What the paradox exposes
The problem is lack of honest preference revelation rather than lack of preferences, because people go along when they misread the group, avoid friction, or assume disagreement would be unwelcome.
The result can look like consensus while actually being shared private opposition.
Why ordinary meetings miss it
Open discussion can reward agreeable signals and punish dissent, especially when a proposed direction already sounds socially endorsed.
A quick yes-or-no poll may still miss intensity. A reluctant yes and a strong yes can look identical.
How Nicolas relates
Nicolas lets participants record support or opposition with different intensity levels under a finite voice budget.
That does not guarantee honesty, but it gives groups a more precise way to detect whether apparent agreement is weak, conflicted, or strongly opposed.