The 'Using Society'

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I recently read a blog concerning networking from a useful digital communications site, nourishment www.nourishmentonline.com.

Whilst the observations were spot on, I have to admit to being appalled that we now accept totally the concept of gathering contact details solely for the purpose of furthering our own ends at some point in the future! It appears that there is no reason to talk to anyone personally or professionally unless they can do something for you in the future or they have something you want.

Words like 'leverage relationships' and 'exploit your network' are all used in a business context without any acknowledgment that we are talking about people here! When did it become OK for us to so overtly 'use' people? What happened to meeting with people because they are fun or simply because we enjoyed their company?

Whilst I wouldn't pretend to be the world's greatest entrepreneur, I acknowledge the importance of 'who you know'.... that said the thought that professional people are only talking to me because they want something or are looking for an angle leaves me cold. Are we that shallow that the people aspects of networking are no longer important to us?