The thing is, I don't agree with that second statement of the author's, either. You're not a "bad guy" for having boundaries (or because one guy you barely know

The thing is, I don't agree with that second statement of the author's, either. You're not a "bad guy" for having boundaries (or because one guy you barely know thinks you are). Saying "I'm sorry, I just can't mix my professional and personal life like that, it's a rule I have for myself and it's nothing about you personally," is totally reasonable! If you behave reasonably and empathetically, and someone takes issue with it, they're the one with the problem, not you. By behaving tolerantly, you make the other person's intolerance more obvious. (Though again, like I said, not blaming the author. He clearly tried pretty hard to do the right thing here.)