Dueling Fools: Stock Options

Until recently, it seemed natural for employees to be granted stock options as a form of vested compensation. Then executives began abusing the perk, and now you have dozens of companies battling accusations that they retroactively cherry-picked option grant dates to enrich execs at diluted shareholders' expense.

Just last night, Barnes & Noble (NYSE: BKS  ) became the latest company to fall into the mix. These gray clouds may have you wondering whether stock options are worth the hassle as an employee incentive.

Not all Fools agree. Anders Bylund is the bull this week, arguing in favor of stock options as a motivator. I'm the bear. Where do you stand? That's what this Duel is all about.

Duel on!

• Read the bull argument
• Read the bear argument
• Read the bullish rebuttal
• Read the bearish rebuttal
• Vote for the winner

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz holds no financial position in Barnes & Noble. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.