# Are you afraid to voice unpopular opinions? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 24, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513 "2016-05-24T02:03:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/61 "2016-05-25T00:13:54Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > For many people their opinion is part of their identity. Not if you keep your opinions to yourself. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/62 "2016-05-25T00:16:47Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Not if you keep your opinions to yourself. For some people, and especially artists it is not an easy task. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/63 "2016-05-25T00:18:28Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > My parents may have been right when they chose STEM for me – they understood that being a famous writer is dangerous. I can’t think of one famous writer who had anything bad happen because of what they wrote. I’m sure there’s an exception to prove the rule, but it’s not coming to me. Your parents seem quite unusual. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/64 "2016-05-25T00:24:52Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Your parents seem quite unusual. No – very normal Jewish Intelligentsia from USSR – they lived in USSR until age 35, and me until age 13. Wrong ideas could be [criminal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Soviet_agitation#Article_190-1) in USSR at that time or in UK 2016. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/65 "2016-05-25T00:33:41Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > No – very normal Jewish Intelligentsia from USSR – they lived in USSR until age 35, and me until age 13. > > Wrong ideas could be [criminal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Soviet_agitation#Article_190-1) in USSR at that time or in UK 2016. My mistake, I thought you were talking about the US. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/66 "2016-05-25T00:52:32Z")
Correct me if I’m wrong, but if he did choose to “publish” his posts here, wouldn’t he have to get permission from the SD? > [@CCitizen](#): > > Sadly many celebrities or even semi – celebrities do get stalked. Fortunately for me, I do not have hundreds of thousands of readers. As do non-celebrities. HOWEVER, getting negative attention is still not the same thing as stalking. Someone acting like an asshole towards you doesn’t make them a stalker. Stalking doesn’t mean negative attention. It means _unwanted_ attention. A stalker could constantly send you love letters, presents, follow you around, profess how much they love you and care about you. That’s not necessarily “negative”, but it’s stalking just the same. On the other hand, a person could call you a douchebag, and say that your writing sucks – but that doesn’t make them a stalker. The term you’re looking for is _criticism_. Learn the difference. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/67 "2016-05-25T01:02:16Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Stalking doesn’t mean negative attention. It means _unwanted_ attention. A stalker could constantly send you love letters, presents, follow you around, profess how much they love you and care about you. That’s not necessarily “negative”, but it’s stalking just the same. Definitely. Fortunately I am not famous enough to have obsessive fans. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/68 "2016-05-25T01:51:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Sadly many celebrities or even semi – celebrities do get stalked. even completely unknown losers get stalked. What does that have to do with expressing one’s opinions? Sometimes it’s appropriate to speak out and in other situations you just keep silent because it would be rude, pointless, or a really bad idea to mention your opinions. I mean, really, they are just opinions, even if you cherish them. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/69 "2016-05-25T12:36:32Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > My parents may have been right when they chose STEM for me – they understood that being a famous writer is dangerous. Perhaps your parents knew something you didn’t; Perhaps they knew that you’d make a better mathematician than a writer. > [@CCitizen](#): > > Definitely. Fortunately I am not famous enough to have obsessive fans. Again, you seem overly concerned with personal security. Given your posting history here, I don’t recall you posting anything resembling dangerous ideas. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/70 "2016-05-25T12:39:52Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I can’t think of one famous writer who had anything bad happen because of what they wrote. I’m sure there’s an exception to prove the rule, but it’s not coming to me. Your parents seem quite unusual. At the risk of feeding **CCitizen** ’s paranoia, Salman Rushdie had an issue or two for his Satanic Verses. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/71 "2016-05-25T13:02:58Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Correct me if I’m wrong, but if he did choose to “publish” his posts here, wouldn’t he have to get permission from the SD? Actually he’d be in the clear. From the registration agreement: > [@SDMB registration agreement as of 12/21/2014](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-registration-agreement-as-of-12-21-2014/620957/1): > > All postings and other material on the SDMB are copyrighted by STM. Republication of material appearing on the SDMB without express written permission of STM is prohibited, except that users retain the right to republish their own work. By posting on this board you grant STM and its successors and assigns a nonexclusive irrevocable right to reuse your posting in any manner it or they see fit without notice or compensation to you. He wouldn’t able to publish anyone else’s posts though, so considering that at least half his posts are replies to someone else it might be a bit hard to follow. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/72 "2016-05-25T13:03:34Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Again, you seem overly concerned with personal security. Given your posting history here, I don’t recall you posting anything resembling dangerous ideas. I think he thinks that his “men’s rights” BS and anti-liberalism are dangerous ideas. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/73 "2016-05-25T16:51:28Z")
Most of the time, when I have unpopular opinions I look at who they are unpopular with and think about what it means to be at odds with those people. If it puts me at odds with people I respect, I reconsider my opinions to see if I’m either being contrary or have not given it enough thought. If it puts me at odds with people I despise, I think about whether I am taking the position honestly or just to be at odds with them. If I go through this and find that I’ve given it thought and seem to be coming at it honestly, I would have no fear of voicing it. I might still not choose to if I just don’t care enough about it to discuss it, since voicing the opinion should, in my mind, be coupled with a willingness to talk about it. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/74 "2016-05-25T16:56:33Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > At the risk of feeding **CCitizen** ’s paranoia, Salman Rushdie had an issue or two for his Satanic Verses. Yes, that’s who I was forgetting. There are certainly others I’m overlooking too. I don’t think even Rushdie regrets his writings, though. It’s better to die on one’s feet than live on one’s knees, etc. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/75 "2016-05-25T17:30:04Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Yes, that’s who I was forgetting. There are certainly others I’m overlooking too. Je suis Charlie. > [@Procrustus](#): > > I don’t think even Rushdie regrets his writings, though. It’s better to die on one’s feet than live on one’s knees, etc. I wonder if he regrets having [issued an apology](http://articles.latimes.com/1989-02-19/news/mn-396_1_salman-rushdie). ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/76 "2016-05-25T18:41:06Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > At the risk of feeding **CCitizen** ’s paranoia, Salman Rushdie had an issue or two for his Satanic Verses. Or Larry Flynt. His art offended too many people. But at least he is a hectomillionaire. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/77 "2016-05-25T18:51:32Z")
> [@CCitizen](#): > > Or Larry Flynt. His art offended too many people. But at least he is a hectomillionaire. You mean his art was even more vulgar than his porn mag? Also, I am never sure if the non-sequiturs that often follow your initial point are said in praise or condemnation. Please don’t bother to answer. I like the mystery of never being quite sure. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/78 "2016-05-25T19:05:20Z")
No I am not afraid to voice unpopular opinions , I think some people like to wear rose glasses and only see and hear good news all the time. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/79 "2016-05-25T19:08:06Z")
> [@purplehearingaid](#): > > No I am not afraid to voice unpopular opinions , I think some people like to wear rose glasses and only see and hear good news all the time. Which news station would that be, I wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513/80 "2016-05-25T22:37:36Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Actually he’d be in the clear. From the registration agreement: > He wouldn’t able to publish anyone else’s posts though, so considering that at least half his posts are replies to someone else it might be a bit hard to follow. Ah, okay, wasn’t sure about that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-afraid-to-voice-unpopular-opinions/755513.md?page=3)