About giving advice

Person A says "I like apples. I'm not able to locate an apple shop, can you tell me where to find one ?"

B: "Why don't you eat mangoes. They taste good and keep you fit."

A: "But I want apples. I don't like mangoes."

B: "Try to like mangoes, once you start having them, you'll start liking them."

A: "But whats the point. I already like apples, and they also give nutrition. Why don't you tell me where to find an apple shop."

B: "No believe me, no point eating apples. They don't taste good anyway. If you like them, you are probably mistaken or have some problem, why don't you get yourself checked, I know a good doctor. I can take you there..........and regarding the mango shop, its down the street on the first left."

A starts beating his head.


Good rules to observe when giving advice:

a. Unsolicited advice should be rare. Anyone who tells you he has a shoulder pain is not asking for your mother's recipe of homemade pain killer. Nor is he asking you when you last had a pain in your stomach and how the remedy for your stomach pain should cure his shoulder.

b. Advice should aim at solving the problem of the person, and not what you perceive of the situation. Try not to get your personal hatred of apples, refrain you from telling him the way to apple shop.

c. Giving advice is a responsibility. If you are not sure, say you are not sure. Don't portray your hunch as a home truth.

d. You are giving an advice, not an order. If the person decides not to follow your advice, respect his decision, even if it is wrong. Everyone has the right to be wrong. There is no reason to take offense about someone not heeding to your advice.