A pat on the back

Every time I go to LinkedIn (which is rare) I come away with the same awful feeling that it has become a cesspool of self-agrandisement. "Congratulate Fred on his work anniversary", "look at what a great team I work with" or "what a great project we just finished". It's corporate Facebook with only the slightest veneer of respectability left to distinguish it from the Zuckerberg platform where people post pap on a whim thinking everyone is fascinated.

We've gone in the wrong direction as a society in so many areas and this is one of them. What began as a place to share a CV and connections to advance careers,  became a syrupy "look ma no hands" back slapping orgy where humility goes to die. 

While there is much I like about this era's openness, this is one facet I don't favor even as I understand the psychology behind it. As we became victims to career advancement which included pep rallies a la Steve Jobs introducing the latest Apple gizmo, we forgot that dialing down the hyperbole makes for a better approach to everything. 

Today people compete for the biggest announcement or latest inspiring CEO quote that promises to keep you motivated into working weekends and late nights.

Never mind that it isn't ultimately in your best interest.