Main Entry: Ludd·ite
Pronunciation: 'l&-"dIt
Function: noun
Etymology: perhaps from Ned Ludd, 18th century Leicestershire workman who destroyed machinery
Date: 1811
: one of a group of early 19th century English workmen destroying laborsaving machinery as a protest; broadly : one who is opposed to especially technological change
Luddite adjective
[sub]PERHAPS from Ned Ludd?!? No, I understand … more etymological research is needed to see if the word ‘Luddite’ came from Adam Smith.[/sub]
Opposed to technological change? Damn right! Just where do you get off being[ul][li]A college graduate[]An educated person[]An active contributor to the SDMBA moderator of not one, not two, but at least THREE Diplomacy games[/ul]and not have a connection to the internet at home? This is inexcusable.[/li]
Look, I have irrefutable proof. You’re a medievalist. The only people interested in that subject are social outcasts who played D&D. I’m proof of that - a sample of one - I don’t need a larger sample at all. I know when I’m right!
Those same social outcasts sought solace in BBSes, Usenet, and virtual communities online around the globe. This is more irrefutable proof - you’ve got well over a thousand posts! Therefore you MUST be a maladjusted socially inept klutz. There is no other possible explanation. (Valued and respected member of the community? Ha!) Again, I extrapolate from a sample of one.
Wait, I had a point here somewhere.
So why the hell don’t you have a computer at home?! All geeks do. I’ve conclusively proven that you are one. What self-respecting fencer doesn’t have one? Hmpf. You, sir, are clearly not a geek.
Damnit, I’m contradicting myself. Either I have to reconcile this somehow, or disappear in a puff of logiDO :1 <- #0$#256[1 J^P$L$$J <.-Z; .,(S,$ -D .)FX1 @F^B K :L I G1 L>$$
NO CARRIER
Luddite? You don’t know the half of it. I have it from a reliable source that Maeglin dosen’t even have a phone at his house. I think he’s secretly Amish.
Sigh. The classiest way to turn a pit rant around on the person who started it is to do what you just did. I’ll just have to take solace in the fact that my only TV watching is CNN or the History channel.
If I recall correctly, Maeglin is in in Grad school at the momment, and I suspect a rather good one, as he/she (?) mentioned turning down Princeton/Peter Brown. So the decision to cut out all distractors is probably out of neccisity–no matter how strong your passion, some days it is diffucult to make onself study hundreds of pages of bad latin in a Monestatic ledger to figure out how many quarts of milk were per produced per cow per day if there is anything else to do.
Btw Maeglin, a friend of mine just got a full ride to Princeton and Peter Brown as thesis advisor–I am debating whether or not to tell ihm what you told me about age limiting the Grand Old Man’s interaction with his students. What do you think?
Maeglin, I really respect your decision to eschew the mass media for the comfort of the printed page. I myself can barely bring myself to watch the Simpsons once a week, I have so little interest in TV.
But you must, you simply must, find some method of adjuticating these Diplomacy games. My Jannissaries have just taken St. Petersburg, for God’s sake! You can’t leave troops like that in the barracks…they require combat, conquest, looting and pillaging to sate their insane thirst for blood! It is a well known fact that Emperors who do not find employment for skilled combat veterans often find those very same veterans getting restive…there are always charismatic generals with unseemly notions of their own importants.
Have you no compassion? No pity? My troops must march. Europe awaits. If you cannot provide space for my victorious armies to conquer, I’m afraid I’m going to have to turn them against YOU. Consider yourself warned. Ever been in a Turkish prison? Enough said.
Lemur, your post demands clarification. The Teeming Millions need to know where your troops are marching. They need direction. Inquiring minds must know!
Ha! Pern is not one of my literary weaknesses. I didn’t even read McCaffrey when I was a wee barn.
Ask all you want, but I will not reveal which shitty-ass fantasy authors have me under their thumbs.
Mnem
Damn straight, man. Speaking of Old English, you should definitely read The Battle of Maldon. I think you would like it.
LNO
You flatter me waaaaay too much, bro. People are going to start having expectations, you know?
Manda Jo
Two clarifications: Maeglin is most definitely of the male persuasion, and he is not yet in grad school. I’m going back next September. To Columbia, where I did my undergrad work.
I would hope he knows Master Brown’s limitations already from speaking to his students. If he doesn’t, then I definitely think you should tell him. Peter Brown is not the Golden Goose he once was. Or so everyone seems to think.
Lemur
Yah, man, I hear ya. It’s been tough with the internet down for awhile and work being generally hellish. I’ll get the results out today.
Dude, there is a difference. First, you are considerably more accomplished in every way than I am. I am but a young, snide upstart.
More importantly, you have the chair. You could sit in the chair, play with your ass hair, and still be a better person.
Uncle! I’ve read everything she has ever written. With the exception of the last hundred pages or so of Assassin, she does have storytelling skills. There are one or two nastier skeletons in my closet.
Very well. I will begin gently. Marial, Liber II: 21.
Jonathan Chance
Uhh…no. It’s old English, bearn, from the OE verb beran, to carry, to bear. Hence it means child.
Now that I’ve used the guaranteed success as my opening salvo, I have to maintain this accuracy. Give me a day or so and I’ll predict another of your skeletons …
I can only maintain one war at a time while at work. You’ll get your love poetry from me, but damned if I’m going to insult you at the same time. You’ll get what’s coming to you later tonight, though.
