They’re disempowering themselves. Describe themselves as a victim of circumstance, powerless and without responsibility. It’s a disempowering narrative. You’re shooting yourself in the foot. In this story that we live, you are casting yourself as an npc.
On the flip side, saying “I can’t” adds authority to your argument. You’re citing an unstoppable force as the root cause of your actions. So it’s a tradeoff that way.
At the end of the day any social situation is a collective choice.
Is the social situation controlling what you say?
I can’t do that [because I respect myself too much]. Not everything needs to be said aloud.
points gun at
robs
bang
‘it was their fault for being alive and possessing money’