Very interesting question. I've actually only had 3 friends talk to me on that topic, so I don't have too much experience on that front. And I've never dated before, so I admit I sometimes don't know what to say to my dating friends during "boy talk." I just listen without giving advice. I've always seen that topic as really personal, so it means a lot to me when someone shares that with me -- it's a sign of trust, and I don't like to break that trust by judging.

Yes, I do feel sympathy for their break-ups because I know (from non-romantic relationships) how it hurts to lose someone you care for but who doesn't reciprocate those feelings.

That said, I do wish that people (NOT talking about my friends here -- only 1/5 of my close friends even date, and I don't think they make bad choices), but I do wish that people in general -- girls and guys -- were less apt to rush into things and give too much to a relationship that they know will not go anywhere. When I begin dating, I'm going to do it in anticipation of a possible marriage... because if I know a relationship will not end in marriage, then it will, by default, end in break-up (cohabitation's not an option for me). There's no point going into a relationship that I know will end sooner or later -- especially when I could have a great, lasting platonic friendship with the boy instead.

So.. yeah, sometimes I wish I could tell them, "Don't rush." Or, "if he's not interested, it's not worth it." Or, when I see them squabble with their bf's over unimportant things, I sometimes want to say, "Just let it go. The deeper your relationship goes, the more it's going to demand of you, and you'll need to make sacrifices sometimes." But, usually, the conversations don't go deep enough for me to feel that it's my place to say those things. And my best friends haven't really made many bad dating choices in the past, so there hasn't been too much need! :)