ABSTRACT
Many times people will preface a statement that denigrates some aspect of technology with the disclaimer, “I’m no Luddite, but . . .” The term Luddite is used today to describe a person who fears or rejects technology. The origin of the word comes from nineteenthcentury English history. One version of the term’s origin says that “Ludds” or “Luddites” were followers of King Ludd, also known as Ned Ludd, who may or may not have been a real person. Supposedly, Ludd was a textile worker who smashed machines to protest their threat to the livelihoods of those working in the textile industry. They opposed the industrial revolution’s increased use of textile and other machinery which resulted in a widespread loss of jobs for factory workers. They often operated under the cover of darkness, wearing masks and committing acts of vandalism. When the Luddites resorted to riots, their movement was crushed by the British army in bloody skirmishes.
