Pessimists Archive
@pessimistsarc.bsky.social
We explore and catalog the history of technophobia and moral panic.
Our newsletter: http://newsletter.pessimistsarchive.org
Our newsletter: http://newsletter.pessimistsarchive.org
Pinned
'Some dont's for the women bicyclist.'
A satirical 1895 article commenting on judgemental attitude towards women cyclists.
A satirical 1895 article commenting on judgemental attitude towards women cyclists.
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
30 years ago this month, the New York Daily News ran this article bemoaning how complicated coffee had become, bemused by Dalton's introduction of pumpkin spice coffee and Starbucks' eggnog lattes, noting that specialty coffee "is a fad--like breweries. It's already peaked."
December 17, 2025 at 1:48 PM
30 years ago this month, the New York Daily News ran this article bemoaning how complicated coffee had become, bemused by Dalton's introduction of pumpkin spice coffee and Starbucks' eggnog lattes, noting that specialty coffee "is a fad--like breweries. It's already peaked."
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
Reminds me of this gem by @xkcd.com 😄 Also, you might occasionally join forces with @pessimistsarc.bsky.social
November 29, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Reminds me of this gem by @xkcd.com 😄 Also, you might occasionally join forces with @pessimistsarc.bsky.social
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
Populism runs on pessimistic nostalgia
December 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Populism runs on pessimistic nostalgia
Populism runs on pessimistic nostalgia
December 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Populism runs on pessimistic nostalgia
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
This, exactly. I call it "opportunistic conservatism". In a societal setting it plays on the basic human instincts of fear and tribalism, which can be easily exploited by populists. Julius Ceaser was one exponent, but the tale goes back far into history.
Because worry is driven by fear it is very vulnerable to hijack by self-interested populists.
So many of the unfounded concerns we share originate from societal elites trying to preserve cultural, political or economic power.
So many of the unfounded concerns we share originate from societal elites trying to preserve cultural, political or economic power.
December 3, 2025 at 3:51 PM
This, exactly. I call it "opportunistic conservatism". In a societal setting it plays on the basic human instincts of fear and tribalism, which can be easily exploited by populists. Julius Ceaser was one exponent, but the tale goes back far into history.
Because worry is driven by fear it is very vulnerable to hijack by self-interested populists.
So many of the unfounded concerns we share originate from societal elites trying to preserve cultural, political or economic power.
So many of the unfounded concerns we share originate from societal elites trying to preserve cultural, political or economic power.
December 3, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Because worry is driven by fear it is very vulnerable to hijack by self-interested populists.
So many of the unfounded concerns we share originate from societal elites trying to preserve cultural, political or economic power.
So many of the unfounded concerns we share originate from societal elites trying to preserve cultural, political or economic power.
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
Once it was books, now its laptops & mobile phones.
Everything changed while at the same time nothing changed.
Everything changed while at the same time nothing changed.
November 28, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Once it was books, now its laptops & mobile phones.
Everything changed while at the same time nothing changed.
Everything changed while at the same time nothing changed.
People take the best of yesterday and compare it to the average/below average of today and present it as evidence of a decline from the good old days.
This fallacy needs a name. The Apex-Average Fallacy?
This fallacy needs a name. The Apex-Average Fallacy?
November 29, 2025 at 12:20 AM
People take the best of yesterday and compare it to the average/below average of today and present it as evidence of a decline from the good old days.
This fallacy needs a name. The Apex-Average Fallacy?
This fallacy needs a name. The Apex-Average Fallacy?
193 years ago Henry Colburn observed:
“objects of the highest importance to mankind, on their first appearance, are slighted and condemned. Posterity smile at the ineptitude of the preceding age, while it becomes familiar with those objects, which that age so eagerly rejected”
“objects of the highest importance to mankind, on their first appearance, are slighted and condemned. Posterity smile at the ineptitude of the preceding age, while it becomes familiar with those objects, which that age so eagerly rejected”
November 3, 2025 at 11:30 PM
193 years ago Henry Colburn observed:
“objects of the highest importance to mankind, on their first appearance, are slighted and condemned. Posterity smile at the ineptitude of the preceding age, while it becomes familiar with those objects, which that age so eagerly rejected”
“objects of the highest importance to mankind, on their first appearance, are slighted and condemned. Posterity smile at the ineptitude of the preceding age, while it becomes familiar with those objects, which that age so eagerly rejected”
Hace 30 años también estaba colapsando internet (vía @pessimistsarc.bsky.social).
October 21, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
Italy has discovered us 🇮🇹
Pessimists archive è un sito che raccoglie esempi storici di resistenza al cambiamento tecnologico, sociale o culturale. L’editoriale di Giovanni De Mauro.
Nuove
Per dormire meglio bisogna smettere di leggere prima di andare a letto. La bicicletta fa male alla salute. Ascoltare la radio può danneggiare le capacità cognitive. Pessimists… Leggi
www.internazionale.it
September 18, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Italy has discovered us 🇮🇹
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
Rolling Stone, 20 years ago:
- There are too many virgins!
- How will Apple keep growing?
- Vaccines cause autism?!?
- There are too many virgins!
- How will Apple keep growing?
- Vaccines cause autism?!?
September 6, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Rolling Stone, 20 years ago:
- There are too many virgins!
- How will Apple keep growing?
- Vaccines cause autism?!?
- There are too many virgins!
- How will Apple keep growing?
