What makes you say “we can be friends” instead of “im not interested” or “i have a boyfriend/gf”?

[Anonymous]

If someone says they like you or asks you out what makes you say one thing over the other?

[In_Trance]

For a guy, it's the possibility of future sex
For a girl, it's validation thst she's a good person offering a good thing, when in reality, she's not.

[Asker]

Sorry wdym by the girl thing? If a girl has a boyfriend but doesn't say she has one and says “we can be friends” what is going on?

[In_Trance]

Again in a case like that she's saying that you can be friends to ensure that you still believe she's a good person. If she rejects you then you potentially walk away with a negative image of her. Women in general can't stand this. So they offer friendship which in their minds is a good thing. Again, it's not. You're not going to be friends and you're not going to do friendly things together.
In her mind everything is good because you believe she's a good person; in your mind you believe you still have a shot with her at some point. You don't.