Technically i wasn't making the statment that we don't know. I was applying your previous logic that google haven't told us thier definition of "authority" to suggest that if we only go on what google have told us we would also assume that authority isn't a factor in thier algo, Which it evidently is..

Originally Posted by Learning Newbie

I don't think gaining knowledge is ever a wasted effort. My goal with this question is to learn what "authority" means in the context of web search, and how it's distinguished, not to gain new links.

That may well be the case. But I quite often direct my comment not at the original poster, but at the great unwashed who may interpret the question differently. That's who my answer was geared toward.

The problem with your question is that, while you might have had legit intentions, 99.9% of people don't. It's always "what's an authority site, and how do I get a link from one or become one myself?" as they look for the get-rich-quick millionaire-in-underwear solution that doesn't exist.

What you need to understand is that any time you ask an SEO question, the vast majority of people will be reading for the answer with a "what's in it for me?" mentality. That's the wrong attitude to take, and that's why I made the comment I did.

As far as whether learning about something is a wasted effort, well...that depends. Are you planning on USING this knowledge? Are you planning on APPLYING it somehow? Or do you just want to KNOW about it? Knowledge is power, yes, but the extent of the power depends on how much the knowledge is used, and whether or not the usage is appropriate.

In the case of "authority" sites and learning about them, there really isn't much that can be gained that 1) couldn't be gained through sheer common sense and 2) that can be applied without potentially getting someone into trouble. So learn about something else and steer clear of this. That's all I'm saying.