There's a fabulous book called "Amusing Ourselves To Death" - Neil Postman that chronicles the shift in society from a reading/typeset society to a commercial/snippet form of absorbing information.
Our grandfather's grandfather took information seriously. They didn't read for pure enjoyment, it was to learn or be nurtured. Some would seek solace in quiet meditation reading, but the bulk of it was for some type of meaningful learning.
Postman gives an example of the Lincoln-Douglas debates as just how passionate Americans were about learning all of the issues of the day. They would meet in town centers and hear the candidates debate each other for 5 hours at a time. This was real debate. Both parties knew their subjects and differentiated themselve and had to back themselves with a counterpoint.
Now we have commercialized 2 minute blasts of "Where's The Beef?" and namecalling. Our ancestors wouldn't even think of putting up canditates on a platform if this is the way they were going to perform, they probably would've thrown spoiled vegetables at them!
