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The term ‘Luddite’ is often used pejoratively today to describe opposition to technological change. However, the story of the Luddites offers a nuanced lesson. Originally, they were handloom weavers upset about new power looms—workers who felt threatened. Their protests involved political action and riots, but they were not ideologically opposed to technology; rather, they aimed to protect their livelihoods.
Remarkably, these technological innovations eventually benefited Luddites' predecessors by making their work more productive over time. Their story illustrates two key points:
No job is immune to disruption, regardless of how lucrative or stable it may seem initially.
Societal progress often involves painful but ultimately beneficial upheavals.