Ned Ludd is the individual who the Luddite movement was named after. The Smithsonian Magazine did a great history of them here.
I would like to impress on you, the reader, that the original Luddites were not anti-technology. They were, in fact, pro-social justice. They just used hammers against technology to prevent mill owners from treating the workers poorly. They were also the best at trolling the local government officials and mill owners (given the limited use of social media of the day.)
The modern view has evolved to make the Luddite anti-technology.
I prefer to believe that, as a self described Luddite, that I am not anti-technology. I am for the appropriate use of technology. I believe that we need to put people ahead of technology wherever possible but allow technology to assist us as necessary.
I would be a hypocrite if I were to lash out against technology while thumping away on a computer keypad while I am listening to my washer/dryer spin in the background.
On the flip side of that I do my level best to make sure to understand the people behind the technology rather than lash out at them for slights or rudeness. I like the way people work through issues but I don't like to see how that happens from time to time (I like sausage, I just don't always want to see it made.)
Some of the things I would like to further examine here are:
The effective use and mis-use of technology by the media.
Fear of the boogieman and how this is used to manipulate public opinion. (Past Luddites used this to great effect to make social changes.)
Effective transportation options for me (a city dweller.)
Social media: How it can be used effectively to create stronger connections to community.
My own successes and disasters regarding appropriate use of technology and social justice.
