Nah, it's not gonna be a politically oriented blog, although that would make a wonderful title for one.
My line of work requires a certain amount of social grace and delicacy. Diplomatic terminology and euphemism are the order of the day. In addition to that, I loath conflict, of any kind. I avoid it at all costs, often at far too high a cost to make it worthwhile. People CANNOT be offended for any reason, so says the unwritten manual. Of particular admiration is that pastor who is so patient and graceful that even his "no" sounds like a "yes" and leaves everyone smiling in his wake. I've tried to hard to conform to the ideal. Very hard, aided by the fact that I so desperately want others to like me and enjoy my company.

Fortunately, as most things do in life, past and recent experiences have prompted me to change. A good change, at that. I've finally come to the realization that subtle nuances, gestures and indirect statements are completely lost on most people. Further, everyone brings their own specially colored glasses to the table in any exchange. Knowing what that color is is as impossible as reading someone's mind. Today was an exercise in exerting this newfound assertiveness. I looked into someone's eyes and said flatly, "Absolutely not." Just like that. He went away upset. He'll probably have trouble looking me in the eye in the near future after he has run off at the mouth with a few of his close friends. I'll probably still be second-guessing my approach, not the content, for a few more days, probably longer than it will take for him to come up with something equally or more idiotic than this most recent proposition.

The truth is, he wouldn't have gotten it any other way. I know from experience. And I'm tired of wasting time with diplomatic drivel, smiling sweetly while I say "no" and creating an explanation that borders on sounding like a tentative "yes".

Basically, "No, and this is why..." was the only way to address the insistent and mis-guided ambitions of someone who knows absolutely nothing about implementing the project he wants to start, not to mention woefully unqualified to do it.