Mike Domitrz argues that not asking someone for something because they might say no actually denies them a choice. When you don't ask, you decide for them. He challenges the excuse directly: the whole point of asking is to give them agency.
I want you to think about this. When somebody says, I'm not going to ask because they might say no, do you realize what this person's actually saying to the world? I'm not going to give you a choice because you might say no, so I'm just going to do it to you. So anytime a friend ever says, well, I'm not going to ask because you might say no, look your friend right in the eye and go, isn't that the point? So they have a choice. Why don't you want them to have a choice? Call this stuff out.
