Serious question, what do you do when a stranger asks for your personal advice?

I was at the public library in Springfield last Tuesday, just trying to find a book. This older guy at the computer next to me just turned and asked me how to write a letter to his landlord about a broken heater. Out of nowhere. I'm not a lawyer. I told him I didn't know, but he kept asking. Said he saw me typing and thought I looked like I 'knew about words.' I ended up giving him a basic template, but I felt weird the whole time. Like, what if my advice was wrong? What if it made things worse for him? Now I'm second-guessing everything I said. It was only five minutes, but it's stuck with me. How are you supposed to handle that? Do you help or just say you can't?

3 comments

3 Comments

averymartin1mo agoTop Commenter

That "what if it made things worse" feeling is so real. My friend had a guy at the bus stop ask her for resume help. She gave a few tips, but later worried she messed up his job chances because she doesn't work in his field. She still feels bad about it.

mia_hart901mo ago

Been there, gave terrible directions once.

carter.gavin1mo agoMost Upvoted

Yeah, it's easy to do. You know the area so well in your head that you skip the simple steps. I've sent people the wrong way down a one-way street just by forgetting to mention a turn. Makes you feel like a real jerk when they text you back lost.