It is worthwhile saying that silence is not understood as agreement. If you agree with an opinion or an idea, you are expected to say so.In general, the courts have held that the maxim "silence givesconsent" is not a part of the law of contract. Thus where an offerwas made by an oral request to renew certain insurance policies, therequest being a part of a conversation on other subjects, it was heldthat the mere silence of the insurance agent was no acceptance, eventhough the offeror so understood it.' There was no evidence that theagent heard the request. The court said: "Instead of silence beingevidence of an agreement to do the thing requested, it is evidence,either that the question was not heard, or that it was not intended tocomply with the request."2It has been held that silence will not operate as the acceptance of anoffer even though the offeror expressly states that it shall so operate.This rule is not at all objectionable in cases where the offeree remainedsilent with no intent to accept and where the circumstances did notmake such conduct unreasonable. It may well be criticised, however,when the offered took the offeror at his word, intentionally used thespecified mode of acceptance, and now tries to hold the offeror to acontract.4