25 Better Things to Say than "I Don't Want to Talk About It"

Quick Background:

Some guys out in the luscious dating world are like, "just ask!" and others act like with each question you're moving towards their tonsils with a tongue-depressor. Some are both.

I 100% understand not being ready to have objective conversations with relative strangers about sensitive subjects. I'm not like that myself (to everybody's frustration). I just think that it's smarter to control what information you give out about yourself, instead of giving the impression that you're trying to prevent people from getting to know you when you've ostensibly entered a social situation where everybody is supposed to get to know you.

I used to do the thing. I don't do the thing anymore. I do other things which are worse. 

So I've decided, as a writer, to come up with 25 different responses you can choose more or less at random to maintain your information boundaries without implying that the person you're talking to isn't worth some respect.

Next time you're tempted to say, "I don't want to talk about it," instead, try:

Option 1: Sensitivity
1. "Too soon."
2. "I'm afraid you'll think badly of me."
3. "It makes me too angry."
4. "If you really want to know, give me some time to find better words."
5. "I don't like thinking of myself that way."

Option 2: Legality
6. "I signed an NDA."
7. "It would leave me open to libel or defamation litigation."
8. "I want to spare your blushes."
9. "My parole officer advised me not to say anything that could be used against me in a court of law."
10. "That information is classified above your paygrade."

Option 3: Boundary setting
11. "Let's save that for the second date."
12. "Strange that you ask. Let's keep that topic for a more appropriate time."
13. "I'm not ready for that kind of vulnerability."
14. "Let's talk about something that is more cheerful for you."
15. "My therapist says not to dwell."

Option 4: Insensitivity:
16. "You're too young."
17. "We don't have that kind of relationship."
18. "I'm not giving you blackmail fodder."
19. "I'm in denial that I feel emotion."
20. "I haven't bothered to figure it out."

Option 5: Turn it around
21. "What are you really asking?"
22. "Why is this important to you?"
23. "What is at stake for you?"
24. "Is that some kind of innuendo?"
25. "How do you feel about the 2020 Presidential campaigns?"

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