Declining a date invitation from a friend while minimizing the hurt feelings?How to tell someone I'm uninterested in them romantically?How to communicate I'm not interested in any relationship other than friendship?How to find out if my friend is ignoring me or if I have the wrong contact info?How to tell a friend that his indifference is hurting my feelings?How can I help my friend accept that the relationship is over?How to offer helping my friend with planning my meal at his wedding without coming across as rude?Heal a damaged friendshipResponding to a man about the fact that they had been kissed by forceAsking an update from a friend who agreed to help me but who didn't respond me last timeHow to talk with a girl about the fact that she keeps standing me up?

Why does the U.S. tolerate foreign influence from Saudi Arabia and Israel on its domestic policies while not tolerating that from China or Russia?

Can I call 112 to check a police officer's identity in the Czech Republic?

Print the last, middle and first character of your code

What is this welding tool I found in my attic?

Supporting developers who insist on using their pet language

Why isn't there research to build a standard lunar, or Martian mobility platform?

How can I deal with a player trying to insert real-world mythology into my homebrew setting?

For a hashing function like MD5, how similar can two plaintext strings be and still generate the same hash?

Does a potentiometer need a resistor in series between power and ground?

In Parshas Chukas, why is first mention of Parah Adumah "פָרָה" instead of "פָּרָה"?

Flatten array with OPENJSON: OPENJSON on a value that may not be an array? [ [1] ], vs [1]

Did any of the founding fathers anticipate Lysander Spooner's criticism of the constitution?

Is anyone advocating the promotion of homosexuality in UK schools?

Why did my rum cake turn black?

Do you know your 'KVZ's?

Matchmaker, Matchmaker, make me a match

definition of "percentile"

Can I play a first turn Simic Growth Chamber to have 3 mana available in the second turn?

How can one write good dialogue in a story without sounding wooden?

The monorail explodes before I can get on it

will it increase or decrease my credit score, if i split a high balance on 2 credit cards

Storming Area 51

Professor falsely accusing me of cheating in a class he does not teach, two months after end of the class. What precautions should I take?

How to compute distance with respect to inner product?



Declining a date invitation from a friend while minimizing the hurt feelings?


How to tell someone I'm uninterested in them romantically?How to communicate I'm not interested in any relationship other than friendship?How to find out if my friend is ignoring me or if I have the wrong contact info?How to tell a friend that his indifference is hurting my feelings?How can I help my friend accept that the relationship is over?How to offer helping my friend with planning my meal at his wedding without coming across as rude?Heal a damaged friendshipResponding to a man about the fact that they had been kissed by forceAsking an update from a friend who agreed to help me but who didn't respond me last timeHow to talk with a girl about the fact that she keeps standing me up?






.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;








2















When I was in middle school (around 14 years old), I was friends with a boy (who was outside of my regular "friend group") and so, some friends of mine decided to hook me up with this person.



I didn't really want to date this person, but I didn't want to hurt him either. So, when he "asked me out" (because my friends were pushing him to), I said "yes", we kissed, then went our ways and spent the next week avoiding each other before formally "breaking up".



All this was a long time ago and I can't fix the past, but I'm still wondering:



How could I have refused to date him while minimizing the hurt feelings and awkwardness in order for us to keep being friends (instead of avoiding each other until the end of the year)?



Notes and clarifications



  • I'm guessing my friend wasn't really comfortable with dating me because he was avoiding me as much as I was


  • There was no date planned, just the "social recognition" that we were "a couple" (so, it's more like he asked me "do you want to form a couple with me?" rather than "do you want to go out with me?").










share|improve this question






























    2















    When I was in middle school (around 14 years old), I was friends with a boy (who was outside of my regular "friend group") and so, some friends of mine decided to hook me up with this person.



    I didn't really want to date this person, but I didn't want to hurt him either. So, when he "asked me out" (because my friends were pushing him to), I said "yes", we kissed, then went our ways and spent the next week avoiding each other before formally "breaking up".



