[hawkharris]

LinkedIn's biggest problem can be traced to a single line of code: the placeholder that reads, "I would like to add you to my professional network."

The joy and excitement of real-life networking stems from meeting someone, recognizing that you share an interest or skillset, and connecting on the basis of that skill or interest.

For example, if I discuss JavaScript w/ a developer at a networking event, I keep him or her in mind for my next JS project. With in-person networking, I know not only who is in my network, but how and why they might want to collaborate.

By allowing for a meaningless, generic prompt, LinkedIn strips the excitement out of networking. It makes the game about quantity more than quality. Users end up with broader networks, but they fail to understand the meaning or potential of those connections.

[jchendy]

Isn't LinkedIn supposed to be for maintaining contact with people you've already met? So you should already have experienced the excitement of meeting the person before you see the boring generic message.

[RegW]

Due to less than reliable content of my profile, I sometimes get connect requests from people I have never had anything to do with.

It would be rude not to accept.

P.S. Then of course they get an amusing email every time I update my Headline

[bcbrown]

It is not rude to decline a connection request from someone you do not know.