No Comment: How "Et Tu, Linked?" became "Et Me, LinkedIn!"

Last March I wrote about LinkedIn's (d)evolution to a social networking vs. business networking site.  The genesis of the article was the tsunami of 'Solve this if U R a Genius' math equations that were multiplying like rabbits on my newsfeed.  Almost 11 months and many surgical purges later, they are still around, joined by plenty of new game/image/meme clutter.

In tandem with this escalation was an increase in posts like this: 

And this:

Obviously, there’s been is a clash of ideas and opinion between the “Freedom for LinkedIn!” caucus - proponents of a content-unfettered, socially-driven platform and the “Keep LinkedIn professional” tribe - advocates of a more curated, business content-focused site.  

For a while I thought those like me in the “Keep LinkedIn Professional” side were the majority, but I’m not sure now.  And as I’ve learned, advocating this position on LinkedIn is counterintuitively contributing to the problem (more on that below).

Sure, every now and again if I’m hit with a particularly voluminous string of silly posts I’ll comment on a few of them, usually with a winking smiley face and a link to my article for context.  No one had ever responded, likely because the comment is quickly consumed by the growing thread as many more people respond to answer the question, like this recent example (see the timing between posts):

Well, this weekend was different.  And it all started with this picture that was posted by a 2nd degree connection: 

No surprise that I didn’t think this belonged on LinkedIn, so I commented to the person that posted it.  But two things about this were new to me:

1. This was the first overtly political post I commented on – and I’ve started seeing more of these.  Given the adage “Never discuss religion or politics in polite company”, this picture was more concerning than the ones offering me a job if I can find the best caption for a guy surfing a shark.  Many of us already know more than we care to about the political and religious views of our friends and family on Facebook.  But colleagues, customers and clients?  I’d be worried if this becomes commonplace on LinkedIn for any number of professional reasons.
2. This was the first time the poster actually responded to my comment.  I mean, he really let me have it.

Here’s a partial snippet of what transpired, starting with my post about it not being appropriate:

ME: Regardless your stance, this doesn't belong on LinkedIn.https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/et-tu-linkedin-please-solve-u-r-genius-ronnie-battista

HIM: @Ronnie Battista, well I disagree with you 100% . And to come up with an informed opinion wouldn't it behoves you to read the thread before commenting ?

ME: Happy to agree to disagree, but this type of political commentary does not belong on LinkedIn... this is a business networking site. The 'thread' you refer to me reading ... if you mean that I read over 1000 back and forth polarizing comments (because you didn't offer anything other than a simplistic contentious picture), that is itself not appropriate for LinkedIn. There are many other sites to yell at each other.

HIM: @Ronnie Battista, My business is public opinion, also the business of most of my connections , Political strategist, political journalist, political commentators, tv network political advisers and many political influencers . Now would you like to censure us ? or deprive us of connecting in our network and talk about what we want?. Many people complain about food pictures ,so people in the food industry are not allowed to post? I know many preachers ,pastors, priests that participate in this network , is religion topics not allowed? do you have a definition for what a professional is? and if this is non of your business what are you doing here?

It went on a little bit after that, and though comments were on ‘my side’ - arguing that this post was inappropriate - there were others that called me out for trying to censor open dialogue.  For example:

PERSON: Ronnie every preache (sic) and pastor lecture about their bias on their tax free businesses and I have no interest in reading We all write from biases Freedom of speech My memes stay up that sell time in LI Block on your end not censorship.

Hmmm.  I’m not sure I fully understood what this person was saying, but nevertheless it was like a bucket of cold water to the face.  Because regardless of his intent, in an instant I realized that I had become the thing I ‘intensely disliked’ on LinkedIn. Without really thinking much about what I was doing, I had become an active contributor to a good 'ole fashioned "comment war".   Here I was, strong of opinion and for-the-good-of-LinkedIn righteousness, adding my voice to a chorus of argumentative comments that were – well – let’s just say some were a bit ‘coo coo for Cocoa Puffs'.  

And here's the thing: maybe he’s right.  As much as I disagreed that this material belongs on LinkedIn, his political graphic did generate over 1200 responses (as of this posting).  That’s a lot of engagement.  Most of the comments were garden variety echo chamber stuff, espousing why Reagan (or Obama) was awesome and / or why Reagan (or Obama) was a scourge on humanity.   Talking past each other.  You know what I’m talking about; check out any Yahoo comments feed on any political article.  Same-o.  Same-o. But just like those pesky math equations, here were literally hundreds upon hundreds of other LinkedIn users actively contributing to this post with - notably - far more passion than my desire that they take their screaming match someplace else.

I’ve removed people in my network that post this stuff directly, but I discovered there are a lot of great people in my network that don’t post these things but they do like to answer them.   And I think these folks probably represent the "silent LinkedIn majority" that has chosen not to take a strong position because they don’t really care that much about it either way.  Heck, I’m at work, got a few minutes, here’s a math problem.  Why not? They say things like “I don’t like it either, it’s kind of annoying, but what’s the big deal”, “Just drop them from your contacts”, “Seriously, you care this much about a website?”.   Hard to argue with that.  Easy to understand and appreciate, and there’s something to be said for not wasting much energy on what they consider - at worst - a minor annoyance. 

And they’ve got a good point, because when I comment I’ve come to realize I am inadvertently sustaining the problem I was hoping to help change.   I didn’t realize (but should have!) that when I post in their comments I'm actually perpetuating their existence on the newsfeeds of people in my network.  As one said "Ironically...the only time I see these anymore on my feed is when you call them out".  And last night I got my first direct message from a LinkedIn contact that drove the point home: “Ronnie you're directly responsible for like a 10000x increase of those Facebook ish posts on my linked in. Your replies make the posts show in my feed. I mean I get it, you feel like you're fighting the good fight and that's admirable but if you really think about the human side of this problem is replying and shaming these idiots in the comments really moving the needle. Just a thought. Hope you're doing well friend!”

Ouch.  

He’s right. 

The original “Et tu LinkedIn?” post was intended to be part lighthearted rant, part cathartic truth, and the subsequent comments were meant to be the same. But I'm guessing I probably came across seeming a far more passionate about this whole thing than I actually am.  Hey, I'm from New Jersey.  

So, my sincere apologies for cluttering some of your feeds with whimsical protestations of this very first-world problem.  I’m a quick study: no more of my comments suggesting the lack of appropriateness in someone else’s comments section.  No more responses to “Best advice in 4 words” with “This. Isn’t. LinkedIn. Appropriate. ;)”.  Game over.  It’s a safe bet that I'll continue making incredulous faces at the screen and muttering mild swear words to myself, but from now on it'll be out of eye and earshot. 

And maybe, who knows, years from now if I see a post that asks “Best advice in 4 words”, perhaps I'll jump right into the fun with something positive and lovely like “Dance like nobody’s watching!” ….

…. as I drool onto my keyboard and mumble to myself “Et tu, Ronnie?”