Originally Posted by
nallison
^ Indeed, some are aware enough of themselves and their surroundings that they don't even need to be asked. Others will refuse even when they are asked because apparently they are special and don't need to go along with the same social norms everyone else is already following.
You really are trying to put a nice spin on anyone who says no aren't you? There are perfectly reasonable reasons to decline a polite request to lower a shade - many of those reasons mentioned in this thread. I fail to see why you only want to paint a decline as indicative of a DYKWIA type who see themselves as special, or what social norms have to do with anything.