What do 19th century weavers and 21st century tech workers have in common? More than you might think. In this episode, we unpack the real story behind the Luddites, skilled artisans who weren’t afraid of machines but deeply aware of how those machines were being used to undercut their labor and erase their way of life. Their protests were met not just with force, but with a powerful narrative campaign that branded them as backwards and irrational.
Two hundred years later, the same pattern shows up in conversations about AI. When writers, designers, and even tech insiders raise concerns about automation, safety, or fairness, they’re often dismissed with the same tired insult: “Don’t be a Luddite.” But what if that label is more about shutting down the conversation than engaging with it?
We explore how narrative framing has been used historically, and still is today, to marginalize dissent and smooth the path for so-called progress. From Hollywood strikes to tech whistleblowers to protestors stacking rocks in front of food delivery robots, this is a story about what happens when you challenge the dominant script.
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This, Again is written, produced, and hosted by Mallory Faust.
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