A Better Way to Think About Tech

Have you noticed that it's become increasingly hard? To talk about technology. I think this is because a lot of commentators have divided themselves into two different groups. Both of which can become pretty extreme. All right. So on one side we have what we can call The techno pessimists. Now, the techno pessimists are worried about the harms that new technologies can cause and the things that we value.

That new technologies Might make go away. I think the the classic example of techno pessimism would be the Luddite movement. From the early 1800s, who were worried about new automated manufacturing technologies like the steam loom and their input on artisan. Crafts.

They felt really strongly about this. I have a letter here from eighteen twelve written by members of the movement and signed by the the sort of fictional creation of General Ludd. And in this letter they said they would rather die. Then see their children, which they called your neighboring fellow creatures, starve. Because hand weavers were gonna be put out of business. Now the thing about techno pessimists is that they're often right in the sense that the harms they're worried about Are real and they are harmful.

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