And some guys will take a “no” gracefully, but others will get downright pissy about a refusal. Generally, if they’re clueless enough to mistake friendliness for flirting, they don’t know how to handle a refusal except to get offended.
Thinking about this analogy, it occurs to me that the Army has unwritten rules that generally limit the damage done by clueless second lieutenants, but too many businesses don’t have similar reins on clueless management grads.
I’ve encountered situations where “no” coupled with a dirty look has encouraged a guy to try to push my boundaries further in the hope that I’ll concede to let him get me out of my pants. It’s really not fun. This is part of why I will be pleasant, but will not actively try to veil displeasure when necessary. A well-placed :dubious: is very useful when dealing with actively clueless folks who flirt with those who serve the public.