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The power of the word "NO"

deleted_user
deleted_user
It's a word that we hear right from the start of infancy and throughout our lives. It's a VERY powerful word.

When someone says "no" to you, what does it make you feel? Do you feel like you are being rejected as a person? A lot of people believe that. Or do you feel that what you are "saying" is being rejected?

Yes, it may seem like a weird topic, but that little word effects us in some very big ways.
sja
sja
Very interresting, Melasande. When I hear the word "no" sometimes I feel rejected. I never really thought about it until this post.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I know when I was a kid NO pissed me off and I went ahead and did what I wanted to anyway. MOst of the time, though, hearing it was like running into a brick wall.
deleted_user
deleted_user
nah i don't think no is a rejection. No is a great word it gives people a choice. To take that away would be detrimental to free will and that would depres me even more. that's the way i look at it.
rubyblue
rubyblue
It depends on my mood - if I'm feeling down and needy it can send me in a spin, like I'm such a bad person. All I ever heard as a kid was 'no', unless it was me doing something for someone else. It took me such a long time to even see that I was okay if I had needs, and yeh, it was okay for my needs to be met too. For such a small word, it is so powerful
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm with you, archetype.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Scared was my first reaction.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Wow...the response here are a lot wider than I thought they'd be, this is great.

When I was a teen (an dI was a very defiant one) the word "no" was like a challenge to me, kinda like "fine, well I'm gonna do it anyway.
deleted_user
deleted_user
NO turned some of us into rebels...like me..hee hee
deleted_user
deleted_user
"but" is another powerful word. My psych told me that the word "but" is used to argue a point so as soon as people hear the word "but".....well, I'm sure you've seen it for yourselves.
deleted_user
deleted_user
buts are more annoying than no
deleted_user
deleted_user
I hate "but" too. It just sounds like excuses, excuses, excuses.
deleted_user
deleted_user
It's hard to say. I guess it depends what "no" refers to. I mean

"Do you love me."
"No."

does tend to bring one down.

On the other hand

"Do you have herpes?"
"No."

tends to be a happy answer.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Rofl maridon...so true. Yes I believe the difference on how it is received is due to the context of it being said.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Depending on what they are saying no about, perhaps a bit disappointed (i.e. if you suggested an outing with a friend, but their time was tied up with something else). Rejected though? No.
deleted_user
deleted_user
NO used to feel like rejection,now it's OH well,but when I use it it feels like I made a decision,my statement is final,get over it,love NO as long as no one says it to me*spoilt brat*heheeee
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