You cannot not communicate

At a conference, a person might decide not to communicate.

They might decide to stay silent and pass on their turn to speak. Yet, the other people will interpret this in a variety of ways. They might decide that this person is cold and unapproachable. Or they might feel they are shy and reserved. Others still might decide that the person is a snob. And some might even interpret their silence positively as their ability or privilege to stand apart from the crowd.

Most of these interpretations depend on their gender, how they look, how they are dressed and the prejudices of those around them. Therefore, silence is no escape. Nor is absence, for absence can also be interpreted in a variety of ways.

You cannot not communicate. On recognizing this, when it is your turn to speak, you might as well make the most of it.