Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

It's he 'I don't drink' part that causes this. If you just left it at 'no thanks, I'm good' you wouldn't get the same reaction.

The 'I don't drink' part comes across to insecure people as judgemental or superior, so drop it.




Like when people ask you if you have a lighter. "Sorry, I don't," goes a lot farther than "No, I don't smoke."

They're not asking you for your convictions regarding alcohol / tobacco, they're asking you if want some / have a lighter they can use.


But people don't tend to say "Why don't you have a lighter?" when you say "Sorry, I don't." in the same way that they query why you don't want a drink. I endured this for years; it gets tedious after a while.


That happens to you? Never happens to me. Either case.

At any rate, you can answer why when they ask you why.


No, you'd get "You don't want a drink? Why not?" as I experienced many times. Hence the clarification.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: