The key difference is that an opinion is something that can change. A kidnapping cannot be undone. In fact, you have highlighted exactly what I'm getting at. You can tidy a cluttered counter, and will do so if you think it beneficial for you socially. You cannot un-kidnap. Which scenario do you think maps better to an opinion?

I think the difference in our positions is that you think people are born with a rigid, unchangeable "real" opinion, and I think opinions change according to the person's company.

I think there's some nuance here. I might make sure that any prescription drugs or other sensitive items out of sight for guests even if I'm not ashamed of talking about this with some people...

But I think avoiding political conversations is best described by what I've seen called "social cooling" - I don't really care about litigating morality with family at Thanksgiving. We may have fundamental differences in our interpretation of reality and human behavior, but that doesn't make one of us an actual criminal.

That’s how I handle visits back home. TV off, unless it’s sports or movies, and if one of them brings up anything political, I slam the brakes with, “So-and-so, you know that I love you, right?”

“Well, yes…”

“What have I said about talking about politics with people I love?”

“That you don’t.”

(Looking very forward to a frank conversation with my dad about his apparent need to keep a loaded handgun in his nightstand before we bring our toddler to visit, by which I mean, “actively dreading”)