More than once, a single dissenting opinion opened the floor for further discussion. Each time, we uncovered ambiguities, omissions, and errors easily corrected once found. The community could continue its current status quo, meeting each year and discussing the same issues until people wear down and join the majority opinion or choose not to come at all. Again, we lose. Passive consensus happens in organizations, too, when issues are brought to closure before everyone has opportunity to contribute to the decision.
People remove themselves from the process by changing projects or changing companies.
They rebel against the decision by refusing to comply. Some groups never reach a decision, going 'round and 'round on issues until people drop of exhaustion. There are times when it seems majority vote may be the only way to resolve an issue. However, I caution not to assume deadlock too early in the process. Our meeting reached what a majority of the participants viewed as a deadlock.