Some people just want someone’s opinion. They really call you to “vent” , to bounce ideas off of….to just talk to get some of their frustration out.
I’ve done this…..I’ve called friends when I needed to just “talk”...and when I say, “I don’t know what to do. What would you do in my situation?” I would listen, but the truth is that I already usually knew the answer….the only thing that I needed to do was to simply get past my fear and do it (whatever the “it” was…move, break-up, get a new car, change jobs, etc).
So, it’s not that your friend is not listening and not taking your advice….she already knows what needs to be done and is just dragging her feet or is afraid to take action. She needs not to confront the woman on the phone, but the man she is seeing.
Next time, if you are that direct (and you say you are) just say: “Listen, I told you what to do, right? So, do you just want me to listen to you rant? Because I would rather do something else. What you are proposing is ridiculous. This guy can text all the girls at the Playboy Mansion if he wants because you are not in a mutually exclusive relationship with him, okay? It’s not that other woman’s fault. You need to _talk to the man_okay? And if he wants to simply sleep with you without being in a relationship with you, then, you have to move on, sweetheart. Is that clear?”