Thanks for playing.

-then again, perhaps it IS hard for you.

How is it a good deed to give people professional advice when you haven’t even examined them?

Because you don’t want to come off as an a–hole to someone who doesn’t (and won’t ever) understand the inappropriate nature of such inquiries, or how complex an answer might be to “why do i have this pain”.

Not to mention that, in an institutionalized setting like a hospital or nursing home, it is important to maintain an image of being caring and concerned. Nursing and ancillary staff are particularly chatty, just like a large office setting, for example. “Did you hear about Dr.Jerkoff? Marilyn’s been having headaches that her doctor doesn’t address, and Dr.Jerkoff didn’t do a thing!”

I have seen a woman doing it – of all places at a singles dinner party. Here were about eight people at a round table having a pleasant conversation, she heard that one guy was a plastic surgeon and immediately started asking him about loose skin on her neck and what she can do about it. She went on and on, all attempts to change a subject to something of more general interest (e.g. weather) failed.

I think he was too polite to tell her off, but he was clearly uncomfortable. I’d imagine he was more interested in talking with a couple of young girls across the table (no, I didn’t have any personal interest – too young). For the rest of people at the table, it was totally too much information.