Luddism
One of my colleagues at work accused me of coming across as a mean-spirited technophobe on this blog. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am not now, nor have I ever been a Luddite. I am an ardent fan of technology. What I am concerned about is how humanity reacts to or abuses some technologies.
By way of reference the Luddites were a group of English textile workers in the 19th century who destroyed machines they believed would caused unemployment. It was a mythical General Ned Ludd and a real Army of Redressers who got the whole movement going in 1811. Over a period of weeks, the Luddites broke in to factories and destroyed hundreds of textile machines. The action initially centered around the city of Nottingham of Robin Hood fame.
Luddites At Work
Events transpired as they usually do in these circumstances. Machines destroyed. Special "police" hired. Bounties placed on Luddite heads (50 pounds was a significant amount of cash in 1811). Attacks spread to other English cities. Parliament passes an act making Luddite destruction a capital offense (read gallows). The police are replaced by 12,000 soldiers. Battles ensue. Death on both sides. Luddites are rounded up and hung. Some were sent to Australia. By 1817 the machines had won....
I'm not saying the mill owners were the good guys here. They didn't set up any outplacement centers or offer to teach the old mill workers new trades. The world was somewhat more Hobbesian back in 1811 (only somewhat).
Amazingly, a couple of centuries later, the machines have by and large been replaced by dirt cheap labor in Asia and elsewhere piecing together the socks we wear (the whole Luddite thing got going around stockings).
Personally I am a fan of machines knitting stockings and 11 year old Sri Lankans learning how to use a $100 laptop.
Long live the machines!
By way of reference the Luddites were a group of English textile workers in the 19th century who destroyed machines they believed would caused unemployment. It was a mythical General Ned Ludd and a real Army of Redressers who got the whole movement going in 1811. Over a period of weeks, the Luddites broke in to factories and destroyed hundreds of textile machines. The action initially centered around the city of Nottingham of Robin Hood fame.
Luddites At Work
Events transpired as they usually do in these circumstances. Machines destroyed. Special "police" hired. Bounties placed on Luddite heads (50 pounds was a significant amount of cash in 1811). Attacks spread to other English cities. Parliament passes an act making Luddite destruction a capital offense (read gallows). The police are replaced by 12,000 soldiers. Battles ensue. Death on both sides. Luddites are rounded up and hung. Some were sent to Australia. By 1817 the machines had won....
I'm not saying the mill owners were the good guys here. They didn't set up any outplacement centers or offer to teach the old mill workers new trades. The world was somewhat more Hobbesian back in 1811 (only somewhat).
Amazingly, a couple of centuries later, the machines have by and large been replaced by dirt cheap labor in Asia and elsewhere piecing together the socks we wear (the whole Luddite thing got going around stockings).
Personally I am a fan of machines knitting stockings and 11 year old Sri Lankans learning how to use a $100 laptop.
Long live the machines!
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