Paul Charman

Writing in the new Īta magazine, Barry Rosenberg is not wrong when he relates how providing a listening ear enables some people to control others.

Barry wrote that he became a listener to “receive his reward” from women who came to him for private consultations on self-improvement and mind dynamics.

He complained that listening to them moan about boyfriends or discuss boring cosmetic surgeries was tedious, but it got him where he wanted to go.

I don’t judge – but can say I have been subjected to insincere “listening” and didn’t like it much.

Years ago, a chap from a big multi-level marketing company latched onto me feigning friendship, when all he wanted was for me to sell products.

His strategy was to come to my place, listen to me rambling for an hour or more, then make the pitch to sign me up.

I was living alone following a marriage breakup and initially pleased for the company.

Then I realised where it was all headed. Thus are the vulnerable so easily deceived.