Tonight, an invitation to a LinkedIn group set me ablaze.

I came across a tweet inviting all to join a new LinkedIn group about positivity and inspiration. I can always go for some of that so I clicked the link and there I was. No discussions, no content, no group rules, nothing. I took one more step and clicked on the Members tab to see that I was, indeed, the only member other than the group owner. I left the group and I probably won’t return. It seems everyone who thinks (s)he has a good idea also believes (s)he can just create a group, invite people and it will flourish. That’s just not how it works. 

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Whether we’re emailing the customer service department of a bank or a novelty shop, we generally expect that there are at least a few protocols in place to protect our identities and our email addresses. Being that spam has become so overwhelming that we’ve taken to using services like Boxbe and others just to weed some of it out, that’s not an unusual expectation, right?

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I’ve always enjoyed a good debate. I’m talking about elbows to the table, brows wrinkled with thought, finger-pointing and all. Since I have maintained friendships over the years, there is obviously some decorum displayed. Still, I find a good debate to be healthy and I always respect someone who not only has a point and defends it, but can do so with flair as well as passion.

When it comes to online forums, though, decorum is lacking. Are the same people online who will slice through others’ opinions like a Ginsu knife through a tomato as relentless with their friends and colleagues? Is it assumed that because we are online we don’t have to demonstrate the same comradery we would in person?

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