Trish's Blog

Yesterday, I got an aggressive message in my DMs from a follower telling me off for “always” leaving comments on people’s posts.

Apparently, it’s “intrusive” and “nobody cares what I think anyway.” And believe it or not, those were the nicer parts of the message.

My first reaction? Utter shock. Getting trolled on LinkedIn? Is that even a thing?
My second reaction? I got cranky. Because nothing sets my teeth on edge quite like someone declaring I always do something. The only thing I’m consistent about is being inconsistent on social media.

But it did get me thinking.

What does being a LinkedIn Connection mean to people, anyway?
For me, it’s simple: I comment because I enjoy engaging. I love tossing different ideas into the mix, being encouraging, and swapping perspectives if someone’s post grabs my attention. I’m not doing it to game the algorithm which was another delightful accusation. I’m doing it because genuine conversations light me up.

Did I clap back at my troll? Nope. Instead, I replied, “I value diverse perspectives. Thank you for sharing yours.”

But I’m curious, how do you see it?

Do you think comments on LinkedIn, or anywhere else, are intrusive? Or are they part of what makes this place worth showing up for?

How do you define being a connection on here?