Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

Archives for April 2010

McLuhan was exaggerating, fools!

04.19.2010 by David Murray // 4 Comments

Marshal McLuhan famously said, "The medium is the message."

Clearly, McLuhan was talking out of his ass.

(Here is what is true about the medium and the message:

The medium influences, sometimes profoundly, how the message is perceived.

The message can't be separated from the medium that conveys it.

Some types of media and some kinds of messages mix well. Some don't.

Them are some important insights. But, especially for professional communicators, it's important to distinguish medium from message—communication vehicle from communication content.

So next time one of these technobabblers mindlessly says, "The medium is the message," let's retort, "Then why do we have different words for them?")

Categories // Uncategorized Tags // "the medium is the message", communicators, Marshall McLuhan

This moved me, and if I know you, it might move you too

04.17.2010 by David Murray // 1 Comment

It's a guest post by a Pam Slim on Gaping Void.

Categories // Uncategorized

Friday Happy Hour Video: “I’m high as a Georgia pine”

04.16.2010 by David Murray // 2 Comments

In honor of baseball: Thirty years ago, a Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher named Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter while tripping on LSD. (Who hasn't been there?) Here's Dock's account, with animation.

Categories // Uncategorized

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • …
  • 11
  • Next Page »

Now Available

An Effort to Understand

Order Now

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE BLOG UPDATES

About

David Murray writes on communication issues.
Read More

 

Categories

  • Baby Boots
  • Communication Philosophy
  • Efforts to Understand
  • Happy Men, and Other Eccentrics
  • Human Politicians
  • Mister Boring
  • Murray Cycle Diaries
  • Old Boots
  • Rambling, At Home and Abroad
  • Sports Stories
  • The Quotable Murr
  • Typewriter Truths
  • Uncategorized
  • Weird Scenes Inside the Archives

Archives

Copyright © 2025 · Log in

  • Preorder An Effort to Understand
  • Sign Up for Blog Updates
  • About David Murray