PowerPoint® Slides to Accompany
A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal, and
Ethical Issues for Computers and the
Internet
(2nd Edition)
by
Sara Baase
San Diego State University
PowerPoint slides created by Sherry Clark
Copyright 2003 Prentice Hall
A Gift of Fire, 2ed
Chapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers
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In Class Assignment 1
•Luddite criticisms of computers and
technology
– Group 1: Present and support Luddite criticisms of
computers and technology in general.
– Group 2: Criticism of the Luddite position.
A Gift of Fire, 2ed
Chapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers
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Definition
The term luddite is both a political/historical term relating to political movement in
the United Kingdom during the Industrial Revolution and a pejorative used to
attack those who are perceived as being uncompromisingly or unnecessarily
opposed to one or more technological innovations.
Neo-luddism is perceived as a modern movement of categorical opposition to
technology, both in particular and in general. Since there is no self-described
group of "neo-luddites," it is not a political movement. On the other hand, when
controversial issues arise, advocates of one policy or another tend to group and
agglomerate their efforts to effect policy. As a result, an amalgamation of liberal,
conservative and radical elements appear falsely as a cohesive, anti-technology,
neo-luddite group.
The Luddites were a social movement of English workers in the early 1800s who
protested — often by destroying textile machines — against the changes
produced by the Industrial Revolution that they felt threatened their jobs. The
movement, which began in 1811, was named after a probably mythical leader,
Ned Ludd. For a short time the movement was so strong that it clashed in
battles with the British Army. Measures taken by the government included a
mass trial at York in 1813 that resulted in many death penalties and
transportations (deportation to a penal colony).
A Gift of Fire, 2ed
Chapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers
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Resistance to Change: Luddism
Economic Progress often has social and economic
costs.
Individuals and groups may therefore resist change if
they incur a high proportion of the costs.
Classic Example is Luddism
• 19th Century England, cloth manufacture was a highly specialised
process in Yorkshire and Gloucestershire
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Chapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers
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Resistance to Change: Luddism
Eg Croppers - crafted wool
from the mill into cloth.
Cleaning, Stretching,
cutting etc
Wages regulated
Law governed employment
conditions apprenticeships
etc to preserve quality.
A Gift of Fire, 2ed
Chapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers
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Resistance to Change: Luddism
In 1700’s Gig mill gradually
introduced.
1 man and 2 children with 12
hours work could complete
100 hours of full time
skilled adult labour
Gig Mill was banned by
Croppers Union except for
production of low quality
cloth.
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Chapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers
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Resistance to Change: Luddism
Nevertheless, gig mill was
used more extensively.
1806-1817 Gig mills in
Yorkshire rose from, 5-72.
Similarly Machine shears
replaced shearmen. From
1806-1817, machines
increased from from 1001462.
A Gift of Fire, 2ed
Chapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers
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Resistance to Change: Luddism
Of 3378 Shearmen, 1170 were unemployed and 1445 were
partly employed. (EP Thompson, The making of the English Working
Class, p.551)
Changes were met with resentment. They destroyed crafts,
incomes, and produced inferior quality goods.
Croppers’ petitions were ignored and organisation form
underground revolutionary movement - Luddism.
A Gift of Fire, 2ed
Chapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers
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Resistance to Change: Luddism
Luddites were masked men armed with muskets, pistols, axes
and hammers.
• Included framework knitters weavers etc. crafts-people whose work
was being destroyed by new technology.
• Selectively smashed mills and looms depending on attitude of Masters.
• Those who paid low wages, produced poor quality, employed women at
low wages, or employed unappreciated workers and/or child labour,
were destroyed.
A Gift of Fire, 2ed
Chapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers
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Resistance to Change: Luddism
Rioters in groups of
hundreds or thousands,
selectively attacked and
destroyed mills.
Between March 1811-Feb
1812, 100 frames were
destroyed
Still the Govt refused to
uphold laws the banned use
of Gig mills.
A Gift of Fire, 2ed
Chapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers
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Resistance to Change: Luddism
“Wee Hear in Formed that you got Shear in mee sheens and if
you Don’t Pull them Down in a Forght nights Time Wee will pull
them Down for Wee will you Damd inferold Dog. And Bee Four
Almighty God we will pull down all the Mills that Heave
Shearing me Shens in We will cut out Hall your Damned Hearts
…”
Message received by a Gloucestershire textile factory owner,
1803
A Gift of Fire, 2ed
Chapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers
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Resistance to Change: Luddism
Movement was eventually
repressed through force.
For example in 181-1813
government sent out
troops to repress Luddite
rebellions.
Number of troops sent
exceeded size of
Wellington’s Army, 1808.
Conspirators captured and
“sent to the scaffold”.
A Gift of Fire, 2ed
Chapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers
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Neo-Luddites
Who are the Neo-Luddites?
New-Luddites are often equated with
Technophobes-- those who fear technology. NeoLuddites--a disparate, unofficial community of
individuals who are critical of modern
technology--do not necessarily fear technology;
rather, they reject technology on philosophical
grounds. The term itself derives from an uprising
in England against machines and mechanization.
A Gift of Fire, 2ed
Chapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers
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Neo-Luddites
A Gift of Fire, 2ed
Chapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers
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