Self-refuting communication: medium versus message

I just got a phone call.
A recorded voice began: "This is an important message ..."
I put the phone down muttering, "If it's so important, why is it a recorded message?"

In an age of cheap reproduction of all kinds of messages, importance is marked by personal attention, time given and demonstrable consideration of ones personal circumstances and background. An effectively broadcast message just doesn't do that.

Of course, the age of googlised personalisation where targetted but automated messages are more and more accurately deployed to personal history may change that somewhat. But probably in a way that makes a real person more valuable in conveying the message "this is/you are important". Consider the value of a handwritten letter against a printed one against a leaflet.