when should we accept a rematch request??

I havent sorted out when it is that I should accept rematch requests. When my opponent has competely outplayed me and defeated me then requests a rematch... being the soar loser that I a m i normally decline. Then there is that moment when ive played the whole game just on defence thn my opponent makes a mistake/blunders and I win... but I know it was luck... and they then ask for a rematch, again there I decline... today I got a challenge for the first time, which to me is like a rematch and again I declined... I feel that I should be accepting more rematches just to keep with the nice social atmosphere that lichess has created... I just wondering how to decide on accepting or declining rematches in a way that works with lichess's niceness ;)

@Kingscoffee. You don't have to accept rematch requests if you don't want to. simply saying "I don't want to play now" I think is good enough. I usually accept rematches with an opponent I have talked to doing the game. Or that I think played a nice move. Or that I tricked because I think its funny playing them after you did a nice trap. Hope this helps:)

its not that deep lol

You should try to send them a DM. They may respond and understand why you don't want to play.

If I want to play that person again, I will, if I don't, I just decline the request. You're overthinking this. I think I once played rematches against the same person like, 4 times in a row and only declined finally after yet another rematch request because I just didn't have the time to play another match.

Never. Ride the tide, forget the waves.

If you're uncomfortable with never, give everyone one rematch so you've both had the chance to play white and black.

I havent sorted out when it is that I should accept rematch requests. When my opponent has competely outplayed me and defeated me then requests a rematch... being the soar loser that I a m i normally decline. Then there is that moment when ive played the whole game just on defence thn my opponent makes a mistake/blunders and I win... but I know it was luck... and they then ask for a rematch, again there I decline... today I got a challenge for the first time, which to me is like a rematch and again I declined... I feel that I should be accepting more rematches just to keep with the nice social atmosphere that lichess has created... I just wondering how to decide on accepting or declining rematches in a way that works with lichess's niceness ;)

Most people aren't interested in a "nice social atmosphere" when they send a rematch. They:
-Think that you are vulnerable in some way and want to farm you for points.
-Are upset with the result of the previous match and need to prove themselves to you.
-Tried clicking the new opponent button and missed.
Of course if you had a friendly dialogue with someone while playing, then that makes it more likely that a request for a rematch is just an interest in your continued company. That is certainly rarer though.

@Splorer I see what you mean but I also feel that's a rather cynical take and wouldn't assume that's the case everytime. That's just me though, and I'm just coming from the standpoint of someone who's a relative noob on here (played for a few weeks then made my account back in Dec.) and mainly plays for fun.

Eh, maybe it is unduly cynical. There's only a limited number of reasons to rematch someone versus play a random stranger though, and if you haven't talked with them at all, then those are the most likely cases as I see them.