What are the most unhelpful pieces of advice? (kbin.melroy.org)

submitted 1 day ago by venotic@kbin.melroy.org to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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"So just do it" is a glaring one for me.

Simply because it is disregarding someone else's thought processes and how their mind works. Where simply 'just do it' is not as easily and readily accomplished. This kind of advice is always uttered when one person is going on about how they're tired of something and want to do something else. So this gets mentioned.

It could be a lot of reasons as to why, even if it is down to the obvious reasons. My valid reason a lot of the time is that I just don't have the energy or will to just magically get myself to do something.

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[-] gon@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago

I mean, sure, but isn't that literally everything? Hugging someone is nice unless they don't want to hug. Telling someone “don’t think about the consequences or costs, just focus on this moment and the first step you need to take” is good advice unless they need to focus on the consequences or costs, or they aren't taking the first step, or... or... or... ad eternum.

If your argument is that "just do it" is bad advice, then I flatly disagree. However, that doesn't seem to be the case; rather, it seems you're saying that "just do it" is advice that should be administered carefully and properly. While a fair assessment, that is also completely counter-productive as a point of discussion because I already said "just do it"'s efficacy is dependent on circumstance while describing a specific situation wherein it could be rightfully applied!!!!! DAMN IT!!

Well, one thing actually:

The problem with “just do it” is it’s often literally the first thing that everyone tries.

Is it? It very much isn't for me, for example. I usually think about what I'm going to do before I do it

I think a lot... ---, and it's not uncommon that I get in my head about this and that, when I should just do it. For people like me, and I know I'm not alone in this, "just do it" is a great piece of advice that I should listen to way more than I usually do. No, it's not perfect; Yes, it can fall flat. Still, it's useful.

it’d be pretty weird if I started off by trying to not do it.

Yes, but would it be that weird to be stuck in a loop of self-doubt while wanting to do it, which keeps you from actually doing it?

In the spirit of "just do it," and at risk to my goal of being a positive presence online, I'd like to point out that you used "your" several times when you should've used "you're." Now, I know you probably don't care and are thinking that it's a little rude that I'm pointing it out, but just in case you do care, I'd forward you here: https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/your-vs-youre-how-to-use-them-correctly

I mean no offense. I'm not perfect and I like when people point out the small things I could improve so... There.

this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2025

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