Some times it is funny to see how things in this or any industry get confused. Way back on May 12, 2004 we covered a topic named Links from links.html Pages Not Counted. A new HighRankings forum thread named asks The 'link' Word, the link word - undesirable?
Basically, if the word "links" is found in the anchor text, is it discounted?
Personally, I highly doubt it. Most people don't link with the word link, unless it describes what they are linking to. Or if they write, here is the link, for whatever reason.
Forum discussion at HighRankings Forum.
Side note; you can see I am having a hard time finding good threads today; slow day in the forums for some reason...