    All this was a long time ago and I can't fix the past, but I'm still wondering:



    How could I have refused to date him while minimizing the hurt feelings and awkwardness in order for us to keep being friends (instead of avoiding each other until the end of the year)?



    Notes and clarifications



    • I'm guessing my friend wasn't really comfortable with dating me because he was avoiding me as much as I was


    • There was no date planned, just the "social recognition" that we were "a couple" (so, it's more like he asked me "do you want to form a couple with me?" rather than "do you want to go out with me?").










    share|improve this question


























      2












      2








      2








      When I was in middle school (around 14 years old), I was friends with a boy (who was outside of my regular "friend group") and so, some friends of mine decided to hook me up with this person.



      I didn't really want to date this person, but I didn't want to hurt him either. So, when he "asked me out" (because my friends were pushing him to), I said "yes", we kissed, then went our ways and spent the next week avoiding each other before formally "breaking up".



      All this was a long time ago and I can't fix the past, but I'm still wondering:



      How could I have refused to date him while minimizing the hurt feelings and awkwardness in order for us to keep being friends (instead of avoiding each other until the end of the year)?



      Notes and clarifications



      • I'm guessing my friend wasn't really comfortable with dating me because he was avoiding me as much as I was


      • There was no date planned, just the "social recognition" that we were "a couple" (so, it's more like he asked me "do you want to form a couple with me?" rather than "do you want to go out with me?").










      share|improve this question
















      When I was in middle school (around 14 years old), I was friends with a boy (who was outside of my regular "friend group") and so, some friends of mine decided to hook me up with this person.



      I didn't really want to date this person, but I didn't want to hurt him either. So, when he "asked me out" (because my friends were pushing him to), I said "yes", we kissed, then went our ways and spent the next week avoiding each other before formally "breaking up".



      All this was a long time ago and I can't fix the past, but I'm still wondering:



      How could I have refused to date him while minimizing the hurt feelings and awkwardness in order for us to keep being friends (instead of avoiding each other until the end of the year)?



      Notes and clarifications



      • I'm guessing my friend wasn't really comfortable with dating me because he was avoiding me as much as I was


      • There was no date planned, just the "social recognition" that we were "a couple" (so, it's more like he asked me "do you want to form a couple with me?" rather than "do you want to go out with me?").







      friends saying-no romance






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Jul 3 at 14:46









      Rainbacon

      6,2702 gold badges27 silver badges61 bronze badges




      6,2702 gold badges27 silver badges61 bronze badges










      asked Jul 3 at 14:31









      ÆlisÆlis

      7,9997 gold badges31 silver badges74 bronze badges




      7,9997 gold badges31 silver badges74 bronze badges




















          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          9














          You have no obligation to handle it any other way than being assertive. Which means: be honest and straightforward. It's not wrong.



          Trying to prolong the outcome by acting like you are interested/trying to be nice will just hurt and frustrate both parties more. If he is the one asking you on a date, he has already made the choice to ask you with the chance of being rejected. All you have to say is "no", and that's it.



          You will never be able to live your life on a solid foundation if you try to go the extra mile in not hurting other people's feelings, and I'm referring here to people who are approaching you on their own (like asking you on a date). You have the right to say no, and say it immediately. And that's fine.



          If the person is hurt, or offended, it reflects their own lack in maturity. It reflects your own maturity if you handle it straightforward and honestly.



          I'm not saying be rude, but be honest and friendly. If they're not your type, then that's the truth.



          I've had a similar experience many times before: a friend (she is a woman, and I'm a man) has approached me and showed interest in dating me romantically. I felt like I didn't want to hurt her feelings, and honestly this was because I could see that it would hurt her feelings a lot, so I "played" along and went for it (perhaps thinking that I could learn to like her romantically). After a while she grew more and more attached, and in the end this just caused her to get more hurt as I got more frustrated with the relationship, which I never really was into. If I was honest up front, then she would have been hurt a little by the rejection, but gotten over it much sooner.






          share|improve this answer
































            1














            Rejection always hurts, it doesn't matter from who it comes.



