[SuoDuanDao]

The way I frame it is that the problem is in some way more complicated than it seems on first analysis, and they aren't so much asking for your help coming up with a solution for the problem as they initially frame it so much as they are using the conversation to think out loud. So the proper response when you realise you're in this kind of conversation is to ask clarifying questions to help the person articulate what the problem actually is.