Why is it considered rude to say what is on our minds? I'm not saying that it isn't going to offend someone to hear the unadulterated truth of someone else's thoughts. What I am wondering is why it is considered poor manners.
There was a 14-year old soccer player standing outside of Wal-Mart asking me if I wanted to give her money to help her and her team go to Europe. I reacted unthinkingly and said the honest truth that came into my head.
"Not really"
Apparently, this was rude enough for my friend to comment on its insensitivity and for her to comment to her friend about how appalling it was that I would say such a thing.
Was I supposed to say "no, thanks"? I'm supposedly thanking this girl for giving me the opportunity to pay for her trip to Europe? Personally, I'm not sure what the difference is between the two answers. They are both "no".
I am not opposed to giving. But this was not my friend asking me. It wasn't for a worthy cause, or even offering something in return. I would have respected the request much more had they been doing a car wash or a bake sale or something in order to raise money. But they were just soliciting charity. I don't quite understand why it is rude of me to say "No" to this. Especially because if I went up to someone on the street that I had never met before and asked them for a donation to pay for my rent, I would expect no courtesy in their reply.
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