Loony Loopy Luddite

I'm just wondering...................

Published on January 17, 2005 By dabe In Politics

I have seen this less than affectionate description of left-leaning individuals here at JU, and admittedly, I did not know what a luddite is. So, off I went to OneLook Link my online dictionary of choice to look up the word. Following is the definition I found:

Lud·dite (plural Lud·dites)

noun
1. opponent of new technology: somebody who opposes technological or industrial innovation

2. history 19thC protester against technology: a worker involved in protests in Britain in the 1810s against new factory methods of production and in favor of traditional methods of work

[Early 19th century. Origin uncertain: according to tradition, named for Ned Ludd , an 18th-century farm worker in Leicestershire, England, who destroyed two stocking frames in a fit of rage.]

Lud·dite adjective
Lud·dism noun

OK, so that's the definition. Hmmmmm........ learn something new every day. But, for the life of me, what has this got to do with being a left-leaning person? I am certainly left. But, I am not by any stretch opposed to new technology or innovations. And, I sure was not around in the 19th century to be part of the Luddite Movement. So, this is an analogy, or description, or simile, or whatever, that I just don't understand. In fact, the only reason that I believe the likes of some extremist righties are using it is because it begins with "L" and sounds "clever".

Any of you lefties out there wanna help me out? I've got a few righties blacklisted, and I sure am not opening up my blog to them to answer this. I really do not want this post to become a slugfest, and as word of warning, if anyone gets particularly hateful, I will delete the post, unless of course it becomes fodder for ridicule.

Comments (Page 2)

Dr Guy

on Jan 18, 2005

Hope this helps you create better alliterations.

Insults don't have to be nonsensical to be good

While your list is good, I will stick with mine for now. It captures the spirit of the well, loony loopy luddite left! Present company excepted of course!

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 18, 2005

Yeah, I found the inclusion of luddite to be odd as well. There are some notable luddites among the left, but you'll find them among the right as well.

Dr Guy

on Jan 18, 2005

Yeah, I found the inclusion of luddite to be odd as well. There are some notable luddites among the left, but you'll find them among the right as well.

Check out my article on the Tsunammi. Quoting a Mr. Ferrando. I will not argue that there are some on the right, but it is too easy to find them on the left.

Oh, and Furry, you dont read much do you. But you sure can fling about half truths and mis-statements like A John Kerry. If you want to go off on a loony rant, go for it! It is your reputation after all, or lack there of.

Furry Canary

on Jan 18, 2005

'Oh, and Furry, you dont read much do you.'
So, from his assumption that there is one specific book by Al Gore that I haven't read, Dr. Guy infers that I 'don't read much'? (And it was an assumption only - I never said that I hadn't read the book, only that Dr. Guy imploring the left to refer to it in order to find some justification for the manner in which he insults them is laughable.) I guess that can only mean that Dr. Guy has read EVERYTHING. It's nice to see him maintaining the same levels of cogency and rationale employed in many of his previous arguments, isn't it?

'if you think this man is right wing, then you have alot to learn about politics.'
Er, not just me, Manopeace - Dr. Guy himself wears the label proudly. The fact that he spends so much of his time on this site bad-mouthing anyone he regards as vaguely to the left might have given you a wee hint too.

'Furry did a pretty good job of that.'
Why, thanks dabe! One does one's best, you know ...

Dr Guy

on Jan 18, 2005

So, from his assumption that there is one specific book by Al Gore that I haven't read, Dr. Guy infers that I 'don't read much'? (And it was an assumption only

No, you dont read much. You refuse to read the materials provided to you to back up my claims, and you mis-charactertize my postings, which means you read a couple and ASSUMED. You apparently did not go back and read any of my blogs, or even more of my responses.

It was not an assumption, it was an observation based upon your ignorant rantings and refusal to read material offered.

Er, not just me, Manopeace - Dr. Guy himself wears the label proudly. The fact that he spends so much of his time on this site bad-mouthing anyone he regards as vaguely to the left might have given you a wee hint too.

