Tailored advice

We keep giving advice in the wrong way.
Advice only makes sense if it's tailored to the person you're talking to.
That's why advice online is useless. Because it's too generalized.
Let me explain what I mean with a pretty common scenario.

I'm a movie enthusiast.
Since 2013, I have rated on IMDb every film I've watched (1300+ so far).
My passion began as a child when my grandad took me often to the cinema. Even after he got sick, he made sure our family kept the tradition alive, so we could tell him about the movie at the hospital the next day.
As I grew up, I kept this habit alive. Soon after getting my license, the cinema became my favorite place to go.
From 2015 to 2024 I even organized the cineforum of my hometown. I was choosing films with the manager and giving the introduction speech every Thursday evening. That experience opened my eyes to independent cinema. Until that point, my watchlist was mostly blockbusters from Hollywood and classics from the IMDb Top 250.

Let me be clear: I'm not a movie expert, I'm just an everyday enthusiast.
I can't professionally judge photography or sound design. But I know what I like and why I like it.

When I talk about films with friends or acquaintances, it's pretty common to exchange recommendations. But here's the problem: most people suggest films based on their tastes, not considering if the other person shares them.
If we were all film critics, analyzing movies objectively, that would make sense. But we're casual viewers. What we love or what bores us depends entirely on personal tastes.
For example, if you recommend a masterpiece of Japanese animation to me, I probably won't enjoy it (unless it's Akira). It's just not my taste.

That's why, when I give suggestions, I first ask about the other person's favourites. Based on that, I draw from my mental database and recommend films that match their preferences.

Random suggestions often backfire.
They create disappointment and erode trust.
Listening first, understanding the person, and only then recommending. That's how I think advice should work.

The best recommendation isn't your favorite movie, it's the one that fits the person in front of you.