Rather than hearing “IDD,” if we were having a discussion, I would much prefer hearing “Your idea/opinion has merit, and you have expressed yourself well, and you may be correct, but I will reserve judgment at this time.” That statement denotes and connotes something more valuable to me than IDD ever will.

I only recently started using IDD in conversations after my son started using it a lot online. It definitely does not mean “I agree.”

I use “I agree” when I actually agree with what someone is saying. I use “I don’t disagree” when they are stating an opinion that requires a response. If I don’t have a strong opinion either way, yet I think their opinion has some merit, I might say “I don’t disagree.” I don’t disagree because I am not well versed in the subject or people they are talking about, but I can’t really say that I agree either.

It is indeed ambiguous, but it does allow a conversation to continue without committing yourself or causing conflict.

What I am really saying is “Your idea/opinion has merit, and you have expressed yourself well, and you may be correct, but I will reserve judgment at this time.”