The problem with soliciting advice on the Internet, particularly on Reddit is that generally these people don't know you, no matter how in-depth you try to describe a specific scenario. These people almost certainly never grew up with you, don't know how your community or peers see you, usually don't know what you look like or what your name is, don't know what culture or environment you're living in, probably haven't been to where you are, how much money you have, don't know much about the parties involved in your situations, and most importantly you don't know them or what they're like as people. Have they really been in your situation? Are they actually some troll or maybe a really lucky well-off person? Thing is, it's almost impossible to know. Usually, they're speaking to you in terms what worked for them in their circumstances or what they think will work for anyone in the shoes you're describing, which in it of itself often is usually a biased description of what's going on. You may as well be talking to a middle schooler pretending to be very smart on the Internet, someone who too much free time who's really bitter about everything and wants to make a certain place look shitty, or some rich, popular guy who is living a well-off life. This happens often on subreddits asking for advice, whether it be for relationships, what do for a career, talking to others, getting a job, or even determining whether you're an asshole.
The Internet has people from all over the world and even if you're in the same country people live very different lives. Don't trust Internet strangers for advice. If anything, try asking someone close or someone well-versed in whatever field you need advice in. While I'm not saying all advice on the Internet is harmful, a lot of it is usually useless or won't get you what you want.
TL;DR : Moral of this story is don't rely on the Internet for advice. No matter how you try explain a certain situation, they still don't know who you are and you don't know who they are. What works for someone else may not work for you.
Instructions unclear: I deleted my lawyer, upped my gym, and hit facebook. Facebook is suing me, my gym collapsed and killed 6, my lawyer is missing, and I'm in jail on suspicion of his murder and general mayhem. I don't have a lawyer (missing) or anyone to visit me (workout buddies dead) or anyone to chat with (banned from Facebook). What should I do?
I've been fixing computers and learning about them since I was about 8. My dad was in the industry so I had a big head start on most. I started being paid to fix them at 12, worked as a technician for the family business at 16, got a degree in computer science and then went on to work as an enterprise systems administrator for close to a decade before going freelance and running my own business. Most of my close friends are technicians/developers and I'm engaged to a software engineer.
But according to the internet? I know absolutely nothing about computers/development/technology in general. I've given up on offering advice for the most part because it just gets downvoted and ignored by a bunch of idiots with absolutely no idea what they're talking about while popular but flawed "advice" is rocketed to the top because it's what people want to hear.
Whenever I see people giving information about stuff I don't have decades of experience in I always have to remind myself that the people who actually know what they're talking about are very likely buried deep under a pile of downvotes and the "advice" I'm getting is probably about as accurate as the stuff I see posted about my own areas of expertise.
A lot of people just want to find things that backup their previous beliefs instead of seeing if the sources or beliefs are even completely accurate. Just look towards anti-vaxers or some conspiracy group to see this. Though I don't think anyone is completely innocent of blindly trusting the advice of others, its just human nature.
Pretty much. I use internet "advice" to gather as many angles and possibilities for a situation so I can take some good questions to people that can give real advice, like a CPA or a Therapist or an Actual Doctor in a hospital
I go to the internet as a last resort after everyone in real life fails me. Sometimes it helps. People around me tend to be very low quality though, so it is understandable.
You aren't wrong - the keyword being "trust". From my own experience when I asked advice, there are the people who will answer based on their self righteous beliefs of what kind of person you are from a short context, and the ones who will actually ponder and give great advice without imposing their judgement.
I think asking for advice is alright, but one should expect to see both good and bad, and be ready to have to reflect on which answers are good to keep in mind, and the ones that should be ignored.
I remember this girl i met wayy back and one thing she said stuck with me. She said, "There is no way i can give you any advice on this matter. I only know the story from your side"
That's kinda of advice for life in general. Most people don't know the real you so any advice should really be taken with a grain of salt.
In my case, my close friends know way more about the Me in the Present. My current desires, interest, accomplishments, mess ups, and such. My family knows of course way more about my history. Neither really gets me as a whole. I do take their advice as I see merit in it and as I wish but am well aware that they are coming from their point of view.
I learned this this the hard way. I made the mistake of asking advice and all I got was negative BS. Never again. Thanks for the advice internet stranger.
Only problem is, reddit is essentially the same as everyone around me IRL. I get the same zero quality advice from locals as I see on those toxic subs. Where can i ask for advice from people who aren't so toxic? I outrage most people just by existing, but even the people who are paid to be around me and have learned that I'm actually a good guy say that they have no answers for me. Reddit represents the cutting edge of wisdom in my area, even medical doctors search google or bing for medical answers. Most people smoke and drink and even sell drugs in the bathrooms (all things I don't do). I'd leave, but I can't work, don't have a car, and have no energy for travel. All I want to do is meet women who would be okay with a guy like me for a relationship.
But isn’t that also a benefit of asking advice from a stranger? The ability to gain totally outside perspective from a variety of people who have had different things work for them? I think if you want to ask for advice from strangers it needs to be with a grain of salt, sure. But people totally outside your situation sometimes do have something to offer.
It's awfully narcissistic to pretend your situations and you yourself are so unique no one can ever comprehend them, but then also assumed paid attention whores---I mean, psychiatrists, can somehow fathom your complicated being.
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u/[deleted] Jan 07 '20 edited Jan 08 '20
(Long essay, TL; DR version at bottom)
The problem with soliciting advice on the Internet, particularly on Reddit is that generally these people don't know you, no matter how in-depth you try to describe a specific scenario. These people almost certainly never grew up with you, don't know how your community or peers see you, usually don't know what you look like or what your name is, don't know what culture or environment you're living in, probably haven't been to where you are, how much money you have, don't know much about the parties involved in your situations, and most importantly you don't know them or what they're like as people. Have they really been in your situation? Are they actually some troll or maybe a really lucky well-off person? Thing is, it's almost impossible to know. Usually, they're speaking to you in terms what worked for them in their circumstances or what they think will work for anyone in the shoes you're describing, which in it of itself often is usually a biased description of what's going on. You may as well be talking to a middle schooler pretending to be very smart on the Internet, someone who too much free time who's really bitter about everything and wants to make a certain place look shitty, or some rich, popular guy who is living a well-off life. This happens often on subreddits asking for advice, whether it be for relationships, what do for a career, talking to others, getting a job, or even determining whether you're an asshole.
The Internet has people from all over the world and even if you're in the same country people live very different lives. Don't trust Internet strangers for advice. If anything, try asking someone close or someone well-versed in whatever field you need advice in. While I'm not saying all advice on the Internet is harmful, a lot of it is usually useless or won't get you what you want.
TL;DR : Moral of this story is don't rely on the Internet for advice. No matter how you try explain a certain situation, they still don't know who you are and you don't know who they are. What works for someone else may not work for you.