I have found this a problem in real life too - people often assume that when you are asking for help you are asking for them to become a strategic partner that

I have found this a problem in real life too - people often assume that when you are asking for help you are asking for them to become a strategic partner that is going to shape your overall approach to the problem. For example, getting someone at work with some free time to pitch in on a minor presentation aspect of a major project, where decisions have been made over a long period of consultation and trial and error, I have been told all sorts of things about "it would be better if we did this..." I guess people are trying to be helpful, but cynically I think it also comes from overestimating their importance and assuming because you asked for help it must be at a project steering level and not just to get through a minor bind.