How do you feel about your professional networking site being turned into a political campaign site?
Linkedin has linked up with Barack Obama and appears to have plans to link up with celebrities as well to feature special groups devouted to campaigns, causes or what appears to be more social issues. Is this something Linkedin should be focusing its efforts on or should they be providing more functionality for its members to network and create groups (that may do the same thing without the official endorsements)? Does this official linking up with political campaigns and other causes reduce the credibility and integrity of the network operator?
Good Answers (7)
My opinion is that is not the way to go and I personally do not like the networking purpose to take on other agendas and detract from why we are all here. There are plenty of other avenues for those groups to pursue and I hope Linkedin doesnt dilute its efforts by seeking revenue (it has to be revenue) from these causes/groups etc.
Kimon A
IT Portfolio Manager at Royal Caribbean Cruises
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I don't like it
I don't think it's a good idea for LinkedIn to become affiliated with any political campaign. But, if it does, it should be with all of them, not a single one.
This affiliation is bound to estrange many existing members and dissuade new members from joining.
Also, this reeks of LinkedIn trying to become more and more like MySpace. If this happens, this site can count on me to cancel my account.
Carter F. S
Educator, Consultant, Coauthor The Emergence of The Relationship Economy
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Does this official linking up with political campaigns and other causes reduce the credibility and integrity of the network operator?
YES
I say this especially 'cause the only answer to his question is "stay out of the way" and where he is coming from (politically and geographically) that's not likely to occur. LinkedIn is a public forum, however, and the Obama Campaign (I sure am glad the b and the s are so far apart on the QWERTY keyboard) is very smart to use all available channels to reach those who are brain-dead enough to vote for him.
LinkedIn has no business even looking like they endorse specific candidates, but I am still on the "free" plan, so I probably don't get a real vote. I do hope that those that connect me to Obama aren't serious about supporting him . . . or I chose the wrong connections . . .
I strongly suspect the motivation is not to find out what Obama can do for us, but what we can do for the Obama campaign. I wonder just how much buzz has been created because of this ingenious action . . . is there a media source or blogger that has yet to cover this latest move?
I'm thinking of writing a book entitled "How can politicians get free, positive publicity by asking how they can better help voters without later being accused of not listening?"
Vote for Thompson. He's not a District Attorney, but he plays a great one on TV . . .
I think it depends on whether you want to bandage the cancerous tumor in the Middle East or whether you recognize the need for radical surgery . . .
Links:
I think it's the wrong place for this. This should be use for business. Not to promote a political candidate. Not for supporting some cause. We are all here to network for business reasons. Frustrating
David E
COO at Ace Wireless Network Philippines Inc.
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Linkedin is an international site. Even though American may interest citizens of other countries I don't think most people became members of LinkedIn to be involved in the American political scene.
LinkenIn should stay a business networking site or it may risk losing many members and active participants.
Personally, I didn't like it, because it was a sudden new "feature" that I wasn't interested and don't seem to have a way to turn off. I'm not here to link up with political candidates and entertainers. It's certainly a valid way to use a site, and the site can do anything they want, but they are likely to lose current users this way. They may also gain other users who are interested in this sort of linking, but since I want the former people, not the latter, it is going to reduce the value of this site for me.
Howard H
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) • Director, Web Marketing • Certified Professional Resume Writer
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I feel great about it. Most people don't like politics. I do, because it's a way to make society better. We can differ as to how society should be changed to make it better. But the point is that politics is a way of doing that. When LinkedIn lets a high-profile man like Barack Obama ask a question here, it encourages people to think about how they can help people other than themselves. It pushes people in a good direction. It doesn't matter what the questioner's point of view is. If LinkedIn can generate questions that induce people to care about their fellow human beings, that's a good thing. If more people cared about public policy, which has a huge effect on the lives of everybody, the world would be a much better place.
The people I know personally in Toronto who are actively involved in politics are doing this because they genuinely care about the direction their society is taking and want to make it better. They're not in it for personal power or self-aggrandizement, contrary to what many people think.
Clarification added September 14, 2007:
Because I care so much about politics (even though I'm in Canada, I follow US politics every day via satellite radio), I read through all the other responses to this question. Fascinating. I'm surprised people have reacted so negatively. We'll see how LinkedIn members react as a whole. That will determine the future of political questions on this site. The thing that concerned me, when reading the other responses, was the imputing of negative motives to Mr. Obama, when, in fact, there is no *evidence whatsoever* that he had the slightest negative or selfish motive in asking his question, which was completely neutral from a political standpoint. I am not in the slightest a supporter of Mr. Obama. But personally, I like him very much. I do not believe he is in this race primarily to become president at this time. I suspect he is in it to establish a presence and eventually become president. If so, he's making the correct political move. Good for him! What else is he supposed to do? Passively sit by and watch other politicians overtake him? Let him put his positions forward, generate enthusiasm (something he's good at), and open politics up to a larger audience. That can only benefit all of us. The more people entering the race, the better. And the more doing so through LinkedIn, the better this site will be.
More Answers (14)
Jeanie M
Personal Development Consultant at Marshall House
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Richard,
I don't agree with the premise behind your question. I don't feel that LinkedIn has been turned into a political campaign site.
