Excellent inquiry. By way of background, I was an early adopter, joining LinkedIn in 2004, the year it started. I didn’t use it much at first, but when I’ve focused on it, I’ve tried to grow my list of contacts organically, by focusing more on quality than quantity. I also try to distinguish between what I consider to be best use of the LinkedIn business contacts model, as contrasted with more Facebook-style friend-based communication.

I readily connect with those whom I know and like. I also will connect with those who are specifically commended to me by colleagues, when those suggestions have some substance. I also connect to people in my areas of practice whose profiles reflect experience, thought, leadership, and credibility. I ignore connection request from those with whom I have no reason to connect other than building my number of connections, which is a goal that to me makes little sense, although I know of some who deem this to be their principal aim.

A few other thoughts: I never recommend anyone unless I’ve actually done some work with them. It’s better for me, and frankly, although they might not readily agree, it’s probably better for them — imagine getting a slew of business “recommendations” saying essentially that “Bob’s a great guy” or “This lawyer does good work” or other substance-free pablum?

I admit that from time to time over the past 6 years I may have wavered slightly in my commitment to build my contacts with quality, based on people whom I know either directly or indirectly, but I’ve tried to remain very firm about my recommendations policy, neither requesting nor offering recommendations to those with whom I have not worked in some capacity (e.g., directly in a “client” type relationship, or on a not-for-profit Board of Directors, etc.).

In short, I agree that we devalue the currency of online social networking when we indiscriminately accept LinkedIn invitations. I’m not sure why we’d consciously want to do that, so I’d advocate consciousness in this decision-making process.