LinkedIn Liars, Word Twisters, and the Art of Self-Reflection

In these wild times, I've noticed an interesting breed of people popping up more often on LinkedIn. You know, the ones who have all the answers and aren't afraid to tell you how wrong you are, and they just don't go away. I found myself going down the rabbit hole of posts and comments on LinkedIn, (because let's face it, that's where the real entertainment is, haha).

For the last few weeks, a guy named J...... (let's call him Dick for short haha) has been the perfect example of this. I remarked on a post, and he appears and reappears to comment at will on my remarks from other people. This Blog post is for you Dick… His last remark on my post inspired me to write this and break down these LinkedIn characters into a few distinct categories for others to understand them better.

1.????? The Self-Proclaimed Expert:

First up, we have the self-proclaimed expert. These individuals have an opinion on everything and aren't afraid to share it, no matter how little they know about the topic. They'll drop buzzwords like "synergy" and "thought leadership" while spouting off half-baked theories about the economy or world politics. It's like they've appointed themselves the LinkedIn oracle, dispensing wisdom from on high (or from their mom's basement, more likely).

2.????? The Cherry-Picker:

Next, we have the cherry-picker. These folks are masters at finding that one statistic or article that supports their argument and runs with it as if they've just discovered the holy grail. They conveniently ignore any evidence to the contrary and will go to great lengths to discredit anyone who dares to question their carefully curated "facts." It's like playing whack-a-mole with reality.

3.????? The Conspiracy Theorist:

Then there's the conspiracy theorist. These individuals see nefarious plots behind every headline and are convinced that they're the only ones who know the "truth." They'll post long, rambling diatribes about how the government, the media, or the lizard people are all out to get us. It's like they've watched one too many episodes of "The X-Files" and decided to apply it to real life.

4.????? The Word-Twister:

?But my personal favorite has to be the word-twister. These are the people who respond to your comment by completely misinterpreting (or intentionally twisting) your words to fit their narrative. They'll take a simple statement like "I think we need to have a nuanced discussion about this issue" and turn it into "So what you're saying is that you hate freedom and want to destroy America." It's like playing telephone with a pathological liar.

Let's Do Some Self-Reflection:

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not always innocent when it comes to these LinkedIn shenanigans. There have been times when I've caught myself slipping into one of these roles, even if it's not my default setting. I’ve cherry-picked a statistic to support my argument or jumped to conclusions about someone else's intentions. It's easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment and let our biases take over and write before you think.

But here's the thing………recognizing our tendencies is the first step towards breaking the cycle. When we're aware of our own biases and knee-jerk reactions, we can take a step back and approach these interactions with a bit more empathy. It's not always easy, but it's worth the effort.

Before Remarking Ask Yourself…..The Risks of Engaging:

While it might be tempting to engage with these characters and try to set the record straight, it's often a losing battle. They're so entrenched in their delusions that no amount of evidence or reason will sway them. Plus, there's always the risk of getting sucked into a never-ending cycle of back-and-forth, wasting precious time and energy that could be better spent on literally…. anything else.

The Importance of Critical Thinking:

At the end of the day, the best defense against these LinkedIn liars and word twisters is a healthy dose of critical thinking. Don't take everything you read at face value, even if it's presented as fact. Do your research, consider multiple perspectives, and don't be afraid to ask questions. And if someone tries to put words in your mouth, feel free to politely (or not so politely) correct them.

So, there you have it, folks. A deep dive into the wild world of LinkedIn liars, word twisters, and the art of self-reflection. The next time you find yourself going down the comment rabbit hole, remember we're all human, and we all have our moments. But by approaching these interactions with a bit of self-awareness, empathy, and critical thinking, we can elevate the conversation and even learn something in the process.

If all else fails, remember it's LinkedIn, not the United Nations. Don't take it too seriously, and don't be afraid to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Sometimes the best way to deal with the craziness of this world is to find the humor in it. So go forth, engage with your network, and try not to let the LinkedIn liars drive you too crazy, and if you catch me slipping into one of these roles, feel free to call me out on it. I promise I can take a joke (and even learn something in the process).