Classic & Vintage Commercials Magazine Classic Vintage July 2013 Back Issue

YOU’VE probably heard the
expression luddite, which is
used to describe anybody who
is fearful of change and prefers life
to remain as it is. Nobody knows
for absolute certain where the
word originated, but it is generally
reckoned that it came from a
somewhat unruly youth called
Ned Ludd, who allegedly smashed
two stocking weaving frames in
1779 because he thought that these
mechanical looms were just too
advanced and would rob people of
their jobs.
I’m a bit of a luddite myself – although
I don’t make a habit of going round
smashing up machinery – and it takes me
an awful long time to accept change. For
years, I resisted the temptation to even
recognize that mobile phones existed,
let alone have one. But gradually, it
occurred to me just how useful they are
and now, like the rest of the world, I’ve
got one. However, it is used purely to
make and accept calls when absolutely
necessary and not to take photos with,
send text messages with or to generally
annoy anybody within a 100-yard range
by having it glued to my ear, blaring out
to all and sundry some inconsequential
conversation with some equally-asinconsequential
acquaintance. Why do
people do that? Especially in shopping
queues and trains?
Another bit of technology that I now
fully accept – and use a great deal – is
the internet and e-mails. With e-mails,
in particular, I just couldn’t understand
why you’d bother sending an electronic
message when there were things called
telephones available. It all seemed crazy
to me, until I grasped exactly what
services were available, like sending
photos and stories. What a boon for a
bloke in my job.
But what about you? Are you a
luddite, or do you embrace modern
technology? I am referring, actually, to
the various social networks, such as
Facebook and Twitter. Do you use any
of these networks and would you, given
the chance, follow the fortunes of and
keep in touch with the classic trucking
fraternity using these means?