Why accept colleague requests?

[Eric M.]

I get alot of these and many without any message and I don't know who they are or what they want. I am not sure why are requesting. (I guess I am not much of a "networker")
My email address is in my sig and I would much rather them send me an email than a PM.
Should I accept? Is there a "risk" to accepting? I don't want to offend by denying or ignoring. Do they get a notice that I have denied them?

Thanks

[Steve Babiak]

If not at the PRO level of membership, members must be colleagues to engage in the PM feature.

I have already posted that I refuse to accept requests that have no introductory message - and that's not ME being rude by refusing these. I liken this to being at the REIA meetings and having somebody shove their business card at you and then running along without even saying "Hi"; colleague requests without an introductory message are no different IMO. I ignore the people handing out business cards like this, and I'll ignore the colleague request of such members. Just because this is on the internet does not permit people to forget to remember their manners.

Once you become colleagues, you are then at risk of other members messaging you via both PM and email (if you have that in your profile only).

Now Eric, since you are offering something (financing) that people will be requesting, you may be turning down opportunities for business. But sometimes you just have to determine whether these users have any respect for your time, since they choose to message you without any greetings, and they will message you without any subject as well.