What (polite) excuses do you make to avoid social occasions you don't want to go to or avoid social media chat?

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Just that really!

Work! I work for myself and from home.

I say that I'm finishing something for a client...I appreciate that won't work for people who aren't self-employed though.

You could say "I'm helping DS with homework" or "I've got a sore throat"

I just say “thanks but I don’t fancy doing that/id like to have a night in/that’s a lovely offer but I’m very tired so I’ll give it a miss”. No lying or excuses needed!

"I've got a sore throat after yelling at DS while helping with his homework"

No babysitter
Can't afford it
Already doing something

My excuses

Honest - I don't want to go, but thank you for inviting me.

Lie - sorry but I can't leave my dogs.

I'm mostly honest and say "No thank you, I really don't like night clubs/crafting/escape rooms/big parties etc".

If they persist I just keep repeating "No thanks".

And if people rudely persist I get a bit rude back.

I don't particularly want to be rude, but I don't like being hassled. I end up going with "Why are you asking again? Didn't you get my text saying No the first time?".

It depends, what's the actual reason you don't want to go/join in social media chat?

Invites, I say I live too far away, can't get home ok, etc. I live in the middle of nowhere so it is true.

Social media stuff , I just don't bother if I'm not in the mood.

This is the one time a chronic, ongoing medical condition has its uses

Honestly, it’s not really my thing but thank you for the invite.

God some of these are rude.

If it's a social occasion just say you have something else on. Saying it's not your thing and why are you asking again makes you sound socially inept tbh.

No - making fictional excuses is rude. Telling the truth his honest.

• is

I'm not on SM, but for events, if it's an informal invitation, I say 'Sorry, I can't make it, but have a lovely time'. If it's formal, I say I have 'a prior engagement'.

I’d rather say it’s not my thing but thanks for the invite than make some silly excuse that people will try to push back on.

I spend half my life fielding invitations to things to do with work, and I’ve learnt it’s better to say no - politely - from the get go and be clear than make crap excuses and have to remember what they were.

Just say it sounds lovely but sadly you can't make it. Being honest can be very rude. Lying is far more polite!

I'm not on SM, but for events, if it's an informal invitation, I say 'Sorry, I can't make it, but have a lovely time'. If it's formal, I say I have 'a prior engagement'.

^^

I agree with valenta

@AguerosAngel

As much as I hate being ill, it does come in handy sometimes!

@Fazackerley - some of us are "socially inept" hence the reason we avoid social situations 😀

Of you don't want to be on social media then leave. If you are on social media, then you can't really be annoyed when people speak to you on those platforms.

If someone is being nice enough to invite you to a social event then it can seem rude to say "I don't like it!"
Sometimes a good excuse is more polite.

It's like when people answer their phone & say they can't talk - don't answer it then!!

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Fazackerley disagree. One of my huge bugbears is that people aren’t more honest. I wish people would just say what they mean rather than lie! How is “thanks but it’s not my thing” remotely rude?

Social media stuff I just tend not to reply straight away if I know I'm likely to be suck up into a long-winded convo. I have a couple of friends who tend to drone on a lot a bit, and when I see a message from one of them popping up I'll leave it an hour or two before I text back and by then they're hopefully doing something else and it won't be as long a chat. I'd obviously reply straight away if I can see it's urgent, but from these friends in particular it's generally just aimless gossip and fashion chat, nothing that can't wait.

Social engagements I'd rather not attend, I'll either go for a diplomatic excuse (prior engagement, or I travel very frequently for work and people know that, so I might say I'm away), or if it's a good friend doing the inviting I might tell the truth and tell them it's not really my thing.

Part of the joy of being older is not having to lie about what you're doing.

I have a few women I'm friendly with and we have an agreement that we don't cancel plans that we've made in advance with each other but if one happens to be free and asks if we want meet we are totally free to say 'No thanks, I'd rather watch shit telly and have a bath tonight ' with no offence being taken!