Prof. Emily M. Bender(she/her)Sep 29, 2023

As a linguist, I'm really curious to watch how a better understanding of history might change the modern use of the word Luddite. As someone concerned about how tech is being used to concentrate power, I want everyone to learn from this, stat.

https://mastodon.online/@parismarx/111143843762357039

Paris Marx (@[email protected])

The Luddites weren’t backward technophobes. They saw factory owners using tech to degrade their livelihoods and they fought back — first by trying to negotiate, then writing to Parliament, and finally smashing the machines. As workers today organize and strike over bosses using digital tech to upend their industries, there’s a lot we can learn from the Luddites’ story. I was thrilled to dig into it with @[email protected]! https://www.buzzsprout.com/1004689/13638517-the-real-history-of-the-luddites-w-brian-merchant #tech #history #luddite #workers

Mastodon
Show threadBlue Boy
@emilymbender I think the usage's connotation depends on the community, and that's long been true. I had friends in the late 80s who wore t-shirts saying, "Ned Ludd was right". I know linguists like sources, and I wish I could source this better.
Sep 29, 2023 at 4:44pmWeb
Show threadJennifer Kayla | Theogrin 🦊Sep 29, 2023

@BlueBoy @emilymbender

I wasn't there with the hacker community in the '80s, being fresh out of nappies as it were, but I do remember shirts and other items to that effect. If I remember, though, it was a tongue in cheek 'all software sucks, all hardware sucks' phrase about labour-saving devices causing more troubles than they solve.

Anecdata, though...!