Providing a suggestion/advice Maybe I'm wrong about this. I'm from Japan and we provide things proactively. For example, we suggest/advise before they ask for it. We tend to be helpful even when they are not asking for a help etc. It doesn't mean to be nosy or burst through their shell. It comes naturally especially to people you love and care. In America, as I experience their reaction to the standard, they tend to change the subject even though it was them who cracked the conversation. They seemingly get annoyed from my experience. In general, is it better to not "volunteer" unless they directly ask for a help? Is it better off listening and following their leads??