One candidate for the US Presidential nomination has asked a question that is relevant to me personally. I'm apolitical, but I appreciated having an opportunity to respond, as did over 1000 other members in less than a day. I didn't feel that Barack Obama was "campaigning" as much as you, through this question, are campaigning, or more precisely, fighting against someone.
As with television, I can watch or not watch, participate or not participate. And, I do turn off the television. I have minimal influence from reporters, politicians, commercials, put-down humor etc. Life is much more appealing without such static in my life.
I think to your point of LinkedIn's "credibility" the MORE LinkedIn encourages access to/by candidates, politicians, celebrities, etc, the less partisan LinkedIn is.
LinkedIn is a free online service available to people in all countries who have Internet connectivity. Is there not space for a US Senator? Who else do you want to eliminate? Who should decide?
Sarah M
Exp Hi-Tech Recruiter & Avon Ind Sls Rep (1700+) *LION* OpenNetworker, TopLinked.com sarahmosmith AT yahoo . com
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If I understand correctly He has paid for his "Ad".
Was it more like an "ad" and not formatted like a Q&A I would probably be more ok with it - Also - there is no need to plaster his face on My Profile and Home page.
JHMO
Sarah
I accept all Invites
Sarah.Smith@trywatersedge.com
Chris L
Oracle DBA at PG&E
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Don't like it at all. That's not why I signed up.
Ray M
Energy expert, educator, award winning sculptor
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I am not sure I see this as a trend. Once I saw the question I poked around and could not find another presidential candidate that has stck their toe in the water.
I would not like to see it become a trend. but I doubt with the number of subscribers it could be taken over.........
I understand it's a business related question aimed at American workers, but it's giving me a feeling like this is Yahoo! Answers and not a networking site.
Thomas D
Business Analyst, Product Manager, Designer, Project Manager
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It's cheesy. It was a pretty weak, pointless question that, in reality, only serves as a means of attempting to demonstrate that Obama is interested in the things people on this site are interested in (or, more precisely, that AS PRESIDENT, he want to know-Hey, what can I do for you?).
It's an empty promise made without actually promising anything. It an inferrence that once he's president, he'll do things to "better help small business and entrepreneurs thrive?”.
Notice how carefully worded the question is.
"How can the next president better help small business and entrepreneurs thrive?”
First, "How can the next president..." - not saying, 'what can I do as President,' but making it general. WHOEVER becomes president, what can that person do to help? Slick.
Next, "...better help small business and entrepreneurs thrive?" - "Better help," says they already get some help, but not enough. And "thrive" says they are already thriving...but they can thrive more...be 'thriveier' I suppose.
Bottom line for me, it's a non-question. It's nothing more than an empty pseudo-campaign promise.
That said, I respect the effort and originality, however, of Obama's campaign for going after cheaper, non-traditional outlets.
Clarification added September 13, 2007:
Though I don't think it was the original intent, I do think the question did raise some interesting community discussion.
I have in my possesion a report I wrote 5 years ago describing "How to become President of the U.S.A." 2 main points from report were..
1. Get on Oprah
2. Write a job description for the President of the U.S.A. and send out to every major media outlet followed the next week with your resume for this postion.-
I shared this with several close friends who thought that I was "nuts"-
Every person I have shared this with has since come back to me and commented about my foresight on media control over th population.
This is simply another example and any conversations simply fuels the fire-
I don't like it.
The Obama question was so politically transparent I couldn't believe anyone would take the bait.
I hope it doesn't become a trend like I responded to another L-I member we should keep sex, religion and politics out of Linked In, just like we would keep it out of any of our other business dealings.
He asked a business related question, wanting to know responses, frankly he is in a better position than perhaps anyone else in the discussions to actually make a difference based on your individual concerns. Be grateful that someone in his position took the time to think about "LinkedIN". He is awesome in my book, I commend his efforts to reach out to us!!!
Dave E
Award winning virtual worlds, web3D, social networking, and mobile augmented reality entrepreneur.
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I'm far more disappointed in some of the answers to this question than I am in LinkedIn's letting Obama post or advertise here. Do you really think that letting Obama post diverted LinkedIn from providing more functionality for its members to network, etc? Puh-leeze. Obama is simply drawing on the power of LinkedIn to "make connections." Funny, that's why we're here too. (And by the way, those answering with a clear political agenda lose far more credibility than LinkedIn.)
Sheilah E
Owner, ★SME Management:.......... Business Management and Accounting Consultant
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Linkedin was quite clear they were not endorsing Obama. They are simply bring in higher profile people and the question was business related.
Bottom line no matter what linkedin does or what the members do someone will approve and others won't. But I do not feel it degraded the site.
Today they have a well known author on, I don't see anyone complaining about that, but I am sure before the day is over someone will.
Sheilah
Eileen B
IT Professional, Information Security Quality Assurance Operations & Administration / President, CMU SEI LI SPIN
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I don't feel that one question makes a political campaign site. Could this have been done better? Absolutely. Setting expectations of users is business 101 and would have precluded many of the concerns we now seem to be having.
Eileen
Although I see your point, as long as he doesn't use this as a source for potential backers, subsequently leading to junk mail and spam, I think I'm OK with it.
We all can choose whether or not to participate.
Luca T
International Security Director at Prudential Financial
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WIKIPOLITICS
why not!
