F**KING SH*T OUT OF IT! Spam Links + Duplicate content. Their site is toasted."

What do you guys think?

Well, going after your competition like that is very weak, there is no denying that. But that is certainly one way to bring down PR of a particular site. Image Consultants do that every day. In fact, it may be how Rick Santorum was able to get his own site to finally be PR1 after many years of a site that defined Santorum's last name as something, well, even less appealing than he is!