POLL – Friendship Advice: Whom do you trust?
Giving friendship advice is challenging. Even with
experience and training, I only hear one side of a story, limited by what
someone chooses to tell me or not tell me, which is filtered by that person’s
experience of the problem.
The litmus test of the value of friendship advice—or any
advice for that matter—is whether it resonates with the individual receiving it;
provides a new way of looking at an old problem; makes the person feel better; and/or allows someone to make some positive change.
Recently, I’ve added the Friendship Forums to this site
because the forums allow more perspectives to be brought to bear on readers’ friendship
problems and quandaries.I wanted to ask YOUR advice on how you perceive anonymous advice from strangers vs. advice from an expert.
After you answer the poll below, please post any additional thoughts that you have in the comments section below.
Thanks! Irene, The Friendship Doctor
Category: KEEPING FRIENDS
I like to receive helpful advice. It doesn’t matter where it comes from. Every person has his/her individual experiences. Eventually, all of them are not thoroughly good or bad. I like to hear all the experiences and think it is the best way to identify the best thing.
I meant this to post below your response to me Irene re: Dr. Aron.
“A little burst of excitement there. Standing by to stand by”.
Thanks again for offering to look into it. Have a great Labor Day weekend! BG
This was from Irene for BG.
A little burst of excitement there. Standing by to stand by /BG.
I asked her publisher for contact info:-)
Thank you Irene for considering my suggestion. I do have a couple of questions in mind (surprise, surprise :)). I could get them to you tomorrow to use or not as you see fit. Thanks again!
Sound-sounding advice from anyone–no matter what their credentials are or are not–is what I like. Hate to say it, but all too often so-called experts sound (to me) rather glib and even insensitive. Or just repeat the pop-psycho jargon du jour, which gets repeated in the media echo chamber and then gets regurgitated in the pop-psychology book du jour. And then on Oprah and the others. On the other hand, not everyone who holds forth on a blog necessarily sounds sage … or sane.
The Net, blogs, forums, for all of the value they bring, often includes a pool of people who think that just because they can work a keyboard, they have something of true value to say. That’s not to say that they do not have value as humans. But words flying out of their fingers onto a site does not an expert make. And yes, I include myself here.
I think sound advice from an anyone is valuable. Ultimately, we will only use what resonates with us be it from a stranger or expert. I do find a variety of perspectives insightful.
I don’t know her but I’ll reach out to her. If you want to email me any specific questions, I’ll be happy to ask them, too.
Best,
irene
Hi Irene,
I apologize for posting a random subject under the poll topic but I’m still having a hard time logging in to the site/forum area. In any case, I hope you’ll find this. I was wondering if you have encountered Elaine Aron Ph.D. in your professional sphere? She is the author of The Highly Sensitive Person. Do you think it would be interesting and/or useful to have her do a guest post about friendship as it relates to HSP’s(highly sensitive people)? I know she does her own monthly newsletter but I thought it might be enlightening if she has any tips to navigate friendships for those of us who are touchy, feelers as many who post here seem to be. Just wanted to toss that out. Thank you for your time and space. Best, ButterflyGirl.