(The Frisky) -- Last weekend at a party, I noticed a toad-like man attaching himself to a beautiful, talented friend of mine. Not only was she way out of his league, looks-wise, but as I eavesdropped I discovered he was one of those dudes who delivers endless monologues instead of engaging in actual conversations.



Too many women are afraid to say, "No," says author.



Ladies, I think we've all been stuck with that guy. Now it was my friend's turn.



I could tell by her stunned look of horror that she wanted nothing to do with him, but she seemed frozen.



My pal Ivan and I tried to intervene. "Let's go get some cake," we suggested, physically pulling her from his side. Her relief was short-lived as he tracked her down and reattached himself to her hip.



Watching her go through this made me think back on how many times I've been afraid to say no. Maybe "afraid" is the wrong word, but I've spent hours worrying about offending men who would've had no problem offending me if the situation were reversed. So I was thrilled when a copy of the hilarious book, "The Power of NO: How to Keep Blowhards and Bozos at Bay" landed on my doorstep.



As the title suggests, TPON is about learning to not only say no, but to embrace no, something women seem to have an inexplicably harder time doing than men. I shot off an email to author Beth Wareham asking her why we womenfolk find it so painful to blow-off a troll.



"The psycho-sexual-societal bulls--t that makes women be such wimps in the face of an odious man is in our DNA. And young women often make the dreadful mistake of thinking everyone has to like them," she fired back. The Frisky: 13 Woman you're dating is a loser



"I believe that some dumb guy bugging you is a great moment to really march out a lie," she continues. "I mean, really, who goes around harassing strangers? Say, 'I have herpes.' Say, 'I am a hermaphrodite.' Say any damn thing you want to say but get him out of your face. You have ONE LIFE. Don't give chunks of it to this kind of dude!" The Frisky: I'm just not that into anyone anymore



But for some guys -- and, let's face it, girls, too -- the word "no" can have an opposite effect, acting as an aphrodisiac. Wareham says, "Human beings want what they do not and cannot have." But sometimes you mean it! In that case, a persistent leghumper should be ignored, or reported to the cops if he gets stalky.



"Don't answer. It's your door, your cell. And, if it gets too bad, try 911," she advises. "You wouldn't let anyone else harass you like that, would you?" The Frisky: Are these dating habits cute or crazy?



Okay, so how about the Ambiguous Dater -- the cute guy who wants to "hang out," but never seems to make any plans.



"No hanging out, ever," Wareham insists. "If the guy can't think up an interesting date and find $40.00 bucks for a burrito and movie, no go. Dating should never be 'hanging out.' Save that for marriage." The Frisky: How to deal with ambiguous dater



How about dumping someone, I asked. How do you do that nicely?



"I am not the woman to ask if you want kindly, " Wareham replied. "But, I do know this, keep the tone friendly. The less you imbue language with strong emotion, the better. I once said, 'Dude, it was way fun and I learned lots. But you yelled Mommy! during sex.' That happened to me, by the way."



Hey,
( The Frisky ) -- Last weekend at a party , I noticed a toad - like man attaching himself to a beautiful , talented friend of mine . Not only was she way out of his league , looks - wise , but as I eavesdropped I discovered he was one of those dudes who delivers endless monologues instead of engaging in actual conversations . Too many women are afraid to say , " No , " says author . Ladies , I think we 've all been stuck with that guy . Now it was my friend 's turn . I could tell by her stunned look of horror that she wanted nothing to do with him , but she seemed frozen . My pal Ivan and I tried to intervene . " Let 's go get some cake , " we suggested , physically pulling her from his side . Her relief was short - lived as he tracked her down and reattached himself to her hip . Watching her go through this made me think back on how many times I 've been afraid to say no . Maybe " afraid " is the wrong word , but I 've spent hours worrying about offending men who would 've had no problem offending me if the situation were reversed . So I was thrilled when a copy of the hilarious book , " The Power of NO : How to Keep Blowhards and Bozos at Bay " landed on my doorstep . As the title suggests , TPON is about learning to not only say no , but to embrace no , something women seem to have an inexplicably harder time doing than men . I shot off an email to author Beth Wareham asking her why we womenfolk find it so painful to blow - off a troll . " The psycho - sexual - societal bulls -- t that makes women be such wimps in the face of an odious man is in our DNA . And young women often make the dreadful mistake of thinking everyone has to like them , " she fired back . The Frisky : 13 Woman you 're dating is a loser " I believe that some dumb guy bugging you is a great moment to really march out a lie , " she continues . " I mean , really , who goes around harassing strangers ? Say , ' I have herpes . ' Say , ' I am a hermaphrodite . ' Say any damn thing you want to say but get him out of your face . You have ONE LIFE . Do n't give chunks of it to this kind of dude ! " The Frisky : I 'm just not that into anyone anymore But for some guys -- and , let 's face it , girls , too -- the word " no " can have an opposite effect , acting as an aphrodisiac . Wareham says , " Human beings want what they do not and can not have . " But sometimes you mean it ! In that case , a persistent leghumper should be ignored , or reported to the cops if he gets stalky . " Do n't answer . It 's your door , your cell . And , if it gets too bad , try 911 , " she advises . " You would n't let anyone else harass you like that , would you ? " The Frisky : Are these dating habits cute or crazy ? Okay , so how about the Ambiguous Dater -- the cute guy who wants to " hang out , " but never seems to make any plans . " No hanging out , ever , " Wareham insists . " If the guy ca n't think up an interesting date and find $ 40.00 bucks for a burrito and movie , no go . Dating should never be ' hanging out . ' Save that for marriage . " The Frisky : How to deal with ambiguous dater How about dumping someone , I asked . How do you do that nicely ? " I am not the woman to ask if you want kindly , " Wareham replied . " But , I do know this , keep the tone friendly . The less you imbue language with strong emotion , the better . I once said , ' Dude , it was way fun and I learned lots . But you yelled Mommy ! during sex . ' That happened to me , by the way . " Hey ,
what do women hesitate to say
what do women hesitate to say
"No,"
"No,"