The Advisee

Ben asks for advice.

Not because he thinks he needs it.

No one thinks they need advice.

Not deep down. Not really.

Ben asks for advice to hear his own thoughts 

spoken back to him. So he can nod and say,

Yes, yes, you're right, I hadn't thought of that.

Ben asks for advice,

Not because he needs it.

But because other people need to give it.

They need to be seen as good friends and good

listeners, good problem-solvers, good 

advisers.They like to feel perceptive.

Like their view of things is somehow of more 

value than anyone else's. 

They like to feel that their words can have an

impact on the actions of others.

They like to feel like other people's problems are

worse than their own.  

Above all,

they like the sound of their own voices. 

And Ben knows this.

It is a kind of catharsis,

that they didn't know they needed.

And Ben is just 

giving them what they wanted,

though they didn't know they wanted it.

It is something they can't seek out,

not by themselves. To advise, of course,

there must be one in need of advice.

And this is the role Ben plays.

The fulfiller of societal desires of the most 

mundane variety.

An advisee.