There’s something to be said for trying the wrong thing too. Learning something doesn’t work is just as valuable as learning something works. A lot of people (myself included) are afraid to fail so it’s easier to do nothing than to try and fail. I force myself everyday to get out there and fail because if I’ve been the loser who did nothing and that was far worse than failing.

You obviously have no idea what you’re talking about. Current polling has major regions in russia polling 113% of the popular vote to putin. Do your research.

Musk throws thermonuclear tantrum

Yes, gift cards are gift cards. Gift cards, however, are not money as you can’t spend them anywhere.

Lots of good answers so far. From my experience, most people know what the fuck to do or at least they know they have a few options, so they don’t need me to tell them how to solve their problem.

To specifically answer your question… sitting there listening allows you to figure out if the person needs to vent, talk out their options, validation about their reaction, validation for their own solution, social connection, to know they have a support system in you, encouragement, and sometimes, yes, advice or a solution. So to assume it’s only a solution they want leaves out a whole host of other possible reasons they might come to you. “I know I just need to send an email, I just wanted to removed about my boss being a bag of dicks”.