What IS surprising is how readily people proffer up those opinions unsolicited. Particularly when the advice-giver is not really qualified. Just because you’ve been through a situation does not qualify you to give advice. Unsolicited advice should rarely be given, and only after the advisor objectively assesses if he or she is truly qualified to give advice on such a topic.
If you raised little monsters or don’t have kids, should you be giving parenting advice? If you haven’t built and managed a significant amount of wealth over a period of time, are you really qualified to give financial advice? If you can’t hang on to a boy/girlfriend or could not hold a marriage together, should you be giving advice on love?
Would anyone take health advice from someone who is grossly overweight? Then why give advice in an area you are not qualified?