Our conventional response to all media, namely that it is how they are used that counts, is the numb stance of the technological idiot. For the ‘content’ of a medium is like the juicy piece of meat carried by the burglar to distract the watchdog of the mind.”

(McLuhan, p.207 New Media Reader)

I picked this quote up from a Mars Hill podcast (Shane Hipps on The Spirituality of the Cellphone). I’ve heard the phrase “medium is the message” several times before, but this is the first time I think I’ve had time to really think about it.

In listening to this I also realised that I’m actually a technological neanderthal – I can discuss, debate and talk about the the thoughts that are in my head and develop them (like within an oral tradition) far better than I can manage to write down these thoughts or little bits of knowledge.. although i think that’s the way I’d like to keep it!