Self-Devpt. Nuggets™

When – on August 16, 2013 – Alison Doyle, About.com Guide wrote her article titled “Don’t Waste Your Time On LinkedIn”, she got more than she bargained for: her readers’ summarily bashed LinkedIn in the comments section!

About 21 of the 32 comments on her article described LinkedIn using expressions like “a complete and utter waste of time“…“a waste of Internet space”…and one “Suchi” even said “If you’re on LinkedIn, you’re a fool”…!

Wow, that’s a lot of LinkedIn “Haterade”…to echo “Jennifer”, one of the dissenters, who – correctly I might add – noted that LinkedIn is primarily for networking. According to her, she’d successfully used it to get noticed by recruiters, and ultimately hired. Which is true for many others.

Contrary to what the title may suggest, Alison’s article actually advises readers’ on ways to make proper use of LinkedIn, to reap optimal benefits.

In truth, like “Jennifer”, I also do not think LinkedIn is useless…

But it can – and does – get abused…and used to abuse others!

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you may have come across my two articles relating to my “disagreement” with LinkedIn:

It began because they wrongly locked up my profile, then when I asked why, they claimed they saw “suspicious activity”.

Yet, despite my repeat requests they refused to give details or proof of that.

Instead they asked for my scanned passport, to verify my identity. I emailed it to them, but they never acknowledged receiving, it, and asked for it again.

Eventually, I got tired of being given the run around, and decided I’d rather NOT be there, than be made to look like a crook online.

So I told them to delete my profile with them, and made it clear I no longer wished to make use of their website. I also asked them to stop sending me email updates via the web mail address I used to open my account with them i.e. tayo at spontaneousdevelopment dot com.

They responded and confirmed that my request had been carried out, and that my email address had been removed from notifications.

I’ve Since Enjoyed Peaceful Absence of LinkedIn Invitations…Until Thursday 22nd August 2013 When They Came Back!

You and I know technology and computers can develop faults or produce errors. So I guess it’s not surprising.

But the problem I have is that it seems that LinkedIn produces a rather high volume of errors relating to me.

And that’s even now that I’m supposedly no longer listed on their website as a member or user!

Today, I received the 3rd LinkedIn invitation sent directly via members@linkedin.com to me via tayo at spontaneousdevelopment dot com – the address I specifically requested LinkedIn to STOP sending notifications to.

When the first one came in from one “Atirek Gautam” on the 22nd August @ 16.45, I ignored it. Then the very next day (Friday 23rd August @ 16.08), one “Patrick LIVE” sent me an invitation. And just 30 minutes ago, today, Tuesday 3rd September 2013, one “Eliana Meireless” sent me an invitation to connect.

Once again I checked the source, and it was from members@linkedin.com. By this time I’d become quite upset, and scrolled down to read the footnotes.

Then I Got The Shock of My Life!

The screenshot below says it all. I don’t know how she, he (or they?) managed it, but it states as follows…

1. “you are receiving invitation emails”

…and then it offers an unsubscribe link!

I ask, how could I need to unsubscribe from a list the OWNERS (LinkedIn.com) had confirmed removing me MONTHS ago??!!

2. The next line states…

…. “This email was intended for Lindsay Nelson (Student at Pensacota State College).”

What?????

How is it possible for someone with another name to use the same email address I used with LinkedIn, to create a profile that LinkedIn accepts??!!!

They once locked up my profile which was linked to that email address. I would have using it again on their site would have thrown up red flags for the security team??!!

Once again, I find myself wondering if there isn’t more to this, than meets the eye…

Could it be an attempt – as I have suggested the last time – to give a dog a bad name and hang it?

After all, I am a full blooded Nigerian…and I’ve come to the painful realisation that some people simply refuse to accept that not every Nigerian is engaged in email scam and the like. In fact, I’m convinced there are those who deliberately refuse to acknowledge exceptions like me for their own ulterior motives!!

I’m displeased by this. And I have every right to be. My reputation matters to me.

This appears to be another attempt to attack my website credibility. I’ve shared past updates in which even Google offered elaborate details of such attempts via email.

CONSIDER THIS: Anyone who sees these invites coming to ME, via a fake name with my email address, can easily conclude it’s a strategy I’ve developed to stay on LinkedIn and do naughty things!

See how this can play out?

Anyway, I’ve made up my mind I will NOT talk to LinkedIn about this. (But I will email them a link to this post).

They will have to sort it out from their end. If they don’t, that would suggest those who bashed them on Alison’s article mentioned at the start of this piece may have a point!

As for me, the fact that this can happen at all, convinces me I took a smart decision choosing to jump off the LinkedIn boat!

RELATED”

1. If you can’t find me on LinkedIn.com here’s why.

2. Why I’ve told LinkedIn to delete my profile (Talk about trying to give a dog a bad name to hang it!)

3. Don’t Waste Your Time On LinkedIn”