The pot calling the kettle black. I guess there is no more point in responding to your ignorant posts, as you refuse to educate yourself and have your own prejudice and bigotry. A shame really. It is your loss.

jeblackstar

on Jan 18, 2005

Dr., if anything, among the people that Furry respects, Furry's arguement with you only boosts the reputation. I knew nothing about furry before, but now I can of like him/her.

Cheers

Furry Canary

on Jan 18, 2005

'You refuse to read the materials provided to you to back up my claims'
Dr. Guy: No, I don't! However, it's YOUR job to substantiate your 'claims'. It's not up to me, Al Gore or anybody else.

jeblackstar and dabe: Thank you for your support. As certain contributors know (and I am not blameless here, I admit), it's only too easy to be insulting. However, it can take rather more courage to be kind and constructive. Gideon (see his succinct contribution above) is a fine example of a blogger who consistently refuses to allow himself to be dragged down into name-calling. I don't always agree with his opinions, but I applaud the way he presents them. Something for me to aim for, I think.

Furry Canary

on Jan 18, 2005

At risk of straying a little from the topic of this thread (apologies, dabe), but in the interests of light relief, Dr. Guy's repeated referral to Al Gore's book puts me in mind of one of my favourite jokes ...

One hot summer morning, a tramp is shuffling slowly down a London street. As he passes a swank new building of steel and glass, a well-rounded and expensively tailored businessman comes out through the revolving door and begins to descend the steps towards the Rolls Royce parked in the forecourt.

‘Excuse me, guv’ner,’ says the tramp, ‘Can you spare two bob for a cup of tea?’

The businessman strikes a thespian pose and proclaims, ‘”Neither a borrower, nor a lender be.” – William Shakespeare. You would do well to attend to that advice, my good man.’ And, with a dramatic flourish of his hand, he climbs into the car and purrs away.

Later that same day, the tramp is walking down another road elsewhere in the city when he sees the same Rolls Royce, parked awkwardly at the side of the road, and with a very obvious flat tyre. And there too is the businessman, struggling with the jack in the heat of the midday sun – his smooth round face red and sweat-stained, his Savile Row suit covered in engine oil.

Seeing the tramp approach, the businessman turns and beckons urgently, exclaiming, ‘I say! My man! Come and give me a hand to change this tyre.’

The tramp draws himself up to his full height and replies, ‘”F*ck off.” – D. H. Lawrence.’

dabe

on Jan 18, 2005

Furry, that's a great joke!! And, you should know, I have no problem with straying from topics. I think the tangents are usually more interesting, anyway. One could never accuse me of standing on ceremony, that's for sure.

Thanks mucho for your input into this thread.

Furry Canary

on Jan 19, 2005

My pleasure, dabe. Thanks for sparking a lively debate, and more power to your typing finger!

DNCdude

on Jan 20, 2005

You see dabe there is logic to calling Liberals luddite, you see, it starts with L, no I'm not talking about alliteration, but if a word starts with a letter it can be described by that letter. In a quick study you will find liberals are associated with the Left or with loony, simple really.

Great joke Furry Cannary, this Liberal is Laughing!

dabe

on Jan 21, 2005

DNCdude, that's exactly what I thought. The letter "L" is the only thing that makes this word work with loony and loopy. But, it's a ridiculous word, given who it's being used to describe. Kind of like calling those of the more conservative ilk rusty rancid ropedancers.

thatoneguyinslc

on Feb 17, 2005

It amuses me when they drop the "LLL" bomb on me. I have known for quite a while it was nonsensical. But in Guy's defense, i don't think he's ever called me that.
(Mod and miler are a different story though)

drmiler

on Feb 17, 2005

I "like" being a different story though. I don't recall ever calling *you* an LLL. If I did then I'd like to apologize. Out of the 3 L's I think you maybe only fit one. Left.

Ionolast

on Apr 09, 2005

So the right has gone from calling a left-winger a Loopy Lobotomized Lefty to a Loony Loopy Luddite. Isn't that clever?

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