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The endorsements on LinkedIn are useless. LinkedIn suggests things like "Endorse [So and So] for [some thing]," and people just click the "endorse" button. Peo

The endorsements on LinkedIn are useless. LinkedIn suggests things like "Endorse [So and So] for [some thing]," and people just click the "endorse" button. People that know nothing about technology have endorsed me for skills I don't have.

iffyuva 14y ago
That endorsements looks more or less like a poll. People with whom I have barely worked also endorsed me! Very creepy!
- jen_h 14y ago
  Same here - people that I haven't worked with but know socially have endorsed me for totally unrelated programming skills that were last used in the late 90s. LinkedIn suggests something, and people click Next-Next-Next. The whole endorsements thing is a joke. Also not a big fan of LinkedIn's asking me to connect to the spouses of exes I haven't talked to, emailed, stalked, nor seen for 15 years and several email accounts. Massively creepy.
btrautsc 14y ago
Agreed. Endorsements are largely a popularity contest. Sure, it is great that your connect [name] endorsed you for [skill]... That is helpful to know in some ways, but it is no way definitive on your ability. We're working on a system we think is slight better, based on getting credit for what you read, and hopefully one day what you know.
- nhebb 14y ago
  > Endorsements are largely a popularity contest. That's the way I've been looking at the entire web these days - and not just social media. The Google page ranking algorithm really boils down to a (potentially high stakes) popularity contest.
  - yen223 14y ago
    Not just the web though - our entire political system is one great big popularity contest.
    - nhebb 14y ago
      Ha ha, I get your point. There are SEO tea leaf readers who think Google+ plays an increasing role in search rankings. It's probably just speculation coupled with coincidence, but as I was reading some articles on this last week, I was reminded of the Googler that wrote about why he was not going to his high school reunion. It wasn't just sad - it made me angry that adults condoned the activity. I was struck by the irony that this Googler had escaped the high school social pressure cooker, only to go on to work for a company that has engineered the world's biggest popularity contest.
ry0ohki 14y ago
The best part is you can make up new things to endorse them in! I've endorsed people for "Lunch" and "Alcoholism" as a joke.

iffyuva 14y ago

That endorsements looks more or less like a poll. People with whom I have barely worked also endorsed me! Very creepy!

jen_h 14y ago
Same here - people that I haven't worked with but know socially have endorsed me for totally unrelated programming skills that were last used in the late 90s. LinkedIn suggests something, and people click Next-Next-Next. The whole endorsements thing is a joke. Also not a big fan of LinkedIn's asking me to connect to the spouses of exes I haven't talked to, emailed, stalked, nor seen for 15 years and several email accounts. Massively creepy.

btrautsc 14y ago

Agreed. Endorsements are largely a popularity contest. Sure, it is great that your connect [name] endorsed you for [skill]... That is helpful to know in some ways, but it is no way definitive on your ability. We're working on a system we think is slight better, based on getting credit for what you read, and hopefully one day what you know.

nhebb 14y ago
> Endorsements are largely a popularity contest. That's the way I've been looking at the entire web these days - and not just social media. The Google page ranking algorithm really boils down to a (potentially high stakes) popularity contest.
- yen223 14y ago
  Not just the web though - our entire political system is one great big popularity contest.
  - nhebb 14y ago
    Ha ha, I get your point. There are SEO tea leaf readers who think Google+ plays an increasing role in search rankings. It's probably just speculation coupled with coincidence, but as I was reading some articles on this last week, I was reminded of the Googler that wrote about why he was not going to his high school reunion. It wasn't just sad - it made me angry that adults condoned the activity. I was struck by the irony that this Googler had escaped the high school social pressure cooker, only to go on to work for a company that has engineered the world's biggest popularity contest.

ry0ohki 14y ago

The best part is you can make up new things to endorse them in! I've endorsed people for "Lunch" and "Alcoholism" as a joke.