Suppose a journalist, or loved one, or someone from the opposing party or sexual orientation or a different religion, or whatnot says that they want to know what you really feel about a particular topic, and promise not to judge - and it’s a viewpoint that you and they both know is likely to anger them - would you?
(Personally, I wouldn’t; there are too many people who claim they won’t judge but then promptly judge anyway)
Somebody asks for my honesty I’ll give it to them. What they do with it–judge me, laugh at me, ignore me–is their business. I don’t give too much of a fuck what anyone thinks of my opinion anymore. I’m not ashamed of me.
I think the poll is flawed in that it needs more options. Telling something controversial to a random journalist that I won’t see again is different than a close family member that I may live with or regularly see at holiday meals.
What Czarcasm said–record those conversations. I got misquoted once and had to do some 'splainin. I don’t talk to the press now–that’s just lubing someone else’s propaganda machine.
If I’m going to answer at all, I’ll tell the truth. But depending on the person, the circumstances, how the question is asked, and whether I’m supposed to fit my answer into one of a limited number of boxes none of which fit, I may not answer.
For instance, I didn’t answer this poll, due to that last qualification: I don’t think that really fits into a yes or no answer. But it might instead be a matter of saying something like ‘dear relative, I think we’ll have a happier family gathering if we stay off this subject altogether’ or, to a reporter under some circumstances, the much briefer ‘no comment’.
Too many variables involved. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
I have frank discussions with people whose views were different, but it was because we went out of the way to be respectful for each other. OTOH, I don’t have the patience to deal with racists or homophobics so I don’t engage.
It’s also possible to give a honest answer without being brutally honest. My wife does that with my weight gain. If I ask her if I’m too fat, she thinks about really fat people before answering that I’m not.
A journalist? Of course not. After one experience being misquoted, I have refused to speak to any of them since. Silence is the only response for a “journalist”.
At work? My motto is “the truth will set you free”. Of your job, your income, your healthcare, and maybe even your home. Never, ever, use truth at work. Swallow the koolaid, parrot back the pablum of your masters, and don’t lose any sleep over it. In the corporate juvenile-speak of “reaching out”, and “engaging”, and “leveraging”, and (dear god I hate this one) “time frames”, almost nothing is real except the money. If you keep your yap shut, you can accumulate quite a bit of it, and happily spend it outside the make-believe world.
As far as voicing my true opinion, only to a small number of people close to me. Anyone asking the OP’s question outside that narrow group is doing so for reasons beside gaining information. My attitude is that I’m not changing their mind, and they’re not changing mine, so why bother?
I think I’m fairly good at distinguishing between people who can respectfully listen to dissenting viewpoints, and people who will get worked up and lecture you without bothering to listen. If the person has a history of being thoughtful, respectful, and a good listener, then yes, I’d go ahead and say it. If they don’t, then no. If I don’t have much history with the person, then it all comes down to body language and whether they seem to be open or defensive.
Of course I wouldn’t to a journalist who is a stranger. If we’re not friends, the only reason they’d be asking is for an article, and I wouldn’t know what it was about.
A loved one? Depends on what they ask, but chances are I can voice my opinion in a way that isn’t insulting to them, since I know them.
Someone from the opposing party? Depends on context. The main issue would be them wanting to hurt me (physically or socially), so I have no problem anonymously online, but would have some problems elsewhere. But I could conceive of a situation where we’re just talking politics and it would be okay.
Someone from a different religion? Sure, but largely because my beliefs aren’t hateful. My answer to “will I go to hell” is “only God knows for sure.” I’ve had many religious conversations, even in person. Though, of course, there are situations where I wouldn’t, again based on danger.
And the one left over is moot, because there is no wrong sexual orientation.
Most of this is basically the same whether they include the “I won’t judge you” disclaimer or not. This means little, as judging is automatic. At most, it means they will try to ignore their judgement, which is fine, but I have no idea how successful they will be.