Linked In Request from Enemies

[aussielong]

Have you ever had a linked in network request from somebody that you have had nothing but bad times with?

I had to re-check the name to be sure it wasn't someone else. This bloke who I have met three times, over three years ago being the latest, has requested to join my network. Every single one of those interactions involved him being an a'hole to me.

- Once I went to a speech he gave at a conference on my speciality. I went along to be nice and say hello. He acted as if I was checking up on him and trying to catch him out.
- Once I went to a handover meeting where I was taking over as PM of a project he had been involved with. He was a complete passive aggressive buffoon during all the handover meetings.
- I went for a meal with a group including him in a work capacity. Everyone ignored me and proceeded to have arguments in German for the entire evening. They were all really rude and kind of disrespectful.

No worries. That's just the world of work... but then years later a friend request! Should I accept and write the worst recommendation ever?

I would accept. It's politics. He's acknowledged you, and he's putting out the hand of respect. You probably won't be mistreated by him again. If you bite you can make him an allie.

I have used LinkedIn for one very good opportunity which I could not have got without it. Apart from that, its basically people acknowledging each others skills without saying it to their faces. Which means, if I leave this company and come across you down the line, yes i'd recommend you.

[d000hg]

How many people have enemies? I thought it was only the Wilmslows of this world.