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Ask HN: When does "no" really mean no?
Example. You go up to someone and ask them about if they would every buy [INSERT NAME HERE] product. They say "Definitely No, Not Now, Not Never" You believe them and then go amongst your merry way thinking they would never buy a product like this.
One year later, guess what product they are happily using? At this point they are trying to deny they never even wanted this product.
So, when does "no" really mean no and when does it mean "well not right now, maybe later"?
- dextorious 15y ago""" When does "no" really mean no?""" When the words "date rape, police, lawyer" are mentioned in a non casual manner. Seriously, now, this is a really bizarre question. People change their minds, especially in non-important areas of their lives, like purchase decisions. If someone tells you "I'll never move in a third world country" that is more likely to remain a no than "I'll never buy a Honda". In regards to purchases decisions, "no" means no for as long as: 1) the market does not change (i.e no new products introduced) 2) the peers/marketing influence on the person doesn't change 3) the attitude/lifestyle of the person doesn't change 4) the needs of the person doesn't change (including "perceived" needs) i.e very rarely. Someone could say "I'll never buy an X, my K rocks", and then: 1) Have a chance to use an X and conclude it's actually better. 2) X could actually get more popular so he feels peer-pressured to get one. 3) He is not as opinionated about X's maker anymore (or companies in general), because he's no longer 15. 4) The X version 3 is way better than both K and X version 1. 5) Things that thought mattered about K (like spec Y), he found out they don't really matter to him in actual use. X could be an iPod and K a Creative Zen, for example. Or X could be an Android phone, and K an iPhone. Or vice-versa, but the main point is, in this context, no means almost nothing at all.