How Connected Are We?

Post Date

Mon, 05/06/2013 - 00:01

Categories

Lifestyle

I have a confession to make. While I have a Linkedin profile I am not, at all, comfortable with using Linkedin. And, while I know that statement alone will probably generate a lot of castigatory comments that is not the focus of this blog.

I accepted a Linkedin request this week for someone to join my network. After that, I was directed to a page containing an extensive listing of people I might have a connection with. The magnitude of the list was extremely unnerving for me. Included in the list was my deceased ex-father-in law’s brother as well as my ex-husband’s third ex-wife. Happily, my ex-husband did not make the list, but some of my former clients did as well as their ex-spouses. There were also people on the list I haven’t seen or even thought about since elementary school.

My expectation was to see many Gotham people listed as well as other current and former colleagues but this list went way beyond that. In reviewing the Linkedin list, I felt that almost every aspect of my life was converging together in a way I could not explain. On Facebook, I generally can figure out why the site would suggest a particular person for me to friend, but there were too many people on the Linkedin list for whom I could not figure out who the connection could be.

How extensively is Big Brother watching over us?

Comments

Fred Klein

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I too am not comfortable using Linkedin

Mitch Tobol

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Big brother is here, has been here and sees just about everything :)

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Linkedin's artificial intelligence is just that. I routinely ignore suggestions they make for me to connect to and saver energy to give more that I receive to those I get to know or deem most appropriate. Concern about big brother is watching, that was so 1984...go for the connections to the best of the best as we now can do! Or get my training on LinkedIn!

Marc Halpert

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Vik Rajan

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Rona, What you're referring to is LinkedIn's algorithm of "People You May Know." Indeed, you do know them. You just may not want to connect with them; but it's working! I suggest ignoring that for now - and IF you want to make LinkedIn work for you - that a) you sit with Marc Halpert to improve your profile and then b) upload your contact list. I'd be happy to show you the Advanced People Search and Group Discussions that have worked wonders for those I know (full disclosure: for many clients).

As you grow your contact list via LinkedIn, its algorithm becomes quite useful. In the beginning, it may even bring up people you don't know (but it's guess via past work experience, education, and the few mutual contacts.

To your larger point, yes our personal & professional lives are converging. Is that all bad? After all, doesn't Gotham pride itself in being more social than business? And that business comes from the social? Gotham in this way seems to be even more of a converging force than LinkedIn... and I know Big Fred is watching ;)

We can always separate our worlds and keep the truly private, private. But I like seeing my colleagues' kids Halloween costumes and the like. And I like my "friends" knowing that I'm invited to speak at CLEs, etc. (especially the so-called Facebook Friends who ignored me in high school).

Alas, algorithms and cameras are working all around us. I say we use 'em to our advantage [like we did in Boston].

Vincent Serro

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Try googling your name every once in a while. I found my current address, former addresses, phone numbers, info about my business. It's scary that all of that info is on google. Someone who knows what they are doing can probably find out just about anything out there. Unfortunately that's just a new reality. Unless you want to go move to some uni-bomber cabin deep in the woods and get "off the grid" there's very little we can do today to maintain privacy.

Corey Bearak

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I use a general standard when connecting with people. I must know them; that can include recent interactions; Connect Requests can follow a meeting, including a Gotham networking event. In some cases, if a key staff member of someone I know reaches out, particularly if the staffer works in government, I may connect and then seek to build a new relationship; many staffers will know of me.
If I do not recall someone (after reviewing his/her profile), I will sometimes check my contacts list, my Facebook and Gotham's members; sometimes that helps with recall.
Sometimes I review the suggested but only for people I do know and know me. Reason being, I just NEVER open my contacts list to LinkedIn, Facebook or any other service that lets my contacts know I joined that media. I hate receiving emails asking that I join a service (often photo sharing ones) and thus I practice what I preach.
I know people check my LinkedIn profile; some people reach out to explore business opportunities. I also searched my contacts recently to identify prospects who I recently encouraged to apply at a non-profit agency on whose board I serve. Most applied.

Riva Schwartz

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remember - always wear clean underwear! (I mean that metaphorically because anything you do is being reviewed by Big Brother, somewhere!)

Theodore Lanzaro

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I have found Linked In to be a valuable tool for getting new business. You simply have to choose your connections carefully then provide useful information to your targeted audience.

Maybe I am naive, but I think all this "big brother is watching" stuff is totally paranoid. I have never seen or heard of anyone having a serious problem from connecting with other business people on linked in.

Erik Scheibe

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I use Linked In almost exclusively for me personal database marketing at this point. I use it to invite people to my events and check it daily. I find it to be an incredibly beneficial tool for relationship management.

Ester Horowitz

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I find Linked In a valuable tool to find people I would like to connect with. I ignore the rest. I also disconnect anyone that's only communicating solicitations.