Being so far removed from those events now, the term Luddite still persists. However, its meaning morphed into a somewhat pejorative term that identifies someone who is opposed to new technology or ways of working.[1]
The word Luddite has been used to coin more terms, such as luddism, neo-luddite, neo-luddism and luddic (as in the gaming faction called Luddic Church). But, this is an interesting word that deserves a full backform, complete with adjectives, adverbs, verbs and more nouns! These will serve a new purpose in an era when AI is changing the world in a manner that is faster than many are ready. Sure, we have the term technophobia, but that's more about fear of technology rather than being opposed to it.
As the Information Age ramps up with the new AI Boom, let's use these new terms to describe how we interact with technology (assuming we narrow the definition of Luddite to mean someone that is identified as a ludd). This list isn't in alphabetic order to encourage amused perusal.
- ludd (noun) – a person, action or mindset that resists change resulting from technological progress. Backformation of Luddite.
- Example: "The office was full of ludds who avoided the new software."
- ludd (verb) – to resist or sabotage change resulting from technological progress. Backformation of Luddite.
- Example: "He ludds every software update."
- luddish (adj.; informal) – having qualities that are reminiscent of ludd, such as being passively resistant to change that results from progress of technology. Similar to word-forms such as reddish and childish.
- Example: "He gave a luddish groan when I suggested using AI for his project."
- luddical (adj.; formal) – Exhibiting the characteristics of a ludd, such as actively resisting changes from technological progress. Resembles fanatical and heretical.
- Example: "The committee’s luddical stance slowed adoption of new tools."
- luddicity (noun) – the quality of being ludd. Similar to word-forms such as electricity and historicity.
- Example: "Their luddicity is slowing down our adoption of AI."
- luddbomb (verb) – to take away one's phone or other device, typically as a form of punishment.
- Example: "I can't text you later because my parents luddbombed me for being out past curfew last night."
- deludd (verb) – to remove resistance to use of technology or technological progress. Resembles demote and defund.
- Example: "We'll have to deludd our processes to allow for the use of AI in tasks.
- luddophobic (noun) – one who is irrationally fearful of ludds, Luddites or of being a ludd. Similar to word-forms such as hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia and aibohphobia.
- Example: "He was accused of being luddophobic."
- luddly (adv.) – In a manner that is characteristic of ludd; acting with resistance to changes resulting from technological progress. Resembles actively and warmly.
- Example: "She luddly ignored the update, preferring her old methods."
- ludditely (adv.) – In a Luddite manner. Similar to word-forms such as heretically and ironically.
- Example: "They ludditely jumped to conclusions about effectiveness of AI."
- luddful (adj.) – Full of or characterized by luddical behavior or characteristics; actively inclined to oppose technological progress. Resembles prideful and masterful.
- Example: "The luddful staffers are trying to rebel against our most recent process improvements."
- inludd (verb) – to actively insert or introduce luddical resistance into a system, situation or process. Similar to word-forms such as inculcate and infuse.
- Example: "They inludded the workflow by banning cloud-based tools."
- luddify (verb) – to make something old-fashioned or resistant to technological progress. Resembling nullify and electrify.
- Example: "My parents are trying to luddify our home after the recent wifi controversy."
- emludd (verb) – to immerse a system, environment or group with luddical behavior or characteristics. Similar to word-forms such as empower and embody.
- Example: "The manager emludded the office by banning digital tools."
- imludd (verb) – to become luddical or adopt luddicity. Resembles imbue and immolate.
- Example: "She will imludd her use of new apps on her phone."
- antiludd (noun) – a person, action or attitude that promotes or supports technological progress; opposes luddical behaviors or characteristics. Similar to word-forms such as antithesis and antifreeze.
- Example: "I will become the office's antiludd in order to force the use of new technology for much needed process improvement."
- antiludd (verb) – to act in a way that counters luddical behaviors or characteristics; to promote modernization or technological adoption. Resembles antihack and antagonize.
- Example: "Have we been antiludding the office on pace with corporate requirements?"
- ludd out (verb) – aggressively removing particular forms of technology from one's life or environment. Similar to word phrases such as deck out and all out.
- Example, "He ludded out his home to avoid the government from reading his mind while he sleeps."
- luddment (noun) – an instance, example or individual that embodies luddical behaviors or characteristics. Remembles achievement and settlement.
- Example: "The luddment within the department was a clear obstacle to adopting new tools."
- luddology (noun) – the study or application of outdated or old-fashioned processes and technologies, often ironically or nostalgically. Similar word-form to technology and anthology.
- Example: "The luddology used by the artist allows her to recreate the style of photographs from the late 1800's.
- luddfart (noun) – A brief moment where one forgets how to use certain technology before remembering again. Resembles brainfart and codefart.
- Example: "I got a luddfart trying to use this app."
