does a good listener give advice?

It's great to hear that you are great pals with your fiances's sister. I was never like that with my ex :P Anyway... I also have quite a number of friends who tell me their problems but I never really give advice UNLESS THEY ASK FOR ONE :D I would comment on their thoughts, the situation, the reason why the problem surfaced but that's all. There are people who only needs someone to listen to them. Something like.. An outlet or something. To have someone to pent up their emotions and not keep them bottled up inside :)

There are times when i just needed somebody to listen to me and don't wanna hear any advice, but just someone who can hold my hand and assure me that everything's gonna be fine by their mere presence. There are also times when i desperately seek advice and mere listening won't do for me. I want that friend to at least say something so i would know what to do. So being a good listener actually also entails being a good adviser. One cannot give a sound advice if one isn't a good listener.

Advice is good to give also but it will always be up to the person who we give it to - like it will be his/her decision in the end and never ours. All we can do is just listen as he tells his story or worry and we comfort them with our support and presence because like them, whenever it's our turn in wanting to be listened to, we want their support as well. A good listener doesn't have to be anything except to be a good friend. That's what matters the most when a friend confides in them with their problems

You do sound like a good listener and a good friend. I never give advice though just in case it backfires.

Yes, a good listener could also give a good advise, but not at all times. It depends on the problem being relayed. If the listener has been in the same situation and have survived it , then she can give a good advise.

For me that depend to the person who are expressing his/her emotions. if he/she needs some advise then i will but if (s)he is only need my ears and hugs then ill do that. I don't personally give advise but options and possibity in both ways the advantages and disadvantages. Still the decision is with in the person who are in distress.

I never give advice to people, only opinions. I always try to make it very clear that it's an opinion and not advice, because people frequently assume I'm suggesting they do a particular thing. Being a good listener is one thing. Having someone mess up their life then blame me for it is another. I wouldn't care if they blamed me for bad eventualities but they would, even though it's their own fault what happens in their own life, so I'm very careful to just say what I think, not what to do. Opinion only, in my.. er.. opinion! Of course, my opinion can be a course of action that I think is best, but it's down to the person to decide whether they do that or something totally different. They are the only one who can choose. Often, the best course of action (especially if you're somewhat detached and logical about things) is to provide several ideas. If you say they "could do A, B, C or D, for example" it gets them thinking for themselves. That's even better than advice. But hey, this is all just my opinion anyway!