- Vaccines cause autism?!?
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
Happy Birthday Google
For many of your 27 years you were called a lazy vice. Finally you have attained the status of a thoughtful virtue of the good old days.
🥂 🥳
For many of your 27 years you were called a lazy vice. Finally you have attained the status of a thoughtful virtue of the good old days.
🥂 🥳
September 27, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Happy Birthday Google
For many of your 27 years you were called a lazy vice. Finally you have attained the status of a thoughtful virtue of the good old days.
🥂 🥳
For many of your 27 years you were called a lazy vice. Finally you have attained the status of a thoughtful virtue of the good old days.
🥂 🥳
Happy Birthday Google
For many of your 27 years you were called a lazy vice. Finally you have attained the status of a thoughtful virtue of the good old days.
🥂 🥳
For many of your 27 years you were called a lazy vice. Finally you have attained the status of a thoughtful virtue of the good old days.
🥂 🥳
September 27, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Happy Birthday Google
For many of your 27 years you were called a lazy vice. Finally you have attained the status of a thoughtful virtue of the good old days.
🥂 🥳
For many of your 27 years you were called a lazy vice. Finally you have attained the status of a thoughtful virtue of the good old days.
🥂 🥳
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
The media outlets rightly admonishing RFK Jr. need to reckon with their own roll in his rise to prominence.
In 2005 Rolling Stone and Salon would publish his op-ed ‘Deadly Immunity’ linking vaccines to autism in children, based on tiny - later retracted - British study.
In 2005 Rolling Stone and Salon would publish his op-ed ‘Deadly Immunity’ linking vaccines to autism in children, based on tiny - later retracted - British study.
November 22, 2024 at 6:51 AM
The media outlets rightly admonishing RFK Jr. need to reckon with their own roll in his rise to prominence.
In 2005 Rolling Stone and Salon would publish his op-ed ‘Deadly Immunity’ linking vaccines to autism in children, based on tiny - later retracted - British study.
In 2005 Rolling Stone and Salon would publish his op-ed ‘Deadly Immunity’ linking vaccines to autism in children, based on tiny - later retracted - British study.
Do you have a fun example of resistance to new things in the past? Reach out! Seeking contributors and collaborators.
September 18, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Do you have a fun example of resistance to new things in the past? Reach out! Seeking contributors and collaborators.
Italy has discovered us 🇮🇹
Pessimists archive è un sito che raccoglie esempi storici di resistenza al cambiamento tecnologico, sociale o culturale. L’editoriale di Giovanni De Mauro.
Nuove
Per dormire meglio bisogna smettere di leggere prima di andare a letto. La bicicletta fa male alla salute. Ascoltare la radio può danneggiare le capacità cognitive. Pessimists… Leggi
www.internazionale.it
September 18, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Italy has discovered us 🇮🇹
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
I swear if some of you saw an electric light bulb for the first time you'd be all "its so impractical and expensive, who even has a generator? We just just use cheap, renewable whale oil"
April 29, 2025 at 10:05 PM
I swear if some of you saw an electric light bulb for the first time you'd be all "its so impractical and expensive, who even has a generator? We just just use cheap, renewable whale oil"
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
Pessimists Archive educates people on and archives the history of technophobia and moral panics
See gadgeteer.co.za/pessimists-a...
#conspiracytheory #FUD #technology
See gadgeteer.co.za/pessimists-a...
#conspiracytheory #FUD #technology
Pessimists Archive educates people on and archives the history of technophobia and moral panics
Pessimists Archive is a project to jog our collective memories about the hysteria, technophobia and moral panic that often greets new technologies, ideas and
gadgeteer.co.za
September 9, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Pessimists Archive educates people on and archives the history of technophobia and moral panics
See gadgeteer.co.za/pessimists-a...
#conspiracytheory #FUD #technology
See gadgeteer.co.za/pessimists-a...
#conspiracytheory #FUD #technology
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
“Our forefathers had to carry water in pails; chop their own firewood to keep themselves warm; hew their own homesteads out of wilderness; walk miles to the nearest neighbour to borrow books.” (1928)
August 17, 2025 at 3:14 PM
“Our forefathers had to carry water in pails; chop their own firewood to keep themselves warm; hew their own homesteads out of wilderness; walk miles to the nearest neighbour to borrow books.” (1928)
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
If anyone builds it, everyone dies (global telegraphy) newsletter.pessimistsarchive.org/p/telegraph-...
Telegraph Doomers of the 19th Century - Part 1
Like the web, telegraphy brought rapid changes in society along with very familiar anxieties and criticisms.
newsletter.pessimistsarchive.org
September 6, 2025 at 9:44 PM
If anyone builds it, everyone dies (global telegraphy) newsletter.pessimistsarchive.org/p/telegraph-...
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
The RFK Jr. article has its own Wikipedia entry lmao
Deadly Immunity - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
September 6, 2025 at 9:59 PM
The RFK Jr. article has its own Wikipedia entry lmao
Rolling Stone, 20 years ago:
- There are too many virgins!
- How will Apple keep growing?
- Vaccines cause autism?!?
- There are too many virgins!
- How will Apple keep growing?
- Vaccines cause autism?!?
September 6, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Rolling Stone, 20 years ago:
- There are too many virgins!
- How will Apple keep growing?
- Vaccines cause autism?!?
- There are too many virgins!
- How will Apple keep growing?
- Vaccines cause autism?!?