LinkedIn LIONs Clicking "I Don't Know This Person"?!?!?

Question:

Why do fellow recruiting professionals with 'LION' on their LinkedIn profile click 'I Don't Know This Person' when you send them an invite.

I mean, if you have LION in your profile, aren't you saying you're a "Linked In Open Networker?" I've had it happen 2x where LIONs click they don't know me . . . and it's always been fellow TPRs'.

So I called a buddy of mine and he said the same had happened to him last month . . . so he took it upon himself to email the girl that did it to him. She replied, "That's just how it is - all of us TPRs compete, so it's in my interest to get you banned from sending invites on LI, anyway. Toughen up."

Does this sound right? That's pretty cut-throat if you ask me!

Comment by Rob Clarke on July 22, 2008 at 4:51pm: That is messed up, I can somewhat understand not connecting if they feel that way (but why bother being a LION?)- but to give someone the dreaded "I don't know them" (especially for a LION) and then give the reply she did.....that is completely cut-throat- and hopefully Karma catches up with her.

Comment by pam claughton on July 22, 2008 at 9:53pm: There are different degrees of LIONs, not all accept all invites, but my understanding is that if you are a LION, you cannot IDK someone. You simply archive them. What this person did is beyond cut-throat and she shouldn't be allowed to call herself a LION.

Comment by Rob McIntosh on July 24, 2008 at 2:53pm: What I think is funny in all this is that if people took 5 min to realize that every profile in LI is searchable for free, then why such the hang up on connecting as a LION when you cannot have meaningful relationships with 500+ people anyway..............So, if not for the deep relationships, it must be to find candidates...No?

Try this in Google: site:www.linkedin.com ("CISCO Systems" "Senior engineer") -inurl:st...

Who need LION’s :-)