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From the OED conservative, adjective. 1. adverse to change or innovation and holding traditional values: [...] The primary meaning of conservatism is
by drakeandrews 14y ago
From the OED
conservative, adjective.
1. adverse to change or innovation and holding traditional values: [...]
The primary meaning of conservatism is more to do with being risk averse and disliking change than the political movement it (sadly) shares its name with. In this regard, the author's usage of the word makes sense. He wished to conserve what was there previously without regard of what it may have made way for.
- jeffdavis 14y agoThe author clearly injected the political meaning into the discussion: "In politics, the spectrum of belief is right on the surface: conservative/liberal, right/left. In tech, that same spectrum exists, but it’s rarely discussed." He may have the OED definition in mind more than the political one, but that's irrelevant. As soon as you invoke it as a label, it twists the discussion into an ideological one. And there's no real reason to do so. He could have just said something like: "Don't be too conservative or set in your ways when it comes to technology. When something new comes along and makes to uncomfortable, rather than try to revert, see if there's a new perspective that shows a better way of doing things." The difference is that is simply a suggestion about how everyone can improve personally, rather than an ideological battle.