Anybody can say "yes". Somebody needs to say "no". -- Linus Torvalds

http://www.realworldtech.com/forums/index.cfm?action=detail&...

I would say that "No" - without hesitation, is far more powerful than Yes. Yes is expected, yes is what happens very frequently. But when "No" comes, we are taken aback, offended, and potentially have life-changing modifications to our self-esteem.

"Yes" keeps things going as they are - because with every question comes an expectation of "Yes" - if the many single men afraid of approaching a woman are any indication, most frequently, when we ask a question we expect a positive response - the times when we expect a negative reaction, the questions don't get asked.

For that reason, "yes" is - in my opinion, which I feel could be substantiated by data - not nearly as powerful as the opposite, no.

'Maybe' is just a cowards way of saying 'No'.