People asking me for opinion

by Josh
(NJ)

I have people ask me my opinion all of the time. Maybe it's because I don't but in and shove it at people, but wait for them to ask.

I've had conversations that went on for long periods of time where someone asked me directly, "What should I do?" I always fall for it and make the mistake of answering. I wasted almost a half-hour the other day while I was desperately trying to fix a computer answering a person who asked me how to handle a certain situation.

After all of the time spent talking to the person, and offering real-world advice, the person did exactly what I said they should NOT do! Now that makes me wonder, why did you ask in the first place? I thought that maybe they were doing opposite because my advice was faulty. I wasted some more time checking to see if my advice was sound. It was. No problems with my advice. It was exactly what a responsible adult should have done based on the circumstances. Did the person do that? No! The did exactly what I told them would be unfair and inappropriate to handle the issue.

So I kind of promised my self halfheartedly that I would no longer give away any advice no matter who asks me. I knew when I thought it that I wasn't entirely serious. I have even promised myself to tell the advice seeker that I'm not going to give any advice because of how they wouldn't follow it anyway! I suppose another reason that people ask me for advice is that I don't ask others for their advice. Maybe it makes me look like I have it all together or something like that to them. I certainly hope not. For if I had it all together, I wouldn't feel the need to rant about it. Right? I'm just saying.

Well, I want to help anyone who is in need or suffering. Even if it is just a minor problem. I truly want to help them get through the issue. So what will I do next time? I suppose I'll spend my time offering sage advice while something I need to do goes undone. Then I'll get frustrated when the advice seeker lets me know that they went and did what I told them not to do. Maybe I should tell them not to do what it is I truly think that they should do?