I still don't understand the motivation behind this type of behavior. If a woman isn't interested, why doesn't she just say so, bluntly? What is the woman trying to avoid by not being up-front? What does she hope to gain by being dishonest?
Also, why is the line always, "let's be just friends?" Nobody wants to hear that. If they are attracted to you, they want to be more than friends. Being "just friends" will make you an emotional basket case, always wanting what you can't have. How is that any consolation or any "nicer" than just being blunt? Also, they don't mean being friends. They mean, "Leave me the hell alone unless I need you for something because you are making me uncomfortable." They want you to be their friend but they don't want to be your friend. How is that any less "mean" than being upfront? It sounds pretty selfish and manipulative to me as well as cowardly.
By the way, I have been rejected both ways (bluntly and BS excuses). I much prefer the blunt rejection. It fact, it hardly hurts at all. I respect the woman and don't really harbor ill-will towards her. In fact, I am apt to "just be friends" because she respected my feelings by being honest with me. Whenever I get a BS excuse or mixed messages, I lose all respect for the woman and I want to get revenge.
I understand that this is the way it is, but I cannot accept it. I hate being lied to!