no I dont find it to be faking, rude or otherwise offensive. line in the sand ....everyone....has an "image" that they need to maintain... (some locations call this having a reputation)

example

a parent wants to have the kind of reputation of being a good parent.
a doctor wants to have the reputation for healing their patients and teaching through being a role model for their clients
a teacher wants to go into the classroom knowing the material that they are teaching so that their students can trust and knows they can learn from the teacher....

even tee agers have their own image of their self they want to have for their self and those around them.

my point every human being sets who and what they are based on what image they want to show the world and when something goes against that image that they want to maintain for their self its normal for someone to say no I wont do that, I have an image to maintain. here where I am its normal and part of pre- school, elementary, jr high and high school to address issues like self image/ reputation and how to maintain that in all kinds of situations and that just like saying no is acceptable saying I have an image to maintain is normal/ ok and acceptable.