Sometimes people go into way too much detail about why they can't make something. This would work fine:
"Sorry, I won't be able to make lunch. I have an important meeting that came up last minute."
Being nice, you might add:
"Sorry, I won't be able to make lunch. I have an important meeting that came up last minute. I really wanted to make it – I'd skip this meeting if I didn't have to make it. I'll make it up to you…"
Something along those lines – letting the other person know that lunch was important to you and that you aren't just snubbing them – seems well called for. But sometimes you get:
"Sorry, I won't be able to make lunch. I have an important meeting that came up last minute. I really wanted to make it – I'd skip this meeting if I didn't have to make it. We're weren't supposed to have it – the whole deal was off the table but then Jim got a call from the guys over at More Important Than Lunch, Inc. and they suddenly want to discuss it again. So Jim calls me and is like, 'Chris, we're talking to them in 15 minutes.' And Jim's really concerned because More Important Than Lunch could like bring in so much revenue and . . ."
And what was an apologetic explanation turns into a detailed description of just how important/interesting the "Other" thing is. It's another way the fact that people like talking about themselves trickles into typical situations. We've probably all done it.
4 comments:
I think the real deal is that whatever you're doing instead is none of their business. You don't need a reason to say 'no.' When did we stop being able to decline invitations? I've definitely avoided those longer explanations, sometimes opting for an abstract reference to a 'thing I need to go to' or whatever. I'd prefer to just say nothing, but modern practice seems to require some explanation - to soften the blow of rejection. The trouble is that people usually ask "why not" if you just tell them "no, thanks." Still, I'm going to stick to my "Regrettably, I am unable to attend."
i usually handle situations like this by shouting
http://grandthefta5.blogspot.com/2014/01/grand-theft-auto-v.html
I still prefer to receive a direct explanation, no flowery words or anything.
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