>>92744504If it's someone I don't know, I probably wouldn't be pursuing a relationship either way, but that's not the point.
On a personal level, lying to "soften the blow" damages your own image. But in the eyes of a total stranger, someone whose thoughts, combined with other strangers, will create a broad social stereotype based on what they experience, you've just contributed to the stereotype that women will lie to avoid relationships.
Most men can actually deal with rejection. It happens in the office, it happens in competition, and it happens with women. That's life. Some men actually enjoy hearing what their flaws are, and then working to fix them.
But men hate lies, especially lies created to coddle. It's patronizing as hell. It's like saying, "You can't handle the truth." It's as if you're treating them as children, and it's far more likely to result in a grudge, compared to another rejection amongst an ever-growing pile.
