The Luddites have a bad reputation. These days, the word is most commonly used as an insult—shorthand for somebody who doesn’t understand new technology, is skeptical of progress, and wants to remain stuck in the ways of the past. The Luddites were English textile workers who, at the dawn of the industrial revolution, resisted the introduction of new machinery. They would sneak into factories in the dead of night and destroy the power-looms they believed were threatening their jobs. The Luddites were not anti-machinery; many of them were machine experts and welcomed the introduction of new equipment that made their work easier. Continue reading →