linkedOut

If you're one of the 50 or so people whose LinkedIn invitations have been languishing unanswered in my Inbox, don't take it personally. I've decided not to accept any more.

No offense. It's not because I don't want to be publicly connected to you. And not because I don't understand social networking is a fact of online existence. It's not due to any rational, logical or philosophical reason I can explain.

It's just that every time I get an invite, I panic. Will I be out if I don't LinkIn?

Now, I'm not knocking the concept – lots of people I know LOVE it. It's a killer app for forging and sustaining relationships. And a handy tool for updating folks in this highly transient work culture. A recent article in Brandweek even proposes using LinkedIn as self-defense against Google disinformation. But I still can't get there.

People who know me are shocked, shocked!, by this. I think they view me as some kind of rabid networker who lives to exchange business cards. True, there are almost 1,000 VCards in my Address Book. And I regularly connect friends, colleagues and clients with common interests or goals – personal, professional or otherwise (yes, I am responsible for one upcoming marriage).

Perhaps I want to protect my privacy (so last century). Then again, maybe it's just plain old jealousy. Could it be a fear that, deep down, if everyone I know LinksIn, they won't need me?