the number of people using telephones, the number of messages, what they used them for, which you feel is not the deepest level of effect.

McLuhan: They never noticed the effects at all. But they did notice the inputs. For example, they noticed the fact that telephone was first used for servants, intercom inside big homes. A new medium is always used at first for the old functions. This is true of the computer, it’s true of the Xerox, it’s true of the motorcar. True of any—any medium whatever is used always at first for the old function.

Forsdale: There’s also an interesting example, as you yourself have pointed out in The Gutenberg Galaxy , which at one time you regarded as perhaps the best work you had done. How do you feel about that?