            That being said, everybody takes it differently and there is not one way to reject someone without hurting them (at least not a definitive rejection).



            Speaking from rejecting someone: My experience is that it hurts less, if you tell them that it is not because of them, but because of you. Like you currently don't want a relationship/date etc. Though this leaves room for interpretation for the one being rejected. They might think, that at a later point it would work out better and thus they might never really move on.



            That is the least hurtful way in the short run. To really spare them any long time hurt, make a clean cut for them. Bluntly tell them that you are not interested in a relationship/date with them. It will hurt, like rejection always does, but they know it wont happen between you two and then that person is far more likely to move on emotionally.



            My opinion for rejection is, being the one rejecting or the one being rejected, make it a clean and obvious cut for the sake of both of you. After this, both can move on and don't hold any false hope.



            As for staying friends, its pretty much the same. It depends on how the other party reacts to rejection. You can always offer to stay friends if you really want to.



            For the situation you described a simple




            I think we better stay friends




            could have been all you needed. You reject their proposal and tell them the same time, that you want to stay friends. I would not really recommend this for adults.






            share|improve this answer


















            • 1





              I am a bit baffled by your suggestion to give an excuse, since you yourself say it only leaves the other party hopeful and will probably bring more hurt later on. Why do you suggest an option that yourself find not good ? I really like the rest of the answer though.

              – MlleMei
              Jul 4 at 10:58











            • @MlleMei I just reread my answer and couldn't find the part about the exuse. As far as I can tell, my whole answer is about making a clean cut

              – XtremeBaumer
              Jul 4 at 11:19











            • I'm talking about this part : "My experience is that it hurts less, if you tell them that it is not because of them, but because of you. Like you currently don't want a relationship/date etc."

              – MlleMei
              Jul 4 at 11:42











            • Its not meant as a suggestion. Its meant to compare the options you have and how they play out in the short/long run. If you think that this point is not conveyed properly, maybe you can edit it?

              – XtremeBaumer
              Jul 4 at 11:46












            • You do say what might go wrong, and that you prefer a clear break, but you're also not discouraging the first option either. To me, the way you presented things means both options are ok. I would feel different if it read more like "You could do X, but this isn't a good idea because of Y and Z".

              – MlleMei
              Jul 4 at 11:56













            Your Answer








            StackExchange.ready(function()
            var channelOptions =
            tags: "".split(" "),
            id: "680"
            ;
            initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

            StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
            // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
            if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
            StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
            createEditor();
            );

            else
            createEditor();

            );

            function createEditor()
            StackExchange.prepareEditor(
            heartbeatType: 'answer',
            autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
            convertImagesToLinks: false,
            noModals: true,
            showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
            reputationToPostImages: null,
            bindNavPrevention: true,
            postfix: "",
            imageUploader:
            brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
            contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
            allowUrls: true
            ,
            noCode: true, onDemand: true,
            discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
            ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
            );



            );













            draft saved

            draft discarded


















            StackExchange.ready(
            function ()
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2finterpersonal.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f22280%2fdeclining-a-date-invitation-from-a-friend-while-minimizing-the-hurt-feelings%23new-answer', 'question_page');

            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown

























            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes








            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            9














            You have no obligation to handle it any other way than being assertive. Which means: be honest and straightforward. It's not wrong.



            Trying to prolong the outcome by acting like you are interested/trying to be nice will just hurt and frustrate both parties more. If he is the one asking you on a date, he has already made the choice to ask you with the chance of being rejected. All you have to say is "no", and that's it.



