To think most people don’t want advice, they want validation?

[HearMeDontHelpMe]

They already know the answer. They just want someone to bless the bad decision.

Yup. Or, they want to be given permission to take the easy option, instead of what needs to be done, eg stay with an abusive partner rather than leave.

And that is why ChatGPT is so popular.

No. That's not always the case. But I hope this post made you feel validated in your assumptions, which is exactly what you're accusing others of @HearMeDontHelpMe .

I'm going to completely disagree, although if you had posted to say most people want advice rather than validation, I'd agree with you too, because most some posters want to disagree rather than give a reasoned, thought-through response...

I think people do post on here for a lot of reasons - sometimes you can tell by how much thought they've put into an OP as to what they want from it. Best to treat each thread on its own merits rather than make a blanket assumption.

Why would people only ever speak to other people for advice?

Have you heard of conversation?

Just like you, then, posting a question to which they've already decided they know the right answer.

I’m not sure in which context you’re referring to, but imo I’ve always thought when making a decision, everyone knows really really really deep down , what way they’re going to go, when faced with options. I’ve never believed anyone who says “I don’t know”, “I honestly don’t know “…..people really really deep down do…they either don’t want to say (for whatever reason) or they want to hear what others say first. Everyone knows in their own heart what they want to do.

Exactly.

OP, if you come across this situation enough to be posting on the internet about it, are you sure you're listening properly to the people who you think are coming to you 'for advice'? My guess is that they're not, they're just talking about a decision they're making, about which they know best.

You think they're asking for advice, and get cross they don't listen to you, but in fact you may be the one who isn't listening.

I think it's pretty rare that people approach someone else for advice outside the context of a specific work issue that someone with seniority and experience of a comparatively rare or difficult situation might be expected to have useful information on. I'm in my fifties and I could probably count on the fingers of one hand how many times I've asked for advice, and those were exclusively work issues.

I assume OP have never been in the position of having no one to talk to irl?

Unfortunately a lot of us are in that position and it really helps to hear posters viewpoints and to get the benefit from those who are knowledgeable. It's often very difficult to come to any sort of decision by yourself when you are isolated, or if you have problems with low self esteem, or mental health issues.

I think your assumption is pretty dismissive of other people's real dilemmas.

I do think most people posting on here are hoping for agreement or confirmation of their own opinion or position, but that's only to be expected. Unless it's a situation where they have absolutely no idea what to do, of course they want to hear that they're right. That's human nature. That said, I have seen people on here who appear to take the advice they're given seriously and reconsider, and even those who don't will at least have been made aware that they have an unpopular opinion (on MN, if nowhere else).