To think when you reject someone socially there’s no easy way to do it ?

[Brenzett]

If you’re too nice and tactful - you ‘lead someone on/gave them a false impression

if you’re too direct -,then you’re also in some way ‘The Devil incarnate’

by the way, this relates to both romantic relationships and friendships and colleagues /acquaintances etc

I think it's best to be upfront about these things. Nobody likes to be rejected but it's easier to shake people off without drama if they have had less time to attach themselves to you.

It’s hard. I’ve been ignoring requests from a mum at my DD(8)’s school. She wants to meet for coffee, our children have regular play dates etc, just because we are from the same country originally. She is simply not my type, I don’t have much free time to socialise, I’m not recruiting new “friends” at this point. Also, the children are not friends either.

I politely turn down offers, requests - she doesn’t get the point.

I agree with you, you end up
feeling either like A Walk Over or Not A Nice Person.

I've been ghosted and it really hurts. People are scared to be direct, I myself ended a friendship but by texting her and telling her exactly why, I ended another via a gift with a nice letter attached saying (in a very nice way) that I wasn't a therapist

But simply dumping someone and theatrically avoiding them in public as my ex friend does is just hurtful and weird

There must be a better way

Agreed. I ghosted someone 10 years ago but she seriously deceived me