logoalt Hacker News

reilly3000today at 3:38 PM2 repliesview on HN

Luddite: someone who is against using technology out of fear (of economic opportunities mostly)


Replies

steve_adams_86today at 4:06 PM

Yeah, important to note that the way the label is used has deviated from its historic meaning. Colloquially it’s something like “someone who rejects new technology” with variable reasons as to why, but historically there’s more nuance and it’s grounded in rejection of technology which worsens working conditions, detracts from craft, and disrupts cottage industry/workers rights/wages/etc. They made more sense than the label presently suggests they did. I suppose you could think of them as activists protecting their crafts and trade privileges that were being undermined by specific machines and their owners

notarobot123today at 3:49 PM

More generously: someone who resists new technologies due to their perceived harmful effects (economic but also social and environmental)