Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff CZM Rewind: Part One: All Hail King Ludd: How the Luddites Almost Saved Us
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Dec 1, 2025 Join Robert Evans, a noted podcaster and historian, as he delves into the fascinating world of the Luddites, the skilled textile workers who valiantly resisted the Industrial Revolution. They explore how this movement was rooted in economic change, not mere fear of technology. Discover the secret societies behind the 1811 machine-smashing campaigns and the chilling realities of child labor in the textile industry. Plus, dive into the literary echoes of the Luddite struggle through the works of Romantic poets like Blake and Shelley.
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Luddite Misconceptions
- Modern 'Luddite' usage often misunderstands the original movement's motives.
- The Luddites resisted the form and uses of industrialization, not technology per se.
Judge Technology By Its Social Role
- Distinguish technology from the systems that deploy it and who benefits.
- Evaluate whether a tech concentrates power before accepting it into your life.
Fight Against Mechanized Devaluation
- The Luddites opposed how machines were used to turn skilled artisans into unskilled laborers.
- Their fight targeted the social and economic reorganization, not technology itself.