There are serious discussions on this topic, over on “StinkedIn.” I’ve been a member of that site almost since it was started, and it has been on a steady decline over the past few years. I wrote this — FIVE YEARS AGO, now! — Beware Imposters — They’re on LinkedIn, Too! A relatively new phenomenon also appeared: The LinkedIn LION, or LinkedIn Open Networkers. They’ll connect, indiscriminately, with anyone — widening the reach of the imposters, as well. I locked down my connections list — even connections, now, can’t see it, which diminishes that “networking” value but protects real people from scammers, there, somewhat.

LinkedIn is now openly on a race to the bottom — they’re trying to be the Facebook for the upwardly-mobile, or some such nonsense. “Not Just Your Grandpa’s Rolodex!” is their motto, I think.

But there are numerous discussions, from employees and recruiters and in-house HR, about “ghosting.” I was SHOCKED to learn there are people who accept offers and don’t bother to inform their new employer that they have, in the interim, received a better offer and won’t be showing up for work on their first day, as expected. And everyone agrees that this is a problem largely created by employers and recruiters treating people as if they had as much value as toilet paper stuck to the bottom of a shoe. “Payback is Hell,” as they say. It’s like Facebook moderation — when you grow too big, too fast, focused only on short term profits and not on people (let’s not be disingenuous about that — all companies for the past 30+ years talk the talk about hiring, developing, and retaining “the best” but even the best people are dispensable, and never imagine you’re the exception!) this is what happens. Recruiters don’t bother even sending out the form rejection letters to candidates who don’t land an interview, let alone a job. Employers? Good luck getting a foot in the door. Employees? Why NOT “ghost” these people, when they’ve made it clear they don’t see you as anything but a bean that fit the sorter?

I’m glad I’m retired.

But you’re right — that post, that could be “career suicide,” if you cared.

Then again, I have a friend who regularly posts the most scathing, profane, highly partisan things — imagine writing with a flamethrower, instead of the proverbial mightier-than-the-sword pen — yet he’s good enough at what he does that he keeps landing jobs as a contractor.