In "Amusing Ourselves to Death," Neil Postman discusses how advancements in communication technology, such as telegraphy, have changed the way information is perceived and valued. He echoes Thoreau's view that these developments have rendered the relevance of information less significant. With the speed of transmission, the contextual importance of messages diminishes, leading to a culture where entertainment often outweighs meaningful discourse.

Postman argues that this shift has profound implications for public discourse, as society increasingly prioritizes style over substance. The overwhelming influx of information has created a landscape where critical thinking and thoughtful engagement are often overlooked, replaced by a preference for distraction and amusement rather than informed discussion.