Can a question be answered by simply not answering?

Question

Can silence say more?

Answer 1

Silence can often be equivalent to speech or even more effective, but only between people who are so well known to each other that the silence can be read right, otherwise it may say what is not intended..... yet deliberately not answering is always an answer in itself, whether effective or not, whether rightly interpreted or not.

Answer 2

Can music be music without the intervals of silence AND vibrations? Imagine going to a concert where NO notes were ever played, NO songs ever sung - just silence, a TOTAL unadulterated silent-performance for 5 hours straight by a band calling itself The Voice of Silence! Who knows perhaps a temple full of Zen practitioners in deep meditation might welcome such an event - for the rest of us, however, it would not only be brain-numbingly boring but also an utterly dysfunctional moment of emaciated life. ... In other words, BOTH intervals of silence and dialogue are necessary for effective communication. Unfortunately, most people use silence as a negative weapon (e.g. the silent treatment, a pejorative and dispensing gesture of disrespect etc.), instead of a chance to listen/learn, or a gracious strategy to minimize potentially abusive verbal combat and demeaning/regretful commentary.

Answer 3

Action and reaction. If the question is answered by a silence them be prepared for the true reaction.

Answer 4

Depends. If a girl asks you "What do you think of my dress?"
and you have something in mind (that it's not gonna be very
positive) then yes, silence says more. :p

Answer 5

Yes it can. There is a saying..."the act of omission is the same as a lie." Of course we are not necessarily speaking of lies here, but when one does nothing, or says nothing it is usually because they are of a mind that they do not know, they will not say to protect themselves or they feel you would not understand and things are best left unsaid.

Another saying "if you can not say anything nice, then say nothing at all."

I quiet frankly feel it is best to say nothing sometimes and let the moment dictate the answer.

Answer 6

silence says a lot, but it doesn't say everything.
First it says you need to talk.

Answer 7

That assumes that silence is not answering.. which it is indeed a form of.

Answer 8

the right silence does.

Answer 9

Definitely! Often, it can have greater impact (& communication) than an answer. In a very effective way, It's your answer when you refuse to get into a useless debate.

Answer 10

Yes, it can - but you'd better hope the recipient knows how to interpret it. Or give a clear sign. Men particularly can be confused.