Read an article which the writer commented that people usually say "Yes" even when they mean "No". Why?

I totally agree with the writer in her perspective. How often do you say "No" seriously and you mean it? Me? Rarely. Even if I totally hate doing that specific task, I'll still say "Ok" but my heart and the mind are in cahoots, get me a voodoo doll!!!!

Why is it so difficult to say a simple "No"?

Humans are socializing beings. They need to be accepted by the norm. No human can live alone, cast himself away from the others. There's always some craving for acceptance in the form of communication or touch or even the mind. Saying "Yes" is almost similar to the door of the norm being opened for you. If one were to say "No", well, he just shot himself in the head by going against the majority. The majority will most probably view him as a outcast, not conforming to the norms.

But there are also other emotional reasons tied to it. Most people do not know how to say "No". It's so much simpler to say "Yes". They've to think of ways how to reject nicely, without being overly pushy or be thought by others to step upon.

I really applaud to those who really dare to say "No" and truly mean it. My friends always think that I'm a straightforward person. I am. Depending on the issues involved. I don't always say "No". In fact, most of the time I say "Yes" even when I mean "No". I just do not know how to reject their requests without hurting them. I do say "No" in some incidents but the outcome wasn't optimistic. Thus I rarely say "No".

Don't blame it on the women's wishy-washy factor. Men DO display such acts too.