Speaking vs Silence

The cluster discusses the tension between voicing opinions (especially controversial 'quiet parts out loud') and remaining silent in online discussions like HN, weighing risks of being ignored, silenced, or unheard against the value of silence.

📉 Falling 0.5x Politics & Society
3,985
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#6822
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
11
2008
27
2009
36
2010
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2011
98
2012
129
2013
168
2014
108
2015
130
2016
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2017
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2018
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2019
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2020
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2021
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2022
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2023
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2024
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2025
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2026
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Keywords

HN silence loud quiet talk somebody speak heard talking voice listen

Sample Comments

salesguy222 Feb 20, 2017 View on HN

not everyone who speaks desires to be heard by everyone :)

pencilguin Oct 29, 2022 View on HN

Speaking, here, would not be heard.

heisenbit Aug 29, 2022 View on HN

Being vocal or silent - does this matter as long as one does not listen first?

WalterSear Sep 17, 2013 View on HN

You aren't the loudest voice in the room.

newsclues Oct 5, 2021 View on HN

You are saying the quiet part out loud.

heavyset_go Jun 29, 2025 View on HN

Saying the quiet part out loud usually doesn't play well on HN, evidently

walshemj Jun 6, 2021 View on HN

The speak until spoken shit some one mentioned.

jpindar Sep 27, 2017 View on HN

One of these things is not like the others. People should be able to control talking (assuming they know it bothers the people around them).

staunton Mar 26, 2023 View on HN

You're assuming they're trying to have a conversation...

WmyEE0UsWAwC2i Feb 22, 2016 View on HN

What's wrong with silence?