BP's dividend policy

Another day with the oil spill disaster. BP stated that they might not payout divdend. In response, are we supposed to look down on this company -- something as a really bad sign. Should shareholders view that something seripously has gone wrong. Well not quite... Public perception with dividend provides all kinds of such perception. Never mind. If I were BP, I wont touch the expected divident policy. After all -- dividends transfer value from firm to the shareholder -- so if BP does not payout dividend -- they are just keeping the value rather than paying out -- alternatively, shareholders can sell the shares -- but perception does not follow corporate finance theory all the time. BP should be knowing more than the grandpa down the street -- so go ahead and payout the dividend.