Several days ago, as I was attempting to get familiar with my new computer, I received an update email from LinkedIn. I read through it to see who was doing what, and at one point, it suggested that I might want to connect to a person who had just joined LinkedIn (whom I already know). Now that I am semi-retired, joining and connecting to people on LinkedIn is sort of silly - but it might turn out to be a good thing - if I can give a good review for someone I know - so I do it.
I clicked on that person's name; expecting to send her (and her only) a request to connect, and lo and behold, it sent at least 50 requests to connect with people - all of whom are in one of my address books. I was so ticked off but there was nothing I could do about it, the damage had been done.
To my surprise, some of them joined LinkedIn. A few turned me down nicely, citing various reasons why they didn't want to join that group, which I can certainly understand. But one got downright testy about it and told me that as long as Obama was President of the US, he wouldn't join anything I was a part of. How do you like them apples??? I have written about this guy before. He was a good friend who ran around with a group I was in, and he was charming and funny and very nice back then. Now he has morphed into a nasty old man; one who is mad at the world for absolutely everything - and he blames it on Obama and his cronies.
He and I went round and round (via email) about 18-24 months ago. He kept sending me really nasty (and mostly untrue) stuff about Obama and I asked him to stop. I wanted us to simply agree to disagree about politics, but he can't handle the fact that I don't share his views. I thought I had deleted his email from my address books a long time ago, but I guess I missed one entry. Big mistake on my part. He was very miffed that I sent the request, and when I replied that it was sent in error, he said "Not on my part."
Well DUH. That much was obvious. So I replied again and told him I was sorry - and he thanked me for the apology. At that point, I blocked him from my email, hoping I will not have that problem ever again!
Lesson learned: I will read all before I click!!
18 comments:
This internet stuff is all very dangerous in many ways we do not know. I have started to use a Google calendar so that I can keep track of my "very busy' life these days, and I think I have it set up as private...but I am NOT SURE. Too much stuff gets caught in that cloud.
It really wasn't a big deal and when it would not let me go on without an employer I backed out. As for your "so called friend" I have a word or two for him but it would not be polite to use it. We are better off without those people in our in-boxes. Have a lovely week-end.
Well shoot, I hope I was the one person you meant to send it to because I did join. Since then I have gotten lots of other requests to join and so I link with them and I still don't know what it about. LOL I figured if Judy likes it, it must be good.
I feel your pain - I had a similar problem with a woman I went to high school with, who is the appointed person to send out updates on classmates by email.
At one point she started sending emails to those of us who are single for get-togethers. (I never went because I don't live in the town anymore and have no family there any more.) Then it morphed into that kind of ultra conservative political "hate" rhetoric that I can't stand. I asked her very nicely to stop sending me that kind of thing and she didn't. So I had to really insist rather firmly.
I'm off the email list entirely now - no more classmate updates, etc. Whatever - I can live with that. :) Although I did get an email from her the day President Obama was elected with the subject "You'll be sorry." I deleted without reading.
It gets worse, Judy. I said OK to your request and they sent it to everybody in MY address book,too.
I have been hearing from people I haven't heard from in years, and some are not too happy about it either.
I think it's a riot. I am sitting here almost not able to type this because I am laughing so hard.
When you first mentioned President Obama I thought you were going to say that HE got your request,too and they sent it to everyone in HIS address book. Imagine who they would be. Khadaffi and Sarcosi and Mubarak would all be asked if they knew Kenju or Nancy.
I could go on but I'm falling off the chair laughing.....
I belong to LinkedIn also because of our engineering business. Sorry that guy was a poo poo head. Glad you blocked him from your email, you don't need that kind of static. Some people are just very defenseful.
take care
The click of the mouse has got a lot of people in BIG trouble! Sad to say, I speak from experience :-(
Some people are just hateful just to be hateful. When it comes to the internet, sometimes you just gotta roll with the crazy. LOL. You know - it off like water off a duck's back. :-)
Amazing that because you don't share the same political views he wants nothing to do with you? Weird. I hope he's finally gone.
I got the request, too, Judy and didn't respond because I don't even have time to spend time on Facebook. My Email keeps me so busy I barely have time for anything.
I was going to write you to apologize for turning you down, but now that I know the situation I am glad I declined. We are both wiser.
This happened to me on Facebook so I guess I will have to remember to ask the person if they sent the invitation before accepting from now on.
Argh! I hate that kind of thing! That's why I barely join anything on the internet. I don't trust it. There are too many stories just like yours.
I had no idea what the linkedin was and since I still don't really get facebook or twitter... I just didn't wory about it.
I stick to blogging so I can control what I put out there on the airwaves. I recently went to a party, which was very nice, but then the next day a few people said they'd seen my picture on Facebook...I did not give my permission to plaster my face on the Internet and, even though we were all acquainted, I think I should have been asked.
Way too much info out there !!
Mercy, you have one of those too? My former boss that I really liked had turned into a racist Obama hater when he retired and insists on telling the world. I tried asking not to be sent those hateful emails and finally had to cancel our friendship.
Gosh, what happens to people. Were they faking before?
Ah. Wondered what that was about.
When in doubt don't touch it with the end of a gondolier's barge pole.
Seems a pretty good maxim to me;)
I just said "no" to the LinkedIn mostly because I couldn't imagine you would be sending this out that way. Sorry about your former friend, maybe he has alzheimers. I lost a friend through political differences. His last comment was that I was "weird" well, could be, but we no longer communicate.
I remember you writing about him Judy....To take such offense over something like that seems very out of proportion, doesn't it?
I told you what my experience was with Facebook back three years ago---and I found it rather scary that they could get into my address book. I hope you are enjoying your NEW Computer, my dear.
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