Canadian philoshopher/ communications specialist Marshall McLuhan  is known for his communication and culture seminars at the University of Toronto in the 1950’s among many other accomplishments from a long and sterling career.

One salient sound bite attributed to him is “the medium is the message”. Like the well known catch phrase “perception is reality” the point is that belief can be shaped by how a message is delivered and ulitimately it becomes reality.  How effectively it is delivered can supersede the message itself.

A famous example of this is the “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast of an H.G. Wells sciencefiction story, in 1938.  Part  of the radio play was presented in a news broadcast format.  BIzzarely, this caused many listeners to actually believe the earth was being invaded by an alien race and wide spread panic ensued. There was no invasion.

Facts are Real

I personally struggle with the perception is reality conversation or the medium is the message because I believe facts do exist and real things happen regardless of peoples perceptions, opinions or views.

Of course one persons reality can differ from anothers but to argue a reality does not exist because it is not consistently percieved is frustrating for me.  If a tree falls in the forest it really falls whether I hear or see it.

Playing the Perception Card

When someone trys to argue an issue’s root cause is a result of perceptions my own perception is that this is a cop out.  The thought process is something like “I know, can’t solve the issue so I will claim it does not exist, it is only percieved to be a problem”.  Ouch!

Well, I perceive there is no such thing as perception, only reality so unfortunately for me this argument holds little water.  I agree we can view reality differently and have opposing views but that does not change the fact reality exists – regardless of how one percieves it.