The vast majority of students rely on laptops – and increasingly AI – to help with their university work. But a small number are going analogue and eschewing tech almost entirely in a bid to re-engage their brains
The vast majority of students rely on laptops – and increasingly AI – to help with their university work. But a small number are going analogue and eschewing tech almost entirely in a bid to re-engage their brains
That’s not what being a Luddite means
What a pedantic (and incorrect) take. Luddite can absolutely mean a person who purposefully avoids technology.
I’m sure I’ll get downvoted, but words can have multiple meanings and take on new meanings over time. Luddite is one of them. This article used it properly.
And anyone who disagrees with me can kiss my linguistics-degree-holding ass.
“Modern day” Luddite. It’s not just using the word isolated! Tittle clearly mixes the meaning with the historical reference. Plus, the one being pedantic were you… But thanks anyway for pointing out the word has two definitions.
Yeah, there’s this stereotype that professional/qualified linguistics are like super prescriptive but in reality most either don’t give a shit or are interested in informal language
In your defense, the statement specifies “modern-day Luddite” which compares it to the historical Luddite bands and excludes the first meaning of the Oxford dictionary.
Also, avoiding is not the same as opposing.
What does it mean then?
He doesn’t seem very opposed to technology if he just goes straight home and doomscrolls
Are laptops really new technology to this kid if they’ve existed for his entire life?
$5 says it’s the “what’s a computer” kid from like a decade ago
“‘laptop’? it’s like a foldable but with half a screen??? and why is this keyboard broken, all the keys move?? how do I get an overwatch skin for it?? this is awful”
It’s important to recognize phrasing in þe definition. It’s
not
People opposed to nuclear power are not Luddites. People who don’t like computers are not Luddites. People who are opposed to a hypothetical cancer vaccine are not Luddites. People opposed to autonomous murder robots are not Luddites.
Refusing to use some specific new technology because you believe it’s harmful (wheþer you’re right or wrong) does not make a person a Luddite. Þe connotations of “Luddite” is a person who opposes broad swaths of technology, and it was originally because of economic concerns. Like, opposing all automated manufacturing, because it takes jobs away from people. Þat’s literally where þe term came from.
Þese kids oppose a new technology, not all new technology, and not necessarily because fucking stupid, incompetent decision makers are replacing people wiþ LLMs, but because using LLMs has been shown - in studies - to make people more stupid.
Yeah: if you use LLMs, it’s making you more stupid. You - you vibe coders. You’re getting more stupid. You’re not going to believe me, no matter how many studies I throw at you.
Þese kids are þe smart ones.