Speaking of language, sometimes I remember how incredibly weird it is that a software feature designed to help you achieve something is canonically called a "wizard".
Oh I need help configuring this, lemme light the beacon and call for the aid of Digital Gandalf
Now thinking about creating a movement to promote "hobbit software". Pretty chill, keeps to itself, tends to its databases, hangs out with other hobbit software at the pub, broadly unbothered by the scheming of the wizards and the orcs, oblivious to the rise and fall of software empires around them.
Oh, the Electron empire is going to war with the Reacts? Sounds ghastly, sorry to hear that. Me and the lads are off to the pub to run some cronjobs, wanna come along?
To follow the metaphor @danderson, we'd need the equivalent of the Rangers of the North, who actively patrolled the boundaries of the Shire and protected its inhabitants from ever needing to know anything about the world outside.
And those Rangers would need to be incorruptible, and the institution survive indefinitely with the same selfless, guardian-of-peace mission. All this despite getting mostly suspicion and ignorance of their role, from the Shire inhabitants.
Sounds like an unachievable fantasy to me.
Dave Anderson
bignose