should I listen or give advice?
I had a talk with a friend recently, and he kept asking me about what to do about this girl he was seeing. I listened to him and asked him questions, but I didn't give him any advice on what to do.
About 10 minutes in, he started to get a bit irritated with me. He asked me why I wasn't giving him any advice.
I've been burned many times in the past by giving people unsolicited advice when all they wanted was a keen ear. But my friend wanted advice. So I gave it to him.
Sometimes people want me to listen. Sometimes they want advice. Since I can't read their minds, I guess I just need to ask them what they'd prefer.