I learned over the last ten years or so not to be so polite to people who cold call you or stop you on the street trying to sell you things.
I don't like being impolite, but bitter experience has taught me that they see any concession towards humanity as a sign of weakness.
*jazz hands*
I'm slowly learning that lesson myself. Let me tell you a story.
Okay, it was about 2 or 3 years ago, and I was walking in the city, and there was a charity stall set up on the sidewalk. A girl stopped me, and I felt pressured to sign up, even though I couldn't afford monthly payments to the charity.
Yes, I couldn't stick up for myself, and she basically steered me into signing on.
Anyway, a couple weeks later, I called their head office, and cancelled. Because, y'know, I had no money.
Then last week, they called me. They still had my mobile phone number, and they wanted to ask me some questions.
So first question was, "Why did you cancel with us?"
I answered, quite honestly, "I felt pressured into it." Big improvement for me!
Second question she didn't actually get to. She started telling me about a new program they were seeking funds for. So I interrupted and said, "I'm not signing up again." Even bigger improvement!
Not sure what the point of this story is exactly... Oh, yeah. I'm learning to tell those people No.