            You will never be able to live your life on a solid foundation if you try to go the extra mile in not hurting other people's feelings, and I'm referring here to people who are approaching you on their own (like asking you on a date). You have the right to say no, and say it immediately. And that's fine.



            If the person is hurt, or offended, it reflects their own lack in maturity. It reflects your own maturity if you handle it straightforward and honestly.



            I'm not saying be rude, but be honest and friendly. If they're not your type, then that's the truth.



            I've had a similar experience many times before: a friend (she is a woman, and I'm a man) has approached me and showed interest in dating me romantically. I felt like I didn't want to hurt her feelings, and honestly this was because I could see that it would hurt her feelings a lot, so I "played" along and went for it (perhaps thinking that I could learn to like her romantically). After a while she grew more and more attached, and in the end this just caused her to get more hurt as I got more frustrated with the relationship, which I never really was into. If I was honest up front, then she would have been hurt a little by the rejection, but gotten over it much sooner.






            share|improve this answer





























              9














              You have no obligation to handle it any other way than being assertive. Which means: be honest and straightforward. It's not wrong.



              Trying to prolong the outcome by acting like you are interested/trying to be nice will just hurt and frustrate both parties more. If he is the one asking you on a date, he has already made the choice to ask you with the chance of being rejected. All you have to say is "no", and that's it.



              You will never be able to live your life on a solid foundation if you try to go the extra mile in not hurting other people's feelings, and I'm referring here to people who are approaching you on their own (like asking you on a date). You have the right to say no, and say it immediately. And that's fine.



              If the person is hurt, or offended, it reflects their own lack in maturity. It reflects your own maturity if you handle it straightforward and honestly.



              I'm not saying be rude, but be honest and friendly. If they're not your type, then that's the truth.



              I've had a similar experience many times before: a friend (she is a woman, and I'm a man) has approached me and showed interest in dating me romantically. I felt like I didn't want to hurt her feelings, and honestly this was because I could see that it would hurt her feelings a lot, so I "played" along and went for it (perhaps thinking that I could learn to like her romantically). After a while she grew more and more attached, and in the end this just caused her to get more hurt as I got more frustrated with the relationship, which I never really was into. If I was honest up front, then she would have been hurt a little by the rejection, but gotten over it much sooner.






              share|improve this answer



























                9












                9








                9







                You have no obligation to handle it any other way than being assertive. Which means: be honest and straightforward. It's not wrong.



                Trying to prolong the outcome by acting like you are interested/trying to be nice will just hurt and frustrate both parties more. If he is the one asking you on a date, he has already made the choice to ask you with the chance of being rejected. All you have to say is "no", and that's it.



                You will never be able to live your life on a solid foundation if you try to go the extra mile in not hurting other people's feelings, and I'm referring here to people who are approaching you on their own (like asking you on a date). You have the right to say no, and say it immediately. And that's fine.



                If the person is hurt, or offended, it reflects their own lack in maturity. It reflects your own maturity if you handle it straightforward and honestly.



                I'm not saying be rude, but be honest and friendly. If they're not your type, then that's the truth.



                I've had a similar experience many times before: a friend (she is a woman, and I'm a man) has approached me and showed interest in dating me romantically. I felt like I didn't want to hurt her feelings, and honestly this was because I could see that it would hurt her feelings a lot, so I "played" along and went for it (perhaps thinking that I could learn to like her romantically). After a while she grew more and more attached, and in the end this just caused her to get more hurt as I got more frustrated with the relationship, which I never really was into. If I was honest up front, then she would have been hurt a little by the rejection, but gotten over it much sooner.






                share|improve this answer















                You have no obligation to handle it any other way than being assertive. Which means: be honest and straightforward. It's not wrong.



                Trying to prolong the outcome by acting like you are interested/trying to be nice will just hurt and frustrate both parties more. If he is the one asking you on a date, he has already made the choice to ask you with the chance of being rejected. All you have to say is "no", and that's it.



                You will never be able to live your life on a solid foundation if you try to go the extra mile in not hurting other people's feelings, and I'm referring here to people who are approaching you on their own (like asking you on a date). You have the right to say no, and say it immediately. And that's fine.



                If the person is hurt, or offended, it reflects their own lack in maturity. It reflects your own maturity if you handle it straightforward and honestly.



                I'm not saying be rude, but be honest and friendly. If they're not your type, then that's the truth.



                I've had a similar experience many times before: a friend (she is a woman, and I'm a man) has approached me and showed interest in dating me romantically. I felt like I didn't want to hurt her feelings, and honestly this was because I could see that it would hurt her feelings a lot, so I "played" along and went for it (perhaps thinking that I could learn to like her romantically). After a while she grew more and more attached, and in the end this just caused her to get more hurt as I got more frustrated with the relationship, which I never really was into. If I was honest up front, then she would have been hurt a little by the rejection, but gotten over it much sooner.







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited Jul 3 at 15:54









                avazula

                9,4289 gold badges43 silver badges64 bronze badges




                9,4289 gold badges43 silver badges64 bronze badges










                answered Jul 3 at 15:02









                nine9nine9

                1913 bronze badges




                1913 bronze badges























                    1














                    Rejection always hurts, it doesn't matter from who it comes.



                    That being said, everybody takes it differently and there is not one way to reject someone without hurting them (at least not a definitive rejection).



                    Speaking from rejecting someone: My experience is that it hurts less, if you tell them that it is not because of them, but because of you. Like you currently don't want a relationship/date etc. Though this leaves room for interpretation for the one being rejected. They might think, that at a later point it would work out better and thus they might never really move on.



                    That is the least hurtful way in the short run. To really spare them any long time hurt, make a clean cut for them. Bluntly tell them that you are not interested in a relationship/date with them. It will hurt, like rejection always does, but they know it wont happen between you two and then that person is far more likely to move on emotionally.



                    My opinion for rejection is, being the one rejecting or the one being rejected, make it a clean and obvious cut for the sake of both of you. After this, both can move on and don't hold any false hope.



                    As for staying friends, its pretty much the same. It depends on how the other party reacts to rejection. You can always offer to stay friends if you really want to.



                    For the situation you described a simple




                    I think we better stay friends




                    could have been all you needed. You reject their proposal and tell them the same time, that you want to stay friends. I would not really recommend this for adults.






                    share|improve this answer


















                    • 1





                      I am a bit baffled by your suggestion to give an excuse, since you yourself say it only leaves the other party hopeful and will probably bring more hurt later on. Why do you suggest an option that yourself find not good ? I really like the rest of the answer though.

                      – MlleMei
                      Jul 4 at 10:58











                    • @MlleMei I just reread my answer and couldn't find the part about the exuse. As far as I can tell, my whole answer is about making a clean cut

                      – XtremeBaumer
                      Jul 4 at 11:19











                    • I'm talking about this part : "My experience is that it hurts less, if you tell them that it is not because of them, but because of you. Like you currently don't want a relationship/date etc."

                      – MlleMei
                      Jul 4 at 11:42











                    • Its not meant as a suggestion. Its meant to compare the options you have and how they play out in the short/long run. If you think that this point is not conveyed properly, maybe you can edit it?

                      – XtremeBaumer
                      Jul 4 at 11:46












                    • You do say what might go wrong, and that you prefer a clear break, but you're also not discouraging the first option either. To me, the way you presented things means both options are ok. I would feel different if it read more like "You could do X, but this isn't a good idea because of Y and Z".

                      – MlleMei
                      Jul 4 at 11:56















                    1














                    Rejection always hurts, it doesn't matter from who it comes.



                    That being said, everybody takes it differently and there is not one way to reject someone without hurting them (at least not a definitive rejection).



