Is it a good idea to act as executor and POA for someone I don't know much about?

It used to be that people felt honoured to be chosen as someone's executor. I have always thought that frame of mind to be a bit naive, really. Being an executor is a lot of work and is generally thankless. It doesn't feel like much of an honour once you're out there, in the trenches! Recently a reader wrote to me to ask about taking on the job:

"An elderly friend of mine has asked me to be