I don’t think it’s rude. It’s a favor, after all, not expected behavior.

I almost always respond with, “depends on the favor.” They could be asking for you to take their picture; they could be asking for $1000 for their MLM. I’m not signing a blank check by answering “yes”.

‘No.’ is a complete sentence and you do not have to justify yourself in any way. I don’t think that would be considered rude, either.

I’d say something like “uhhh what’s up?” or “maybe?” and let them ask a specific question since saying yes sort of feels like agreeing to do the favor without knowing what it is first.

When I was growing up, attending Jewish day school, my Rabbi taught me that an opportunity to help a stranger is a gift. I would entertain the question and I recommend that you do too in the future. Obviously you don’t need to comply with any unreasonable requests but typically a stranger is only going to ask you for something that takes like 2 minutes of your time and no real loss.

Helping people is enriching and will give you a sense of well-being in this fucked up grim world. You come out ahead in these situations. On the flip side, it’s clear that refusing this stranger is eating at you at least a little and has done some tiny damage to your soul, strictly figuratively speaking.

No

“You can ask.”

You do not owe any random person anything.

(yes really. It may be rude on occasion but you do not owe politeness to just anyone either. And oftentimes politeness is also abused)

No, but people often sees you like the guy who doesn’t do any favors

I was taught to say “Depends on the favor” but was also told that’s rude…but by someone who wanted a favor so maybe we can discount that opinion.

Better question why do u care if its rude? You have every right to be as rude as u want to anyone u damn well please. If they are a stranger on the street who cares.