It's the California No. Look it up. It's well-known and endemic in the Bay Area and Hollywood, in particular.
My personal annoyance is how prevalent it is in dating now, given the number of people who respond violently to rejection (thereby training people to avoid dishing it out). I gave this serious thought and realized I'm 100% on California No style rejections ever since moving here, while in other places I've lived I'd get "sorry, I'm not interested," or something similar.
California No creates ambiguity -- do I continue asking? Did this person get hit by a bus? If you think you're doing a favor by avoiding saying no, you're not. Say no. Every time.
My personal annoyance is how prevalent it is in dating now, given the number of people who respond violently to rejection (thereby training people to avoid dishing it out). I gave this serious thought and realized I'm 100% on California No style rejections ever since moving here, while in other places I've lived I'd get "sorry, I'm not interested," or something similar.
California No creates ambiguity -- do I continue asking? Did this person get hit by a bus? If you think you're doing a favor by avoiding saying no, you're not. Say no. Every time.