                    Speaking from rejecting someone: My experience is that it hurts less, if you tell them that it is not because of them, but because of you. Like you currently don't want a relationship/date etc. Though this leaves room for interpretation for the one being rejected. They might think, that at a later point it would work out better and thus they might never really move on.



                    That is the least hurtful way in the short run. To really spare them any long time hurt, make a clean cut for them. Bluntly tell them that you are not interested in a relationship/date with them. It will hurt, like rejection always does, but they know it wont happen between you two and then that person is far more likely to move on emotionally.



                    My opinion for rejection is, being the one rejecting or the one being rejected, make it a clean and obvious cut for the sake of both of you. After this, both can move on and don't hold any false hope.



                    As for staying friends, its pretty much the same. It depends on how the other party reacts to rejection. You can always offer to stay friends if you really want to.



                    For the situation you described a simple




                    I think we better stay friends




                    could have been all you needed. You reject their proposal and tell them the same time, that you want to stay friends. I would not really recommend this for adults.






                    share|improve this answer


















                    • 1





                      I am a bit baffled by your suggestion to give an excuse, since you yourself say it only leaves the other party hopeful and will probably bring more hurt later on. Why do you suggest an option that yourself find not good ? I really like the rest of the answer though.

                      – MlleMei
                      Jul 4 at 10:58











                    • @MlleMei I just reread my answer and couldn't find the part about the exuse. As far as I can tell, my whole answer is about making a clean cut

                      – XtremeBaumer
                      Jul 4 at 11:19











                    • I'm talking about this part : "My experience is that it hurts less, if you tell them that it is not because of them, but because of you. Like you currently don't want a relationship/date etc."

                      – MlleMei
                      Jul 4 at 11:42











                    • Its not meant as a suggestion. Its meant to compare the options you have and how they play out in the short/long run. If you think that this point is not conveyed properly, maybe you can edit it?

                      – XtremeBaumer
                      Jul 4 at 11:46












                    • You do say what might go wrong, and that you prefer a clear break, but you're also not discouraging the first option either. To me, the way you presented things means both options are ok. I would feel different if it read more like "You could do X, but this isn't a good idea because of Y and Z".

                      – MlleMei
                      Jul 4 at 11:56













                    1












                    1








                    1







                    Rejection always hurts, it doesn't matter from who it comes.



                    That being said, everybody takes it differently and there is not one way to reject someone without hurting them (at least not a definitive rejection).



                    Speaking from rejecting someone: My experience is that it hurts less, if you tell them that it is not because of them, but because of you. Like you currently don't want a relationship/date etc. Though this leaves room for interpretation for the one being rejected. They might think, that at a later point it would work out better and thus they might never really move on.



                    That is the least hurtful way in the short run. To really spare them any long time hurt, make a clean cut for them. Bluntly tell them that you are not interested in a relationship/date with them. It will hurt, like rejection always does, but they know it wont happen between you two and then that person is far more likely to move on emotionally.



                    My opinion for rejection is, being the one rejecting or the one being rejected, make it a clean and obvious cut for the sake of both of you. After this, both can move on and don't hold any false hope.



                    As for staying friends, its pretty much the same. It depends on how the other party reacts to rejection. You can always offer to stay friends if you really want to.



                    For the situation you described a simple




                    I think we better stay friends




                    could have been all you needed. You reject their proposal and tell them the same time, that you want to stay friends. I would not really recommend this for adults.






                    share|improve this answer













                    Rejection always hurts, it doesn't matter from who it comes.



                    That being said, everybody takes it differently and there is not one way to reject someone without hurting them (at least not a definitive rejection).



                    Speaking from rejecting someone: My experience is that it hurts less, if you tell them that it is not because of them, but because of you. Like you currently don't want a relationship/date etc. Though this leaves room for interpretation for the one being rejected. They might think, that at a later point it would work out better and thus they might never really move on.



