Permanently alienating potential crushes

Imagine you have a crush on a girl at the bank.Every time you talk, it's only business.
But one day she says, “Here's my cellphone number. Call anytime.”

Derek Sivers is writing about corporate social media policy and the story continues

You call her and ask her out. She says OK.
You meet up for dinner and after talking for 15 minutes she says, “Could I interest you in a home equity loan?”
Arrgh! That's worse than if she had never given you her number in the first place!

The giving of the cell phone number is the equivilent of the taking on of social media but

They're acting like they want to connect directly with you, get to know you, or hang out where you hang out.
But unless they learn how to stop selling, listen, and be real - they're just permanently alienating potential crushes.

Ht-Joanna Geary