Nothing to be done?

[sobrique]

Is there something you can do, when you see a friend making a mistake?
I'm not talking about the 'making a wrong turning' on a journey kind of mistake, but more the kind of 'sort it out, or you've just screwed up your life' sort of mistake?

I've always held that you can't stop someone making their own mistakes. If you try, then you just build their resentment, since unwanted advice is often unwelcome. Especially when it's about one's failings.

However, it's never so hard to do that as when it's not so much that you _think_ there'll be a problem as you're pretty damn certain there will. And you know it, and they know it, and you can see that they're denying it to themselves.

Or is there a better route? How would you deal with such a situation? Is it easier or harder to let them fall? And if you stop them falling, what incentive do they have to avoid it happening again?

Comments

[crashbarrier.livejournal.com]

I don't think there is much you can do except prepare for when it all goes wrong.

It depends on the person and the situation you are refering to. I find I have to evaluate the situation and the attitude of the person or persons involved.. How much do you know about that persons attitude to Advice etc..