Advice II

I’ve already talks about how dumb and arrogant unsolicited advice is, but today I am wondering exactly where the line should be. On one hand, if you genuinely knew you could make someone happier, don’t you have some kind of obligation to do it? Especially if they are your friend, and it would be relatively little effort on your part. Of course, you can never know 100% that whatever you say or do will make another person feel better, so how confident do you need to be?

I think in these scenarios it’s exceptionally difficult to have a high confidence interval - I’m reminded of the Mormons who I’m sure genuinely believe that they can make other people happier, and that it is their duty. Conversely, I genuinely believe that they are delusional, and while I guess it is possible that we are both right, it seems unlikely in the majority of instances. Am I right to be put off offering any kind of unsolicited advice out of a sense of altruism for fear of becoming like them? Sometimes I want to help my close friends, but I obviously don’t know what’s best for them - should I stay in my lane? Get better at communicating my feelings? It seems obvious when put in those terms, but in reality I think the problem is far more nuanced and difficult to make decisions about.