Big-haired Bitch/Personality Hire
You can simply say you're not interested. How I respond correlates directly with how I'm approached. I don't accept requests from people I've never interacted with on here. So that's usually what I say. I reject the blind requests that include no message...unless someone that I've gotten to know says beforehand "Hey, I'm gonna add you!" because I see it coming. If the person is polite but I don't know them, I just explain how I go about accepting requests. If the person is a stranger with no message included with the request, I reject without a response.
When I first joined, I just blindly accepted requests, and every time I logged in I was bombarded with black boxes and pokes and everything else, and that's no fun. It's hard turning people down, but it's necessary...and it becomes easier with time.
"What is the quality of your intent?" - Thurgood Marshall
I agree with both of the above statements. It's important to be polite (I think), but if they're rude or ignore what you've said on your profile, then it's okay to either delete without a response, or give them a piece of your mind if they've been to egregious. Just don't go overboard.
Rejecting is good until your gf tells you she met the same guy and all he said is true. lol However, caution is always important
I stay invisible 100% of the time and I only respond to BB's from people I know.
Since I don't show up online, I don't get the random solicitations.
But in terms of turning people down, if you're getting a canned message to start with, I wouldn't put much thought behind just not replying at all or being pretty generic with your "not interested" reply.
Just send Him A massage saying "Hi I'm a little hesitant when it comes to talking to strangers, and I'm not really looking for anything right now sorry" Something along those lines.
PhareDuFour, if you have plainly put in your profile that you do not want to (fill in the blank here) and the other party doesn't read it or heed it, then you are under no obligation to respond, be nice, or anything else. Simply delete - it isn't your fault that the person is ignorant, stupid, or an ass!
You gave them fair warning - like the sign on my front door - "If you can read this you're within range!"
Sorry if I sound a little harsh, but really people...do the research!