Playing Claire Raynor to untold love life problems, people's insecurities and suchlike - do people ever actually listen, or is it best just to learn by your own mistakes?

Oh the irony of this PM just arriving: "I asked you because I trust you to tell it to me straight". From a friend I've known for eight years.

I'm getting it in the ear from all directions today, and I'd really like to help and these are (three) people that I really love, but perhaps I should just tell them what I think THEY want to hear and they'll just bugger off and get on with it. Because I'll be damned if any of them really truly listen, or, if they do, they seem to do the exact opposite.

*Sigh*

I do set myself up for these situations. I wish I were a man and could say "black/white" / "problem/solution" - and why the hell do they come to me when I've got a disastrously failed marriage behind me?! Heh. That's quite funny really.

Thanks for reading my rant :)