Since the Victorian Internet was essentially the first “internet” I would say it was probably more exciting at the time given that the idea was totally new. Not to say that our internet isn’t a complete revolution in itself, but the victorian internet was brand new and spectacular in it’s time. With the internet in our time it has become a common place for every person to have at their fingertips at any time. The same can not be said for the victorian internet. It was a physical machine and took prepping to use. Our internet is more accessible and user-friendly, in summation it is just more advanced. And understandably so, we’ve had since 1746 to improve it.
We can break this cycle of McLuhan-esque thought by understanding that the primary reason for these internet creations is to communicate. That is the sole purpose of the internet. Without the need to communicate and relate to others there would be no internet. It doesn’t matter how we communicate, the purpose is that we do.
Haley Campbell 