I've started a book I received for Christmas, The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe, Roger Penrose, 2005. This a mathematical physics book, but a phrase struck me today. Much of the communication style on forums is "broadcast." I'm guilty of this as much as anyone.
In Chapter 9: Fourier decomposition and hyperfunctions, the concept of a "message" is introduced.
The whole point of signaling (using electromagnetic waves) ... is there must be the potential for sending a message that might be unexpected by the receiver.
The insight was that much of what is called "communication" or message sending does not conform to this definition - the message is expected, rather than unexpected. The unexpected discussion here is based on discontinuities that MUST be present in the waves in order for information to be conveyed.
When the message is expected - no discontinuities - then the receiver simply processes the message as a "content free" communication. When a message arrives that contains discontinuities we perceive this is disruptive rather than containing information.
Who would have know Fourier was an interpersonal communications facilitator.