I feel there's a difference between being a busybody and offering to help someone.

Yes, I agree it's important to listen, it's impossible to help someone without listening and understanding their views.

But listening doesn't always mean waiting to be approached for help. I shouldn't take time out to sit and talk to the homeless man in the street because he hasn't asked me to listen. My brother is very down and out of character since starting that new job or since he started to spend time with that new friend but I won't ask him if I can help, if he wants me to help he'll ask.

Sometimes people don't ask for help, people can be ashamed or afraid so being offered a hand and ear can be what they want. There are many times when I've been in difficult spots, afraid to ask for help but people have cared enough to take time out to ask me and then I've been able to get the help needed, whether it's financial difficulties or relaional difficulties. Were they busybodies? Perhaps, it depends on the interpretation of that word but if they are then I feel very blessed that these busybodies helped me when I needed it.

To me there is a difference between caring and offering help out of a desire to help someone and dishing out advice out of a sense of believing I have some better knowledge or experience. In my view the world is a much better place for people caring enough to give help and support not because they were asked but because they want to.