"No Thanks?"?

Question

I recently answered a question about drugs. And I was pondering, why ,when we turn someone down who offers us drugs, do we say "No thankyou?." I've been tought to always so "No thanks", in school health class and such, but why?! Why should we thank the people who tried to ruin our lives, who could have been what caused OUR deaths if we had taken them, why try to be polite? So why is this tought, to be polite to the person who pressures you ?

I understand that people on drugs can be violent, but why don't they teach just "NO', I certainlly would never add thank you too the end of it, I'm not going to thank a person was going to ruin my life.

Whether the person was trying to give you somthing to make you 'feel' better or not, drugs can do only one thing, and why would I thank someone for that?

As for the drinking, it is different. Drinking, although it can also be addictive, and kill even more, is 'served' on more of a regular basis and is used in many areas (parties, occasional beer, your parents liqour cabinet) while drugs..well its different. When someone offers you a drink, you say 'No thanks", because it was a gesture, like if someone asked if you would like coffee. As for drugs its not, and I won't thank them for it.

Answer 1

That's a really good point! I have had those same teaching when it comes to drinking, say, at a party, if someone offers you beer or whatever to just say no thanks, and it makes sense in that situation, just because they are trying to teach teens that it's ok to say no just casually and it won't change your reputation.

But when it comes to drugs, you're right, because it doesn't seem like people would be using drugs in just a casual situation like that! And if you were just going to say no thank you, why would you be there in the first place??

Answer 2

I agree, there is no need to be polite.

With regard to the alcohol versus drugs thing, I think it is just that alcohol is socially acceptable so it isnt thought of as such a problem. In reality it causes more cases of death and health problems than other drugs do.

You have to think too, and i am speaking from experience, that the person with the drugs has made them a part of everyday life, just like coffee, so to them they are just being polite. same as you when you ask me if i want a coffee.

I do not condone the puching of drugs, this is just another way of looking at it

Answer 3

Perhaps being polite keeps people from being defensive when they are being rejected. I don't think that people who offer drugs intent is malicious. They are just trying to party and want someone else to have fun too. That doesn't excuse the fact that they are being irresponsible in harming themselves and trying to create a situation that may harm others. People who take drugs are trying to fill a void in their life, but what they are really doing is making the situation worse. I would say if you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation it is best to be direct and tactful when getting you point across. Someone who is pressuring you to take drugs might mistake kindness (being polite) for weakness.

Answer 4

Well I'm an old person but I'm also a former teacher of kids in drug treatment and I agree with you that we only need to say "no," when offered drugs. Polite is needed when we are trying to impress someone or prove we have manners and declining drugs doesn't need a thanks with it. Just say NO is what I told my students to say plus that's what I was taught here in Oklahoma. The asker is usually rude anyway and what do they know about manners anyway, much less that the one being asked is being rude. They don't know rude!!!! They are being rude!!!! I wonder how many people don't know that "no" is a complete sentence!!! It is! Plus it shows you are assertive and mean it~~

Answer 5

It's easier to teach someone to be polite in ALL situations rather than only be polite in certain situations- kind of an all or nothing rule.

I totally agree that we shouldn't be thanking them for offering up drugs, it's probably just a habit that nice people have gotten into.

Answer 6

Probably those people's intention is not to ruin your life but to offer something they think you will enjoy. The "thanks" is to acknowledge the good will displayed,even if in an innappropriate way.
For instance,would you not say "thanks" to someone who offered candy,because they are putting you at risk of developing diabetes?
Well...pretty self righteous there. Just as many people have problems with alcohol and food as with drugs. Offering a cheeseburger to someone who is obese or coffee to someone with hypertension is just as potentially destructive, so let's just drop "thank you" altogether,or better yet stop offering anybody anything because of the potential for causing them harm!

Answer 7

I think the reason they tell you to say no thank you is so that you avoid confrontation. People who are doing drugs or selling drugs may become violent at any time. If you say something different they may start a fight with you.

Answer 8

if someone offered you a beer, would you be polite and say "no thank you" if you didn't want it? alcoholism kills more people each year than pot-related deaths. be careful not to fall into the ways of hypocrisy. just some food for thought...

Answer 9

interesting thought...i believe it is because we are taught to be polite from birth...being polite and saying thank you puts you above another person by showing you have manners even when the question is a poor one....

Answer 10

i never thought about that.. but you make a valid point.... that is a freaking amazing point actually.. i'm going to have to remember that one.