Saying "no"

I rebuffed a telemarketer yesterday, in a new way.

Once the nature of the call became clear, I used the usual line, "Please put this phone number on the list of people to not call again." (It's more accurate than "Take me off your list." And yes, we're on the Do Not Call registry.)

At that point, any legitimate telemarketer acquiesces immediately. Instead, this guy said, "But why wouldn't you be interested in a program that can save you money on your energy bill?"

Part of me automatically wanted to provide an answer; it's the only courteous thing to do when asked a question. (And besides, a geek is being given a chance to explain something!) But another part of me, the part that doesn't feed Internet trolls, wrestled that first part to the ground. A third part (possibly the part that remembered reading Robert Cialdini's Influence: Science and Practice) processed that this intruder had no right to keep a foot in the door by demanding explanations, and told him, "I believe I have made myself clear. I do not have to justify myself. Goodbye." Click.

This is a new thing for me: Resisting the chance to explain, resisting an urge toward inappropriate courtesy, and especially noticing that the conversation needed to be reframed immediately. I'm not usually quick about things like that.

So, yay for being unaccustomedly assertive.