Say what you mean, mean what you say.
One thing that drives me up the freaking wall is people not saying what they actually mean. Hell, I got into an argument with a bunch of the other Youth Leaders the other night. One of them was having a birthday party, so I asked the others if we could all chip in and get him a double kick pedal (as he is a drummer, and is wanting to get into playing heavier music). The pedal was $180, and I asked 16 people, so between the 17 of us, it was less than $11 each to chip in. And I didn't mind if people couldn't/didn't want to chip in. However what happened next infuriated me.
Does he really need a double kick pedal?
No, but did X need a bike when everyone chipped in last year, or did Y need a new headunit? We got them anyway. And I don't mind being told my ideas suck, as long as something better is suggested. But when my idea is dismissed with nothing better suggested, that annoys me.
It's only a 23rd isn't it?
Yes, but he is having a party, and when one has a party, it is generally polite to get gifts. Besides, we have gotten gifts for 19ths before. Why not 23rds?
How come we haven't done this for any other leaders recently? Is he special?
No. But he is having a party, and it is generally polite to get gifts. If other people had parties, I'd probably try to organize something for them as well.

Basically, the whole thing pissed me off because instead of people saying no, they were trying to stop the whole thing from happening because they disagreed with it. And after that, of the 16 people in the group chat, three said no straight out (which I don't mind), 3 argued against it and five ended up helping (which meant we all had to chip in more). Basically the argument scared another five people off even giving me an answer. In fact, three of the five who chipped in wouldn't have if I didn't ask them privately. And all this could have been avoided if people had have just been simple. Yes or no.

I will add to this when it is not midnight and I am not struggling to type.