[Rain Man]

It seems like it should have a lot more use than it does, so maybe I'm not using it right.

I link up with people I know, and occasionally use it to congratulate someone on a promotion.

I should use it to find partners for proposals, but we seldom need partners.

I get a fair number of invitations from salespeople that I don't know and from foreign market research firms. I don't quite understand the first group, because I'm probably not going to need a Realtor in Tuscaloosa any time soon. I do understand the second group, who I suspect want to see who I'm linked with so they can try to steal my clients.

The discussion forums could be good, but they're dominated by salespeople who are just trying to get you to talk to them so they can ask for a meeting.

I'll use it to get background information on a potential client I'm meeting with, so I can say, "Hey, I'm from Texas, too", or "I saw that you worked for the Franklin Mint a few years back. Love those plates." But now they block you from seeing anyone who's more than two steps separated, which makes it much less useful.