The other day I was asked out by a guy who, to put it kindly, is so not my type. A smoking uncle dude with a pregnant for 5 month with twins belly, chronic health problems, bad teeth, 80s Bros-eque jeans and not a lot of personality isn’t what I want right now. You can call me fussy all you want but I dried up immediately at the smell of him and those cheap ciggies. He asked me out and I mumbled some excuse. Then I panicked. I know he’s going to ask me again and I have to be able to think quickly to get out of it. I’ll leave aside the insult that some men don’t think any woman is unattainable. They just need to have a penis and we need to be happy that they want us. Nah Fam, I’m not the one and neither are most of the women I know. So I thought about alternative ways to say no. Let’s begin shall we?
- Just say no, no!
Not just the ONLY Grange Hill song to stay in my memory bank but also the easiest way to get out of a date. Easy in terms of you don’t have to make any excuses. However it’s hard as women are raised to be nice and say yes like they’re grateful for being asked? We’re not. A simple, ‘No thank you’ should do it and if he’s a gentleman he will accept this in the spirit that it’s meant. Probably best not to laugh at him or screw up your face whilst you do it no matter how awful the thought of a date is. Be gracious. You can afford to be. Rejection hurts egos.
- Don’t qualify.
He may ask why not. Please be firm and say you don’t have to qualify your why. This is a key part of #1. Once you qualify you get into a dating negotiation and end up going on a date you don’t want to go on to avoid being considered a bitch. Be a bitch! Save yourself and watch crappy TV instead like I did. Thank you channel 5* / 5 USA.
- Lie to save their feelings
If it’s online it’s easier to be honest but I understand that some guys aren’t going to take no for an answer and it can get really socially awkward. If you see them socially or at work then you may need to rely on the old, ‘Sorry, I’m seeing someone’ lie. I have at least 3 fake boyfriends at any one time.
Some guys get all, ‘So tell me about him? What does he do?’ and try to get into some competitive bullshit but some will back off because seemingly they don’t respect your feelings or a no but the fear of another dick is real apparently. Use your close male friends as it sounds more believable. Or use your crush. It’s not like you don’t know everything there is to know about him. You’re welcome.
- Disappear
Ghosting is the typical fuckboi way. You know the ones: He says it would be really good to meetup / hangout / catch a drink sometime and you say yes but then it never happens so you tentatively ask him when and he, disappears? Often times they reengage then ghost again. Yes ghosting isn’t just for when you’re in a relationship. It can happen beforehand. If you’re online it’s easier to go ghost. Just go offline. Tricky when they can see your posts or your greenlight on at work but, no, hopefully they’ll get the passive aggressive hint that you’re not into them. Be careful with the ghost though as we don’t like it being done to us and should only be used where he’s proven himself to be a little too nigistent?
- Delay
Say something like, ‘I’m really busy right now but can I think about it?’ and then disappear. This is basically still a dick male move but, if you really can’t bear to tell him the truth i.e that the thought of being in the same space with him is making you think of throwing yourself back at your narcissistic ex for pity sex then, use it as needed. The delay however does give you time to date others and then you can use 3 without having to lie. Win!
- Mansplain
If you are already friends with this person and you feel that you owe them more than just a simple no then, you can mansplain your feelings. This is a thin line one as it can come off as judgemental but if you are 100% that there is no chance in hell that his penis is coming anywhere near your body then be fair and let him go and find lust elsewhere.
- Self-deprecate
Play the ‘it’s not you it’s me’ card. This is an old relied upon favourite although if you get yourself one with a saviour complex he’ll tell you that he’s prepared to wait and that he can help you get over your ex or whatever issues you claim to have. I’m not ready is a great starting point.
The key to all of this is that you don’t need to become friends with anyone who has asked you out even if you like them as a person. We are beyond the age of friend zoning grown ups and then expecting them to give us emotional support without any of the physical and relationship benefits. We hate it when they do it to us so my advice? Don’t do it to them. Just. Say. No! (No! Just say no.)
Right, I’m off to watch some repeats of Grange Hill and Zammo snorting heroin off the cloakroom floor.
© Chelsea Black 2017
