Is "No." a complete sentence

Do you ever find it frustrating when you have said "no" to someone and they just continue on as if you said "Yes."

A friend who thinks I over-volunteer once told me that "No." is a complete sentence. He said that if you say "No, . . ." they have you. Don't pause, don't add a comma, don't add and addendum (i.e., "but if you need . . . "). If you do, they will have you.

It makes me crazed. I don't care if it is a salesman, my hubby (although to be honest, he generally doesn't do this), my kids or friends.

I recently had a discussion with a friend. We work together as volunteers. We were discussing different areas and issues that needed to be addressed and she asked my opinion of something, telling me that she would understand if I said "no." I said "no." I explained why I said "no." She acted like I had instead said "sure, I think it would be a wonderful idea . . . even though it would involve hundreds of hours of work that I don't have."

My kids and I have a concrete rule that deals with "no." If they ask me something and I am in the bathroom, the answer will ALWAYS be "no." If you want to have some real fun, let a 10 year old try and figure out how to get the question they are answering be right so that they answer they want will be "no."

"No." is a complete sentence, I think. The problem is that some people just don't hear it.