I guess you could say OP’s wording was a bit rude (stylistically, not in substance, imo). Personally I’d go with a “No, sorry.” or “Sorry, in a rush!” if on the move, and leave it at that as elaboration leaves the door open for them to pry. Either way the question is about whether it’s rude to refuse, not whether the specific example was.

Personally, I’d rather assume OP is chatting/providing more context rather than fishing for sympathy. Many of the comments that say it is rude also say but not if it’s a rando, which it was.

Sometimes people use that question rhetorically because it feels polite, viewing it as a small talk precursor to ease in to actually just saying what they want.

I don’t like when people use it as such, because it is insincere, poor consent practice, and low-key manipulative due to the foot in the door phenomenon .

There are tons of legitimate reasons to not be comfortable with the question. Don’t have time, bad headspace, don’t feel comfortable… If they can’t understand that, I try not to care what they think of me.

Assume they’re asking because they want to make sure it’s not imposing, in which case it’s good to assert boundaries you need too. If they push it was just a manipulation tactic, in which case you’re more than justified in walking.

Humans do indeed contain multitudes, but I think this gives too much credit to the influence of corporate (and their political interference) interests. Enshittification is an active choice made in board rooms. Disinformation is an agenda. They’re not inevitable grassroots outgrowths.

Lemmy, curated to avoid AI, curtail corporate news, and where the admins and community are fighting bots and trolls is an example of the reclamation attempt.

And you know what? It’s kinda nice here.

Tldr: capitalist efficiency

There is a neat piece about the OS side; worth reading.

The prison industrial complex: hold my beer