Sources of Advice

After discussing the common types of advice, it is important to know where to seek advice from. The first step is completed when we know what kind of advice when we are seeking. The second step is really determining the reliable source of the advice.

Of course, almost everyone claims that they are authority figures in a certain field of specialty. But with a limited world view, the claims must be almost foolproof because an advice is not something that should be trial and error. If all of us would adopt the trial and error way of thinking, there is actually no need for an advice. Thus, the sources of advice, like sources of information when one needs data, must be reliable. In fact, the garbage in, garbage out can be made applicable.

As already mentioned earlier, giving an advice or seeking advice is in its most rudimentary form, an example of communication. Hence, like sources of communication, sources of advice can come from printed materials, media and oratorical devices. With the advent of new technology, online sources become a combination of media and printed material displayed in the World Wide Web for persons to also access. With these sources, what is important is that they are able to relay the advice and facilitate it well to both the sender and receiver’s advantage.

Printed materials are dominated more by magazines than books. I would personally suggest faddish magazines than books if we are referring to advice that is more casual than technical. This is because some advice can already outdated and already. If compiled in books, it has an appearance that the advice is as sturdy as the book is. But if the subject of the advice is more technical, like business advice and legal advice, then I suggest books that are either authored singly or are made by a compendium of pieces of advice already compiled by an editor. The reason for this practice is that when we are quoting, books usually appear as secondary sources above magazines. It also easier to dig up and referred to than magazines that come in volumes. However, there are exceptions to the rule. This would include magazines that are like journals that are specifically made towards certain matters. Some of these magazines are even more technical with an advantage of being updated.

Materials in audio-visual media include movies, television series, documentaries, recordings and the like. Yes, movies whether big budget or low budget can offer a random piece of advice that may be of use someday. It can even come from a seemingly silent antic, like Mr. Bean, and how he usually does things which could be turned to a practical advice when needed. An example of this is when he goes on packing; he would put the socks inside the shoes to save space. This could be a tip that can be practiced by you and passed on to your children and your children’s children. There are specific shows on television that offer advice. You can tune in on home and garden television, the do-it-yourself channel and other similar shows that offer practical advice on basic needs. Aside from these, even advice on relationships and teen advice can be found in various programs guised in the entertainment industry. Legal and business advice are more found in documentaries than popular television shows, though there are already quite a number of shows that would cater to this genre of advice.

Oratorical advice is simply live advice that can come straight from your parent’s mouth, your relatives, friends, priests, government agents, community workers and even complete strangers. It may be done on a one-on-one basis or in an open forum as big as conferences. The advantage is starkly seen in this method of acquiring advice – that is the person can ask the one giving the advice right then and there about the follies and implementation of what the adviser is saying. The approach is more personal which can be convenient for some who has more specific questions and who would want instant answers. Sometimes, however, it is not necessary to meet the person. It can be through phone conversations in the likes of mobile phone exchanges and telephone hotline numbers. Letters and electronic mail are other forms of correspondence by which pieces of advice can be exchanged. What unites these things is not the spoken word per se but by the presence of a relationship between the sender and the receiver and the immediacy of the response.

Online forums in the form of blogs, websites and portals are a dime a dozen. They are just too many. Sometimes there is the question of credibility and reliability of the content of the advise, as well as the author thereof. But the convenience and easy access of it for those who have computers with connection cannot be ignored. Also through long usage, the proper online avenues can be sifted out from those that are merely for media mileage.