Some insiders say Brin complained about employees’ sense of entitlement to “bottled water and M & Ms.” Company flacks deny Brin made that statement - but it’s not unreasonable to believe that the company might need to rethink its generosity during hardeconomic times.

Comments posted on ValleyWag suggest that more than a few have been living on another planet.

While some called the news “a tragedy,” Goose Spruce took a more practical view: “The concept of no free lunch has been finally proven.”

To which Adam Smith’s disciples ask: Finally?

ValborgMelbo -- apparently an aspiring IRS agent -- says:

“It’s about time they stopped this. Google employees are getting what some estimate to be $7,500 a year in free meals per person. That amounts to $72 million in untaxed meal 'income' which represents around $28 million in evaded federal and local income taxes!!! Who do these people think they are?”

Iplaudius believes the move will improve the health of Google’s employees. Some workers have complained about the “Google 20”: Packing on 20 pounds in the first year or so at the company, thanks to all that free grub. It’s kind of like being married, except that you don’t have to take out the garbage.

Alaska Miller, clearly a pioneer of sorts, notes, “Wah, wah, wah, wah. Why is my life so hard? I should just cut my wrists and listen to Linkin Park.”

For the uninitiated, Linkin Park is a thunderous rock band known to inspire profound thoughts.

Roy takes umbrage with Alaska Miller.

“When you’re paying your people in peanuts and M & Ms, and you take away the M & Ms, you’re setting yourself up for problems.”

Hmm, that sounds ominous. But DirigibleDiva sees a conspiracy. Google never intended to provide a perk to its employees – the company just wanted to keep workers chained to the desk and cranking out more profits.

The solution: “Google should run a few basic cooking classes for the nerds for whom Google is like living with mom with all needs taken care of,” DD wrote.

Luckily, all competitor Yahoo (YHOO) has to fret about is market share and a possible takeover bid by Microsoft (MSFT).

Life is so damn complicated in Nerdville, USA.