Well I'm going to go with the men on this one. Sorry Raider but I just see it way too much. The whole putting men off thing is bullshit and no women aren't obvious and men are expected to be mind readers and it's just crap. Maybe it partly comes from raising a boy (now man) and seeing tons of teenage/young men go through it all with the girls.
I am one who would say I'm not interested, I don't think we are on the same page, not a good match, NO, etc. I didn't say I was busy unless I was, then I would find that men think I'm putting them off because they are so used to the passive aggressive bs. I dealt with the outfall of shit women have done to men and didn't appreciate it at all. Quite frankly, I can't blame the guys much, they've been taught to not believe women by women.
UK guy said that women are really clear when they are into a man - no matter what the circumstances they will make it work to meet/see the guy if they are really interested. That's true. Suddenly all that busy stuff goes right out the window, along with those long detailed lists of ridiculousness too.