be honest with them, its only fair. don't lie to make them feel better. if you aren't interested in instigating a relationship with them just say that.

say, i'm sorry, i'm just not attracted to you in that way. don't say i'd rather just be friends, its a rubbish thing to say IMO

Just be direct and just say no thank you. Make sure your tone of voice is kind and gentle. If somebody is tacky enough to ask you "why not?". . .then you know it was a good choice to say no. :) A more drastic approach. . . . Lily Allen "Knock 'Em Out" Alright so this is a song about anyone, it could be anyone. You're just doing your own thing and some one comes out the blue, They're like, "Alright" What ya saying, "Yeah can I take your digits?" And you're like, "no not in a million years, you're nasty please leave me alone." Cut to the pub on a lads night out, Man at the bar cos it was his shout, Clocks this bird and she looks OK, Caught him looking and she walks his way, "Alright darling, you gonna buy us a drink then?" "Err no, but I was thinking of buying one for your friend..." She's got no taste hand on his waist, tries to pull away but her lips on his face, "If you insist I'll have a white wine spritzer" "Sorry love, but you ain't a pretty picture." [Chorus] Can't knock em out, can't walk away, Try desperately to think of the politest way to say, Just get out my face, just leave me alone, And no you can't have my number, "Why?" Because I've lost my phone. Oh yeah, actually yeah I'm pregnant, having a baby in like 6 months so no, yeah, yeah... "I recognise this guy's way of thinking..." As he comes over her face starts sinking, She's like, "Oh here we go.." It's a routine check that she already knows, she's thinking they're all the same. "Yeah you alright baby? You look alright still, yeah what's your name?" She looks in her bag, takes out a fag, tries to get away from the guy on a blag, can't find a light, "Here use mine" "You see the thing is I just don't have the time." [Chorus] Go away now, let me go, Are you stupid? Or just a little slow? Go away now I've made myself clear, Nah it's not gonna happen, Not in a a million years, [Chorus x2] Nah I've gotta go cos my house is on fire, I've got herpes, err no I've got syphilis... AIDS, AIDS, I've got AIDS! [ www.azlyrics.com ]

Be truthful~there isn't enough of it these days.

I would but I've got AIDS.

Tell them as nicely as possible that you are not going to be dating at the moment. Do it as nicely as possible without giving them the impression that you are just playing hard to get.

Just tell the person that you're not interested and it would be unfair for you to lead him or her on. It might also be a good idea to say, "This doesn't mean you're a bad person. It just means you might not be right for me."