>Can you offer some examples of help that is being offered in favour of taking them out to brunch and "being there"? - Driving 45 minutes out of your way to pi

>Can you offer some examples of help that is being offered in favour of taking them out to brunch and "being there"? - Driving 45 minutes out of your way to pick up a friend whose car has broken down. - Babysitting a kid that you know is a little shit, just to give your friend an afternoon off. - Lending someone a power tool (or, more specifically, establishing a reputation for being a good mate that lends others power tools). - Picking a friend's kids up from school or taking them to weekend sports on a regular basis. - Inviting someone over for a casual, comfortable dinner ("You should come over for spaghetti on Thursday", not a dinner party) because you know they're working late. For a middle-class Melbournian in 2022, approaching any of these types of things is difficult. Unless you know someone incredibly well, there's a bit of an unwritten rule that offers like these are more of a "thoughts and prayers"-esque performance than an indicator of actual, genuine willingness to assist. It makes it incredibly awkward to both offer help and ask for it, and I personally think it's a damn shame. >I think we're talking about different things. I think we are too, and my strong reaction may have been based more in your username than the contents of your comment. ;)