[betty boop]

I think you need to re-read Shannon ...

Why?

Because I don't conclude that Shannon's "abstract mathematical model" obviates human observers/communicators? Or any other type of communicator, on the ground that Shannon's model itself is "indifferent" to the content of communications being sent/received?

[betty boop]

p.s.: Let me try that another way, _Jim:

Shannon Information Theory is the medium; it is indifferent to the content of any particular message. On the other hand, there would be no need for the medium, if there were no messages.