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It's not like I watched him open it. He had been walking around eating from it. When I politely refused he kind of shamed me into accepting a free gift. A gift is one thing, but being forced to eat something right then and there from someone I don't know, I think it's different.
That is really bizarre. I would simply say no I am not hungry. Or depending on what the food product is I would fib a little and say I don't eat "that."
This is a stranger you will never see again who cares if they don't like your response? I personally would never eat something given to me by a random shopper. I don't care if their feelings got hurt.
Honestly, I don't think all the "tough talkers" here would have done what they say they would, or would have handled it any better than I did. I've had my share of rough encounters with strangers that I normally would have no trouble being a lot more assertive or even rude to them.
I agree with you. I said what I would have done, but I wasn't put on the spot in a weird situation...and I had time to think about it.
I'm not really sure why everyone is making such a big deal about this.
I would have said "no thanks". If the person persisted, I would have said "I appreciate the offer but I don't like that stuff".
Quote:
Originally Posted by mike1003
That's just tap dancing and being polite.
No means NO!
Call it whatever you'd like. I don't go around snapping at strangers, especially when it's completely unnecessary.
If you think there's something wrong with my response, then I'd suggest you work on your social skills. And that advice is also directed at everyone else in this thread that said they'd get angry and make a scene.
When someone's basically forcing something on you, as the OP felt this weirdo was, making a scene can save your life. I go into defense mode when strange people invade my space without permission. I spent too many years as a single mom in Memphis.
(And saying "I appreciate it" is a total lie, besides being encouraging)
When someone's basically forcing something on you, as the OP felt this weirdo was, making a scene can save your life. I go into defense mode when strange people invade my space without permission. I spent too many years as a single mom in Memphis.
(And saying "I appreciate it" is a total lie, besides being encouraging)
The way I see it, you need to pick your battles.
I obviously wasn't there but, to me, this doesn't sound like it was a hostile situation. Why turn it into one?
And so what if "I appreciate it" is a lie. It's social, polite, and harmless.
I obviously wasn't there but, to me, this doesn't sound like it was a hostile situation. Why turn it into one?
And so what if "I appreciate it" is a lie. It's social, polite, and harmless.
Lies make the world go round.
Perhaps for the OP, it was a hostile situation, given that he described the old man as being very pushy, (almost) intimidating and shaming.
I've dealt with pushy people who don't seem to understand No and can understand the need to get hostile just to reinforce the No. What I would've done in this situation realistically was scoff after the 1st No and end the conversation. It sounds like they were in line, so in that case I would've turned my back to him and ignore him.
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