No.
He will think you like him and ask again, and you will run out of excuses.
( Bob Todd whee, Wed 27 Aug 2008, 12:41, archived)

Why should she need excuses?

( Newington, Wed 27 Aug 2008, 12:45, archived)

Are you really asking?
Or are you looking for an opportunity to put forward an opinion through argument?
( WormuIus, Wed 27 Aug 2008, 12:51, archived)

Just for the record, I'm not really asking.
I'm just acusing you of being a bit of a gimp.
( WormuIus, Wed 27 Aug 2008, 12:52, archived)

isn't that generally how conversations work?

( glued eel /questions/questionsyoudliketoask/post1648081, Wed 27 Aug 2008, 12:52, archived)

Conversations with Newington on b3ta, yes.

( WormuIus, Wed 27 Aug 2008, 12:55, archived)

It IS an opinion.
It's called a rhetorical question and is usually covered in about year five of primary school.
When he asks her if she wants to do something, she should answer "yes" if she wants to do it, and "no" if she doesn't. Excuses are for the weak.
( Newington, Wed 27 Aug 2008, 12:54, archived)

Ah!
This is where you've got me. I've never heard of rhetorical questions.

'Excuses are for the weak' was the bit I was waiting for though.
( WormuIus, Wed 27 Aug 2008, 12:57, archived)

It's quite a simplistic view, though.
It could be that he is simply asking a friend to go to the cinema, but there is an implied subtext of canoodling, and her acceptance could be construed as encouraging his canoodling hopes, despite canoodling being actively written out of her plans.
And since she knows that the subtext is possibly there, if she does nothing to address it it isn't entirely his fault if he assumes that he might get some canoodling.
( Comma, Wed 27 Aug 2008, 12:59, archived)

A rhetorical question, eh?

( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Wed 27 Aug 2008, 13:10, archived)