Can you explain what 'Luddite' means in a broader context? Not all of us grew up learning British history :)

radu_floricica 18 hours ago | parent | next [-]

In the context of climate change, it is the opinion that more industrialization and technologization cannot help solving the problem, except in a few narrow acceptable directions (solar, wind, hydrogen etc).

An example would be the european reaction to AC. It's a way of using technology to solve warming, its costs are perfectly acceptable, but it is still frown upon because... well, it's beyond the scope of a HN comment to diagnose why, but it's an example of technology being able to mitigate a problem but not being allowed to.

	▲	Tade0 16 hours ago \| parent [-]
		> An example would be the european reaction to AC. That was over hyped in the media, particularly American. It's largely senior citizens who oppose AC - they've spent most of their lives in a different climate and would rather not have to handle such an expense. Meanwhile in some European countries like France demand for AC units doubled this year.

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21 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

[deleted]

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reilly3000 21 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Luddite: someone who is against using technology out of fear (of economic opportunities mostly)

	▲	steve_adams_86 20 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Yeah, important to note that the way the label is used has deviated from its historic meaning. Colloquially it’s something like “someone who rejects new technology” with variable reasons as to why, but historically there’s more nuance and it’s grounded in rejection of technology which worsens working conditions, detracts from craft, and disrupts cottage industry/workers rights/wages/etc. They made more sense than the label presently suggests they did. I suppose you could think of them as activists protecting their crafts and trade privileges that were being undermined by specific machines and their owners
	▲	notarobot123 20 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		More generously: someone who resists new technologies due to their perceived harmful effects (economic but also social and environmental)