I do not know a single person who likes being criticized. It is true that people appreciate honesty, but when it comes to criticizing them, they become very sensitive.
Sometimes people really want to hear what you think, but they always hope the truth will be more pleasant than it is. When telling someone that there is something wrong with their behavior, looks, etc. one should be as tactful as possible. Being tactful is not only being polite but also trying not to hurt one by telling them the truth.
I suppose that when one is being asked to express his opinion, he should tell the truth, but - there are many ways to say something.
It feels good when someone tells you something nice about yourself, but on the other hand, it can really ruin your day when you hear something unpleasant. I suppose people want to know the truth from the people they really care about. They are not as much interested in what strangers think about them.
Sometimes people really need to know what one thinks about them. It is important to them because it might help them with making a certain decision.
All in all, people like being criticized but only when the critics are positive. It helps them raise their self-confidence, which is a very important factor in one’s life.
Jane