Sometimes in meetings when people are asked for input and there's a silence it can be for different reasons.

a) Some didn't understand the question.

b) Some don't want to contribute as they couldn't care about solving the problem.

c) Some understand the question alright but don't want to show their lack of knowledge.

d) Some understand the question but are too political to speak up and contrbute openly.

e) Some are too shy to speak up in public.

f) Some are too intimidated (overawed) by peers/management to speak up.

Same result - a very quiet meeting with no feedback/replies - but for 6 widely different reasons. And yet I've found that most times the questioner will not recognise these different root causes and will treat a "no reply" scenario as a positive acknowledgement or acceptance of something that really wasn't agreed. People who speak up will always be in the minority and will be remembered - but sometimes not for the right reasons.