This was actually a Facebook status by one of my sister in laws, and I can't get over how true it is. Do you really want advice from some you wouldn't want to trade places with? No, not really. Simply because you don't want to live in their shoes and taking that advice, would mean that your doing just that. It puts a spin on who you should get advice from and who you shouldn't get advice from.
For example, and just for fun, you wouldn't want advice from a homeless person about getting work, you won't want marriage advice from someone whose had nothing but divorce in their lives, and you wouldn't want advice about being happy from someone who is depressed all the time. Why? Because they haven't experienced what actually works. Sure, they might be able to give you an opinion, but as for the actual functionality? I doubt it'll work in the long run.
The other thing about advice, nothing is more annoying, being asked for it, then giving it and the receiver of said advice doesn't listen or discredits it. This has happened to me and I just want to take a hammer to their brain. Good advice, sometimes/most of the time, is something you don't want to hear. Especially lifestyle changing ones. I think Lifestyle advice is often the hardest to sallow and often the most needed. If your not happy, you might need to change your lifestyle. If you don't have enough money? Might be time for a lifestyle change. Lifestyle changes can mean giving up something you like, it could mean you need to change the friends you hang out with, it could mean a lot. Who wants to give up something they like or stop friendships? Lifestyles are comfortable, being told you need to change it seems more like being told you suck at living. Which is why, I think the best way for lifestyle advice to work the receiver must be ready to hear something they don't like, be ready to change something in their life and want a better life. If you don't want to hear something you don't like, your not ready for advice and shouldn't be asking for it.
Is there such thing as bad advice? Based on the meaning of the word which is an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action, conduct, etc.: I shall act on your advice. Totally, there is. Only because advice is often givin with limited information. Their are exceptions, example, Go jump of a bridge = bad advice. If you want good advice from someone, don't hold anything back that you want advice on, or talk to someone who really really knows the situation (unless you really don't want to trade places with them). Advice can only be given from what the other person knows, and what they have experienced for them self (which is where the advice will be drawn from). So if the person giving the advice has a crazy drama filled life that you don't like, don't ask them for advice. You probably won't like what they have to say. Basically, it's important to think about who you go to for advice. Don't go and ask everyone and their dog for advice, unless you want a Dog's guide to action (Pee on that fire hydrant it's a great one and makes my day better every time).
That said. There are people that just live to give advice. It's their calling in life to tell you how you should live, act, dress, wash, and even breathe. We all know someone like this. They cannot be escaped (maybe avoided for a while), and they are the Borg of the advice world. Resistance is futile...(Dun dun duuun) Now given, they do have good advice, sometimes. A lot of the time they don't and it seems that they just like to hear themselves talk. How on earth do you deal with that advice overload? Personally, I smile and nod, then become that person that I'd want to smack over the head with a hammer. Thankfully, I never asked for the advice in the first place so I don't feel so bad.
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