The original Luddites were a movement of textile workers in 19th century England who saw the induction of automated machinery onto their work, not as an improvement, but rather as a means for merchant capitalists to leverage exploitation, child labour, and the general en-shitification of their craft.
They called themselves Luddites after a legendary (and probably apocryphal) rebel textile worker named Ned Ludd.
Well, Ned is back……
With hatred of big tech and AI hitting the mainstream, it makes a lot of sense that something like the Summer of Ludd would emerge in this particular moment. Everywhere I go, there is an overwhelming sense that the Silicon Valley experiment is on its last legs. The companies that once aimed to make good products and postured as democracy-loving and progressive now open ally themselves with fascists, actively enshittify the internet with slop, and force-feed us annoying AI features that nobody wants. In response, the new Luddites seek not to abandon technology entirely, but build new infrastructure that embraces proximity and in-person human relationships, instead of alienation and doom-scrolling.
Read the full article: Being a Luddite is fun again.
Also worth reading, this: Fix your analogue life first.


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