When friends share personal problems with you, does that inf

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bluesky11
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14 Jan 2018, 12:53 am

When friends share personal problems with you, does that information have an effect on how you view them as a person?

I want to know if there's a link between how intensely new information is retained about people you see on a regular basis...

For me, if there's a new piece of information they give me, it pops into my head every time I think about them or see them for potentially as long as I know them...



SplendidSnail
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14 Jan 2018, 1:04 am

Without knowing what this information is (and please don't tell us!), it's hard to answer that.

It's hard not to let things you know about people affect how you view them. I don't think anyone can blame you if it does.

However, whatever this information is, is likely something very personal, and that means that this friend trusts you deeply. Keep that in mind.
:)


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whatamievendoing
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14 Jan 2018, 4:41 am

SplendidSnail wrote:
However, whatever this information is, is likely something very personal, and that means that this friend trusts you deeply. Keep that in mind.
:)


This.

I've had a few discussions regarding mental health issues with a female colleague of mine, and I was at least able to guess early on that she had some of her own. I believe I'm the only one to whom she's shared the details of it - that additional information I've naturally kept to myself. But it didn't exactly change my perception of her. I barely even think about it when I see and/or talk to her.


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Embla
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14 Jan 2018, 9:53 am

It entirely depends on the information, but I don't really change my opinion of a person based on their personal problems. One piece of information isn't enough to build up a whole personality, so unless the thing my friend tells me is something massively disturbing (like, revealing they're a nazi or something) it wouldn't affect my opinion of them.
I often find my friend's problems quite silly, but I know it doesn't make the person silly. I keep in mind that I have a lot of problems that others would find silly too, and it doesn't make them less valid.

I just get flattered if someone shares private stuff with me, because it tells me that they like and trust me, and they find value in my advice.