Why do people send colleague requests with no message?

[Mike Dymski]

I'm a social media cave man but why do members send colleague requests without introducing themselves or explaining why they are sending the request?  To be a colleague requires people to interact with one another.

[Steve Vaughan]

I hear you @Mike Dymski.  Sometimes I'll take the time to view their profile, but usually don't bother.  If some time has passed and no message received and we've never interacted before, I deny about 5 to 1.  Not trying to be snooty, but it's kind of disrespectful to say nothing IMO.

Maybe some of the reason is because the 'send a message' box is way at the top of the screen instead of being right there where the request is made.  It's a second step newer folks probably don't even know about.  

And what's with being followed?  Get an e-mail that so and so in now following you... I don't even know what that means!