Ask Ms. Manners
Is there a polite way to tell someone that you don't want to do something without lying? In my case, there is no good reason for me to not do certain things that I've been asked to do. I just don't feel like doing them, or I don't want to do them. I feel like saying, "Mmmm, I don't really want to do that" will ultimately reflect back negatively on the person who is requesting the task. In [my] perfect world, I should be able to just say no without having to give an excuse for why I am unable to do something.
So, *IS* there a polite way to tell someone that I don't want to do something without lying?
So, *IS* there a polite way to tell someone that I don't want to do something without lying?