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The secondary meaning of 'luddite' according to Webster is: "any opponent of new technologies or of technological change". I hesitated using this sense anticip
by cornholio 3y ago
The secondary meaning of 'luddite' according to Webster is: "any opponent of new technologies or of technological change". I hesitated using this sense anticipating the retort and, sure enough, someone was quick to point out historical trivia. But language is fluid and long held opinions change the meaning of terms, even if they are technically incorrect. See, for example, "indian", "ether" or "humor".
- imtringued 3y agoI don't know why people consider organized state violence against forcibly unemployed people as some form of historical trivia. It's not like they had unemployment benefits like we have today. Most social benefits are designed to keep people complacent and not rebel against the state. People who don't understand this will end up repeating history. Presenting the abandoned people as backwards thinking people who are against technological progress does a huge disservice to them and our present society. If you know the history then the modern word for "Luddite" is "technological unemployment" but people don't use it that way, they mean "dumb person", i.e. it is just an insult.