system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
When to just shut up?

Hello All,

So I'm curious if anyone else has felt as though they have had to do this. In some lab meetings, interactions with other students, and when meeting with certain professors I find myself just shutting up and listening (even though I have ideas and information that could help the lab/student etc.). I just don't want to come off or be labeled as a "know it all" or an ass if I'm going to be in close quarters with these people for another four years.

I'm in a situation now where I have information about an issue that could really help two students (that I am 100% sure of but it is information I KNOW they do not want to hear). Do you just keep quiet until you really know people or actually try and help out? I feel very guilty not telling them but don't want to start things off on a bad note.

Academia is such a wacky environment...
gpt
There are *way* too many potential factors in play to answer this question with the level of vagueness you've kept in your post. Shutting up is often useful. Saying something is also often useful. And - in general - *nobody likes unsolicited advice*. People are even less likely to respond well if they do not have any pre-existing relationship with you, do not trust your understanding of the issue, and/or had a desire to handle it themselves in some specific way.

~~~~~ 

If you want better advice: 

What is your relationship with those students? 

Did they share their issue with you directly?

Is this a science issue? Relationship issue? Something else?

If you are not social friends, do you have any sort of acknowledged seniority or expertise that will lend value to your thoughts/advice and allow you to speak as an authority? 

Do your thoughts on their issue come from experience?