The Luddites weren’t anti-technology—they opposed machines that destroyed their livelihoods and benefited factory owners at workers’ expense. Their resistance was a critique of the social and economic chaos caused by the Industrial Revolution. Over time, “Luddite” became an insult due to capitalist propaganda, dismissing their valid concerns about inequality and exploitation. Seen in context, they were early critics of unchecked capitalism and harmful technological change—issues still relevant today.
I really got a bad taste in my soul about the luddites mostly because of Wendell Berry and his use of his wife as the replacement for a computer. I mean, sure if you are willing to exploit people, machines are less important. But he didn’t even type his own work. She typed, proofread, edited. Like a word processor but a human one.
It’s like if “we” start producing androids for slave labour - if only factory owners benefit from it then what is the point?
It’s only worth it if all society benefits from it.
This one again? Luddites opposed technological progress from a very naive position, and their stance had nothing to do with subverting capitalist exploitation and was literally just braindead conservative “no change allowed” nonsense.
These memes don’t make sense. As if AES countries refused to build out automation tech so that every tradesman could keep their father’s job. It was the exact opposite - a movemt like the Luddites in the USSR would have been unceremoniously squashed as counter-revolutionary, just the same.
I said “based” not “perfect in every single motive and tactic.” Marx didn’t totally rock with the Luddites himself, but he does express an understanding that the Luddites actions were a primitive and instinctive form of class struggle. This user explains it well:
Marx was right about the luddites. The first phase of the development of working clas consciousness is destroying the machines that impoverish the workers. It is not the last phase.
I mean if you are taking a Marxist lens then not really. Opposing technological progress because it makes your current job obsolete would be seen as pretty much the same kind of brain dead effort it is through a capitalist lens. At best it would be seen as a huge missed opportunity to put that effort into actual syndicalism instead of the public relations nightmare they chose.
We literally referenced Marx right there, so yes really haha. (I just edited my comment so the quote is more accessible.)
To further break it down, while Marx did not romanticize the Luddites (nor do I), he saw their actions as an understandable and early form of class struggle (as do I).
Non meme version: What the Luddites can teach us about resisting an automated future. - comic format.
sample:
Machines were the weapons employed by the capitalist to quell the revolt of specialized labor. – Karl Marx
