There are probably thousands of people around the ground who would like to get involved but are surrounded by mutes. I've tried to get those around me going believe me, it's worked very rarely and only on 'big' occasions do they awake from their slumber. Burnley 9men, Palace games, Derby & Shef...
The demographic of the North is nothing like the old one or even our current away following. When seats were sold we had no corners or second tier on the east, people chose the north because it was cheaper.
No solution other than to implement safe standing and allow redistribution of ST holders...