                    That is the least hurtful way in the short run. To really spare them any long time hurt, make a clean cut for them. Bluntly tell them that you are not interested in a relationship/date with them. It will hurt, like rejection always does, but they know it wont happen between you two and then that person is far more likely to move on emotionally.



                    My opinion for rejection is, being the one rejecting or the one being rejected, make it a clean and obvious cut for the sake of both of you. After this, both can move on and don't hold any false hope.



                    As for staying friends, its pretty much the same. It depends on how the other party reacts to rejection. You can always offer to stay friends if you really want to.



                    For the situation you described a simple




                    I think we better stay friends




                    could have been all you needed. You reject their proposal and tell them the same time, that you want to stay friends. I would not really recommend this for adults.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Jul 3 at 14:56









                    XtremeBaumerXtremeBaumer

                    3,0022 gold badges13 silver badges26 bronze badges




                    3,0022 gold badges13 silver badges26 bronze badges







                    • 1





                      I am a bit baffled by your suggestion to give an excuse, since you yourself say it only leaves the other party hopeful and will probably bring more hurt later on. Why do you suggest an option that yourself find not good ? I really like the rest of the answer though.

                      – MlleMei
                      Jul 4 at 10:58











                    • @MlleMei I just reread my answer and couldn't find the part about the exuse. As far as I can tell, my whole answer is about making a clean cut

                      – XtremeBaumer
                      Jul 4 at 11:19











                    • I'm talking about this part : "My experience is that it hurts less, if you tell them that it is not because of them, but because of you. Like you currently don't want a relationship/date etc."

                      – MlleMei
                      Jul 4 at 11:42











                    • Its not meant as a suggestion. Its meant to compare the options you have and how they play out in the short/long run. If you think that this point is not conveyed properly, maybe you can edit it?

                      – XtremeBaumer
                      Jul 4 at 11:46












                    • You do say what might go wrong, and that you prefer a clear break, but you're also not discouraging the first option either. To me, the way you presented things means both options are ok. I would feel different if it read more like "You could do X, but this isn't a good idea because of Y and Z".

                      – MlleMei
                      Jul 4 at 11:56












                    • 1





                      I am a bit baffled by your suggestion to give an excuse, since you yourself say it only leaves the other party hopeful and will probably bring more hurt later on. Why do you suggest an option that yourself find not good ? I really like the rest of the answer though.

                      – MlleMei
                      Jul 4 at 10:58











                    • @MlleMei I just reread my answer and couldn't find the part about the exuse. As far as I can tell, my whole answer is about making a clean cut

                      – XtremeBaumer
                      Jul 4 at 11:19











                    • I'm talking about this part : "My experience is that it hurts less, if you tell them that it is not because of them, but because of you. Like you currently don't want a relationship/date etc."

                      – MlleMei
                      Jul 4 at 11:42











                    • Its not meant as a suggestion. Its meant to compare the options you have and how they play out in the short/long run. If you think that this point is not conveyed properly, maybe you can edit it?

                      – XtremeBaumer
                      Jul 4 at 11:46












                    • You do say what might go wrong, and that you prefer a clear break, but you're also not discouraging the first option either. To me, the way you presented things means both options are ok. I would feel different if it read more like "You could do X, but this isn't a good idea because of Y and Z".

                      – MlleMei
                      Jul 4 at 11:56







                    1




                    1





                    I am a bit baffled by your suggestion to give an excuse, since you yourself say it only leaves the other party hopeful and will probably bring more hurt later on. Why do you suggest an option that yourself find not good ? I really like the rest of the answer though.

                    – MlleMei
                    Jul 4 at 10:58





                    I am a bit baffled by your suggestion to give an excuse, since you yourself say it only leaves the other party hopeful and will probably bring more hurt later on. Why do you suggest an option that yourself find not good ? I really like the rest of the answer though.

