Silence

There is a saying you stumble across now and again "silence is an answer", no, actually it is not.  Let's look at this a bit deeper for a minute:

Silence*

The condition or quality of being or keeping still and silent.

The absence of sound; stillness.

A period of time without speech or noise.

Answer*

A spoken or written reply, as to a question.

A correct reply.

A solution, as to a problem.

Now as we can see by definition silence is not an answer, but it is an avoidance*.  Not giving an answer to something tells the inquiring person that they are beneath being given basic human consideration, it does not solve a problem, and in most cases only makes the problem grow and or fester*.  Unanswered questions lead to further breakdowns in relationships, they lead to animosity*, to more questions, and hopelessness*.

Silence is not an answer to anyone but the one giving the silence and to everyone else it makes the silent one look both mean and foolish.

Maura out

*Definitions via The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Avoidance = The act of shunning or avoiding

Fester = to be or become an increasing source of irritation

Animosity = Bitter hostility or open enmity; active hatred

Hopelessness = the despair you feel when you have abandoned hope of comfort or success