Is This The Most Popular Term On Linkedin?: "I don't know this person."

[Vincent Wright]

My favorite thing about Linkedin is that I get to meet new, interesting people every day. I LOVE that about Linkedin - STILL! It's the essence of Linkedin, it's the best of Linkedin- hands down!

My LEAST favorite thing about Linkedin is those very talented, professional members who feel compelled to have to resort to something like this odd little statement: "If you are not an open networker, please don't select "I don't know this person."

To me, that is a gravely unfortunate thing to force such exceptional people to have to resort to as part of their professional networking routines.

ALMOST ALL invitations I'm seeing seem to have this statement: "I don't know this person." Thus, to me, it seems like the Linkedin database much be replete with that phrase as one of its most popular phrases.

I'm still hoping that Linkedin will take some action during 2009 which would help members not have to resort to such a demeaning phrase in order to keep their accounts open.

What would you propose that Linkedin and its members do to get away from such a plaintive plea...?

Thanks, and Keep STRONG!!
Vincent Wright
Recruiterpreneur
Twitter.com/VincentWright | Linkedin.com/in/VincentWright |
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[Scott Boren]

If you read through LinkedIn's policy you will see that their idea is to connect to people you actually know, have either a business or personal relationship with, so you can supply a strong referral to or for that person. Much like the IBN network idea. And we all agreed to play by LI's rule when we signed up (just like every other site out there). But many/most of the users have decided to turn it into "how many connections can I get".

My personal feelings are it should be somewhere in the middle. If you want LI to change the rules then they need to hear you voice your opinion. They have made some changes I like since I started using it. An option of "I don't want to connect" or "Ignore" without penalizing the sender seems like a very valid request. But the peson recieving the invite can simply archive. I guess the orignal intent was to keep mass connectors or spammers down wit the "threat" of being shut down with too many IDK's.

[Ron Pyles]

The simple solution is this: Linkedin should require all participants to select one of these options as a part of their profile:
a) I wamt to receive and review invitations from any member; this is with the understanding that I can reject any invitation for any reason.
If enough of us reach out to the returning CEO (as some of you know, Linkedin is going through a major executive shake-up) with this message it is likely we can achieve this change.
(Ron Pyles; [e-mail]; [phone])
With this simple process modification Linkedin would maintain a reasonable balance between their current internal focus on driving a more narrow use of their tool and the broader use that many of use are trying to force. Importantly, with the process it would no longer be necessary to impross restrictions based upon the numbers of IDKs a member receives, nor would it be necessary to impross a limit on number of invitations an individual member can issue.
b) I only want to receive and review invitations from other members who indicate that they now have or have had in the past either a professional or personal relationship with me; this is with the understanding that I can reject any invitation for any reason.
c) I only want to receive and review invitations only from other members who indicate that they now have or have had in the past either a professional ore persoonal relationship with me AND WHO ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE MY CURRENT E-MAIL ADDRESS in support of this claim; this is with understanding that I still maintain the ability to recject any invitation for any reason.