Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Finally, I Closed My LinkedIn

pcmaffey.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 466 posts

Re: Finally, I Closed My LinkedIn

#71

Post by osobo »

sk0v wrote: post #63

I really consider getting rid of my car. I bought it a year ago, but it's only ever sat in the driveway, I never use it. The funny meta-thing about his post, is that the content he feels adds 0 value, is in fact his own post. He is literally making a post about a tool he doesn't use. It's the equivalent of a person making a blog post about a tv series they don't watch but have seen the trailer for; no actual value to…

Well, in your metaphor he decided to get rid of all cars, forever. There are probably a ton of people who blog about that. Since there is no alternative for Linkedin and it is defacto the only professional social network out there, it is a categorical decision where quite a few people are wondering how it would affect them, of they did the same.

Re: Finally, I Closed My LinkedIn

#72

Post by robin_reala »

dreen wrote: post #66

You might have closed the account, but good luck stopping them from emailing you!

I never had a LinkedIn account but was getting email from them. Hitting the unsubscribe button would stop it for a month but then restart again. After about 6 months I sent them a mail threatening legal action if I ever received a mail from them again, and since then it’s been blissfully quiet. They must have an internal black-list for people that do that.

Re: Finally, I Closed My LinkedIn

#73

Post by hyko »

ultim8k wrote: post #33

I got my last few good-paying contracts from LinkedIn, so I can't complain. I've even started paying the premium plan. I know ...privacy and a lot of noise, can't disagree. But that's the price to pay if you want a career. Can't become rich by living an easy and private life.

I’d say you can’t really be rich without living an easy and private life :)

Re: Finally, I Closed My LinkedIn

#74

Post by cdmp »

I don't have a LinkedIn profile.

The only obvious difference that's made to my life is that I never get emails from my "CEO" asking me to drop what I'm doing and buy him some iTunes gift cards. Which is something my LinkedIn-using colleagues get fairly regularly.

LinkedIn is a huge centralised database of phishing targets. Whatever upside it might provide to the world, that's a pretty big downside.

Re: Finally, I Closed My LinkedIn

#75

Post by simonkafan »

Like any social network, the value you get out of it is the cumulative value your connections bring in (through news postings, recommendations, leads). If you don't have much connections and the few you have are basically just celebrating themselves ("look mum, I got promoted!") the value gain is limited.

Re: Finally, I Closed My LinkedIn

#77

Post by shafyy »

I've deleted my LinkedIn several years ago, as it was annoying and didn't bring any value to me. I do have a fake account to overcome their auth wall to see other people's profiles (useful once in a full moon).

As others have said, LinkedIn should have stopped as a digital rolodex.

Re: Finally, I Closed My LinkedIn

#78

Post by onion2k »

sk0v wrote: post #63

I really consider getting rid of my car. I bought it a year ago, but it's only ever sat in the driveway, I never use it. The funny meta-thing about his post, is that the content he feels adds 0 value, is in fact his own post. He is literally making a post about a tool he doesn't use. It's the equivalent of a person making a blog post about a tv series they don't watch but have seen the trailer for; no actual value to…

That's not true at all. The fact someone sees no value in something is interesting. In your case, why don't you use your car? Maybe public transport has improved. Maybe C-19 is impacting your social life. Maybe you've started remote working more. The "what" (eg you don't drive) isn't interesting but the "why" definitely is.

The fact someone is choosing not to use LinkedIn means they're not getting value from it. Why is that? How could LinkedIn fix that? Are they using an alternative?

If you're more curious about the reasons behind events you can learn a lot.

Re: Finally, I Closed My LinkedIn

#79

Post by sk0v »

osobo wrote: post #71
sk0v wrote: post #63

I really consider getting rid of my car. I bought it a year ago, but it's only ever sat in the driveway, I never use it. The funny meta-thing about his post, is that the content he feels adds 0 value, is in fact his own post. He is literally making a post about a tool he doesn't use. It's the equivalent of a person making a blog post about a tv series they don't watch but have seen the trailer for; no actual value to…

Well, in your metaphor he decided to get rid of all cars, forever. There are probably a ton of people who blog about that. Since there is no alternative for Linkedin and it is defacto the only professional social network out there, it is a categorical decision where quite a few people are wondering how it would affect them, of they did the same.

I get what you say to some extent - and as often is, there is no direct comparison. But let me elaborate a little bit on my view.

LinkedIn may be an online professional network, but that doesn't mean there are no other means of "transportation". I take care of my network by meeting my professional peers a lot. I talk with the same recruiters normally, both in a hiring capacity and a candidate capacity. I know them, they know me. I stay in touch with my old colleagues, some who are now CEOs, others who are programmers, and even more who are still where I met them - some of them I even consider friends - most of the valuable connections.

In the technology community, you can go to many organized events. I participate in both React, .NET, and cloud meetups, and now I co-host some as well.

Your network is so much more than LinkedIn, it's a relationship with actual human beings, which is where LinkedIn often falls short. It does, however, work great as a contact book of "oh shit, I wonder where he is now and how can I get in touch with him" - and then you go meet them. In person. All jobs of significance I have been considered for, and most likely most of what I will be considered for in the future is based on my actual relations with people. "Talk to this guy, I worked with him on X" - it's the same way I hire great people. LinkedIn is a showcase for your resume, what you've done, who you are affiliated with, and a professional point of contact, but it's by no means "your professional network".

Re: Finally, I Closed My LinkedIn

#80

Post by darkwater »

Avalaxy wrote: post #41
bulka wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think this is what author is saysing exactly. If you use it passively then there is no value (add?) and then the question is why to have a profile at all? Did not look like a rant to me.

Then I don't really get what the news value of this post is. Pretty much nothing that you don't actively use provides value. It comes across more as "LinkedIn has no value" to me.

The only value I get from the post it's that it may provoke a thought in other LinkedIn members about "What am I doing here too?" "Do I really need a LinkedIn profile?". But you cannot judge LinkedIn platform usefulness as a whole based on this post.
Post reply on HN