                    – MlleMei
                    Jul 4 at 10:58













                    @MlleMei I just reread my answer and couldn't find the part about the exuse. As far as I can tell, my whole answer is about making a clean cut

                    – XtremeBaumer
                    Jul 4 at 11:19





                    @MlleMei I just reread my answer and couldn't find the part about the exuse. As far as I can tell, my whole answer is about making a clean cut

                    – XtremeBaumer
                    Jul 4 at 11:19













                    I'm talking about this part : "My experience is that it hurts less, if you tell them that it is not because of them, but because of you. Like you currently don't want a relationship/date etc."

                    – MlleMei
                    Jul 4 at 11:42





                    I'm talking about this part : "My experience is that it hurts less, if you tell them that it is not because of them, but because of you. Like you currently don't want a relationship/date etc."

                    – MlleMei
                    Jul 4 at 11:42













                    Its not meant as a suggestion. Its meant to compare the options you have and how they play out in the short/long run. If you think that this point is not conveyed properly, maybe you can edit it?

                    – XtremeBaumer
                    Jul 4 at 11:46






                    Its not meant as a suggestion. Its meant to compare the options you have and how they play out in the short/long run. If you think that this point is not conveyed properly, maybe you can edit it?

                    – XtremeBaumer
                    Jul 4 at 11:46














                    You do say what might go wrong, and that you prefer a clear break, but you're also not discouraging the first option either. To me, the way you presented things means both options are ok. I would feel different if it read more like "You could do X, but this isn't a good idea because of Y and Z".

                    – MlleMei
                    Jul 4 at 11:56





                    You do say what might go wrong, and that you prefer a clear break, but you're also not discouraging the first option either. To me, the way you presented things means both options are ok. I would feel different if it read more like "You could do X, but this isn't a good idea because of Y and Z".

                    – MlleMei
                    Jul 4 at 11:56

















                    draft saved

                    draft discarded
















































                    Thanks for contributing an answer to Interpersonal Skills Stack Exchange!


                    • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                    But avoid


                    • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                    • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.

                    To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                    draft saved


                    draft discarded














                    StackExchange.ready(
                    function ()
                    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2finterpersonal.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f22280%2fdeclining-a-date-invitation-from-a-friend-while-minimizing-the-hurt-feelings%23new-answer', 'question_page');

                    );

                    Post as a guest















                    Required, but never shown





















































                    Required, but never shown














                    Required, but never shown












                    Required, but never shown







                    Required, but never shown

































                    Required, but never shown














                    Required, but never shown












                    Required, but never shown







                    Required, but never shown







                    Popular posts from this blog

                    Get product attribute by attribute group code in magento 2get product attribute by product attribute group in magento 2Magento 2 Log Bundle Product Data in List Page?How to get all product attribute of a attribute group of Default attribute set?Magento 2.1 Create a filter in the product grid by new attributeMagento 2 : Get Product Attribute values By GroupMagento 2 How to get all existing values for one attributeMagento 2 get custom attribute of a single product inside a pluginMagento 2.3 How to get all the Multi Source Inventory (MSI) locations collection in custom module?Magento2: how to develop rest API to get new productsGet product attribute by attribute group code ( [attribute_group_code] ) in magento 2

                    Category:9 (number) SubcategoriesMedia in category "9 (number)"Navigation menuUpload mediaGND ID: 4485639-8Library of Congress authority ID: sh85091979ReasonatorScholiaStatistics

                    Magento 2.3: How do i solve this, Not registered handle, on custom form?How can i rewrite TierPrice Block in Magento2magento 2 captcha not rendering if I override layout xmlmain.CRITICAL: Plugin class doesn't existMagento 2 : Problem while adding custom button order view page?Magento 2.2.5: Overriding Admin Controller sales/orderMagento 2.2.5: Add, Update and Delete existing products Custom OptionsMagento 2.3 : File Upload issue in UI Component FormMagento2 Not registered handleHow to configured Form Builder Js in my custom magento 2.3.0 module?Magento 2.3. How to create image upload field in an admin form