All Hail King Ludd!

So, Amy called me a "Luddite."  I looked it up.  On the internet.  OK?

Forgive me for being fascinated by this little piece of historical trivia.  I didn't pay much attention in high school, and probably missed this story while filing my nails.  Since I believe everything I read, I am going to forgo using words like "apparently" and "allegedly" and just go for broke:  A couple of kids ridiculed 18th century Englishman Nedd Ludd for being a big dummy.  In retaliation, he grabbed a hammer and smashed up the kids' mother's stocking frame.

A stocking frame, pictured above, is a knitting machine.

In the 19th century, English textile workers started smashing up new textile machines which they felt threatened their livelihood.  These new machines could be operated by less-skilled workers, and probably less workers in general.  The Ned Ludd story doesn't really match the sentiment of the Luddites, but they both started some shit.  People who resist technological progress are referred to as Luddites. 

During a discussion regarding handhelds and blackberries, I added that I really like the visceral properties of my little green notebook.  I like writing stuff down with a pen, and flipping pages made of paper.  That's when Amy lovingly called me the "L" word. 

I liked the answering machine when it came out, mostly because I could make a really theatrical outgoing message.  When call waiting arrived on the phone scene, though, I got ticked.  I still don't like being bothered by that little beep on my line, or the click/silence on the other person's line.  Call me spineless, but I just haven't mastered the art of call waiting etiquette.  Now, when caller ID came around, I felt better about call waiting, but who doesn't get their feelings a little hurt by a call waiting snub?  Be honest. 

After many attempts, my mother and brother had to entice me to peruse something called the "World Wide Web" by showing me that there were pictures of the Monkees there.  I didn't acquire a cell phone until a few years ago, well after most of my friends and family.  What if I didn't want to be reached?   And don't get me started about the pitfalls of electric knives and breadmakers. 

The stocking frame story is particularly relevant to me because I am a knitter.  I'm no professional, but looking at websites that sell perfect machine-made pocketed scarves with neat buckles and buttons is disappointing.  The fact that most people would not know the difference between a handmade piece of clothing and a machine-made one is probably the thing that really disturbs me. 

Granted, my clothes are not all handmade, and I own a breadmaker that I am more than a little excited about christening.  I am writing this blog on MySpace after all.  But if I was stuck in a breadmakerless world, I could bang out some sick sourdough.  I read an article (with horrendous spelling errors - another lost art, unfortunately) where this guy claimed to be a neo-Luddite, but he only held unnecessary technology in contempt.  PDA's, automated kitty litter trays, and remote controls with 53 buttons?  They just aren't useful in this girl's life.  That's why I'm proud to be a Luddite.  I will continue to knit, create quilts, send handwritten notes, and keep a cute little paper date book.  And look at MySpace.  Be patient with me, I'll come around.