\u201cThis idea of minimising down contact with people when they irritate, infuriate, or bore you seems brutal to me. Acting as a sounding board and being an ear may feel a little thankless, but it can hugely help someone. At times, it\u2019s even a lifeline.\u201d \n\nThose are the words of Kirsty Blake Knox, Journalist with The Irish Independent \u2013 and Kirsty explained what she means by this to Newstalk Breakfast.