beancounters: Outsourced blog-pimping

Requests for reciprocal linking: not just for blog ho's anymore; now an international business and an outsourcing model. Check out the e-mail I got yesterday from somebody in India.

Dear webmaster,

We would like to become your linking partner and have taken the initiative of posting your link to our web site. You may view your link at the following location: http://www.netsurfingguide.com/icanbook/Holiday.htm

[I'm underwhelmed.]

We have placed the URL, Title, and a suitable description of your web site which will definitely benefit your online presence. Please feel free to verify this information and let us know if you have any questions. We will be glad to address any concerns right away!

[Um, where do I even begin to describe my concerns ... How about, who thought up this lame idea? Whom do you believe will even seek out your website? As far as I can tell, the only people who visit your site are similar to myself - i.e., ticked off to discover their blogs are being linked by a troll. Not exactly my target demographic, if you know what I mean.]

We respectfully request that our web site's link is hosted on your web site at the following location:
http://beancounters.blogs.com/daydreams/2007/01/the_baggage_of_.html

[See the post they selected? I'd like to know what a blog post about a crazy woman and her basket of photographs have to do with travel. Too bad there's no "suitable description" to explain the mass appeal.]

We appreciate it if you will use the following information to link back to us:

URL = [redacted on principle]
Title = Comparison Airfare
Description = Find best deals on airfare. Compare several major travel sites to get best deals on airfare.

Once again, we look forward to become your link partner and appreciate it if you will send us the exact location of our link once you add it to your web site.

We look forward to your prompt response.

I did promptly write back. Be proud of me. I said that the offer was miiiighty tempting, but that I would regretfully pass on account of how they're nothing but web trolls. I wonder how the word "troll" will translate ...