i recently lost my job and it's horrible being in the 'unemployed' class -- you're made to feel worthless, you have to take advice from people, perfectly well meaning of course, that are basically encouragement on digging your own grave - i love being in the position where i have to do some fake elizabethian courting ritual where i have to pretend i'm super excited to do whatever tf they do, oh and i'm the best man for the job! -- when you've just sent in 200 applications and gotten nothing back, when you've just been let go for dubious bullshit reasons, you're supposed to act like you're ready for a challenge!
important video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkYHNO2vNG4
I know a lot of people are talking about the disingenuous nature of networking and your response is totally valid. Business runs on relationships.
But those relationships don't form if it wasn't for business. Sometimes beneficial for all parties, sometimes not. Hopefully people understand that this should not be the extent of all your relationships nor should you confuse work friends with friends outside of work.
In a world where the dominant culture emphasizes our ability to do work and create fiscal value it can seem like people have excised an important part of themselves.