It's not about making something popular. It's about improving your own life. If you think someone's not telling you something because they're afraid you'll reac

It's not about making something popular. It's about improving your own life. If you think someone's not telling you something because they're afraid you'll react emotionally, then by declaring your intention not to do so, you give them free reign to tell you things. You don't need this to be popular. In fact, the lack of the idea's popularity may be advantageous. You get a chance to extract marginal information over what other people will get from the same person. It's pretty much: - What are you thinking about? - I can't tell you. You'll laugh. - I promise I won't. - Okay, it's this thing.