A Gracious Invitation
to join herewith & posthaste the Company of the Luddites
RESPECTFULLY we wish to edify the reader about the nature of the Luddite Rebellion. At the risk of oversimplifying a most complicated and multifaceted uprising, which was impell’d by various and sundry Economic, Political, Technological, & Social Forces, at the root of this rebellion was a vigorous defense of Quality.
Led gloriously by the General Ned Ludd, these proud craftspeople who came thusly to be known as Luddites, bore within their bosoms grave concerns about how Technological innovations would harm their Trade of Knitting. They were, after all, people of great talent and skill who Labored and Studied to perfect those self-same talents and skills. The Luddites feared not Technology for its own sake. Nay, they feared new Machines would produce goods of inferior quality, while simultaneously negatively affecting their wages. Indeed, they were most aggrieved such Technology would “make fraudulent & deceitful manufactures to the discredit & utter ruin of their Trade.” Thus, took they up great hammers to destroy the Hated Machines.
Hearken, good people of the Noble Craft of Public Relations, does the plight of the Erstwhile Luddites not stir in thyself a recognition of a contemporary threat? Tho’ we forbear to name Generative Artificial Intelligence a Villain, does it not possess certain similarities insomuch as it may be injurious to the Fair and Upright PR Practitioner? With the benefit of this our History, does not AI portend a Calamity against those whose stock and trade is the Written Word? Uncheck’d may not AI spew forth fraudulent & deceitful manufactures? Good People of Public Relations, it has already done thusly.
But fear not. Whereas we are in possession of the Knowledge and Skills to tame Generative Artificial Intelligence, we do hereby pray you join our Modern Assembly. Join with us to protect the Quality of the Written Word. Pick up thy metaphorical Hammer—not to strike the Machines. Nay! Pray the Hammer represent the collective efforts of our Craft to harness the Machines, to bid them work to our benefit and not to be injurious. To ensure their just and fair and equitable use. To be thoughtful in their application, and to use them for Good Works and not for Ill. To be myndful of when we should employ the Machines and when we must reject their Employment. And, above all things, to Teach future generations of Fair & Upright PR Practitioners to likewise wield their own Hammers.
Given under my Hand, this 10th day of April 2024.
Ned Ludd’s Office
Sherwood Forest.