Totally get the struggle. Had a guy freak out last month because we wiped his drive after a simple fan replacement. Now I always ask first unless it's a clear security risk.

That move is like the universal signal for "I acknowledge your existence but please don't actually talk to me." @keith10 nailed the modern low-commitment interaction. It's basically social self-defense now.

Man, @elizabethr48, ever figure out why it keeps happening?