Evil Luddite: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
[[Science Is Bad]]? [[New Technology Is Evil]]? [[Ludd Was Right]]? Well, probably not. But don't tell that to these guys. They're utterly convinced that technology is evil...and so is anyone who uses it. They burn down factories, engage in [[Fantastic Racism]] against [[
Characters like this are generally villains in [[Science Fiction]]. In stories with a [[Nature Hero]], they might exist (as the [[Big Bad]] or a second villainous faction) to provide a foil. A story where [[Ludd Was Right]] might have this accidentally if the protagonist is too much of a [[Designated Hero]]. Contrast with the generally peaceful [[Space Amish]].
{{examples}}▼
▲{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'' features a terrorist organisation who are opposed to cyborgs. While they aren't shown doing anything directly evil {{spoiler|they did kidnap the teenage daughter of a CEO because she had a new cyberbrain treatment done to her. When the heroes find her, she looks about 70 (despite having only been in their "care" for less than 2 decades), has a daughter nearly as old as the time she was kidnapped and looking at her memories [[Driven to Suicide|drove the last rescue team to suicide]].}}
== [[Comic Books]] ==
* In ''[[Magnus, Robot Fighter]]'' #42, "Fear Unlimited", Derkaiser, leader of the anti-robot Rob-Routers, is actually Dr. Laszlo Noel, who wants to get rid of the robots so he can rule North Am himself. He tries a [[Not So Different]] speech on Magnus, who only smashes evil robots, and points out that Derkaiser is himself using robots to restrain the hero.
* For the sake of sheer ridiculousness, the [[Marvel Comics]] supervillain [[Meaningful Name|Turner D. Century]] must be mentioned here. With his pinstriped suit and tandem bicycle, he meant to dial back society to its pre-1900s glory. He was killed along with several other villains in a [[Bad Guy Bar]]. Then his clone was killed by [[Deadpool]]. Needless to say, Marvel doesn't take him very seriously
== [[Film]] ==
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* Played with in ''[[Dune]]'' with the Teilaxu. In theory, they keep within the bounds of the Buterlian Jihad's proscriptions against thinking machines. However, instead of developing computers or other technology, they focus on biology, creating shapeshifters, clones of dead people, and other questionably ethical products.
* In the world of [[Time Scout]], the good guys are all enthusiastic about time travel and exploration, the bad guys want to shut it down because. Because.
* [[Villain Protagonist| Napoleon]] in ''[[Animal Farm]]''. The schism between him and Snowball starts when he objects to Snowball's idea to increase productivity on the farm by building a windmill. After Snowball is driven off, a windmill is indeed built, Napoleon taking credit for the idea, but never implements any other modernizations like running water and electric lights, insisting that the happiest animals live simple lives, even though nobody is happy at all.
== [[Live
* On ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'', the episode "Paradise" features [[Space Amish]] whose leader (and her son) both turn out to be this trope (having {{spoiler|marooned the rest on the planet by forcing them to forsake technology}}).
** Averted by the Ba'ku from ''[[Star Trek: Insurrection|Star Trek Insurrection]]'', who ''are'' portrayed as an idealistic agrarian society.
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* The Restorian of ''[[Andromeda]]'' who seek to end slipstream travel.
** Ironically, their leader is an insane [[Sapient Ship|warship]].
* In ''[[Psych]]'s'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20130926125430/http://htk.clubpsych.usanetwork.com/story_assets/HTK/index.html Hashtag Killer] game, the titular serial killer turns out to be {{spoiler|an old greeting card maker and calligraphist who is incredibly bitter over the fact that the internet has "ruined" personal communication and put him out of business.}}
== [[Tabletop
* The Clockstoppers of ''[[Genius: The Transgression]]'' are
** Not to mention some are able to [[Face Monster Turn|turn normal humans into this trope]] and raise a [[Torches and Pitchforks]] style mob regardless of how much they really like technology or the titular genius'.
* The Jovian Republic from ''[[Eclipse Phase]]'' was founded by these. Granted they might have a point, as this is a setting ten years after the [[After the End|RobotApocalypse left Earth uninhabitable]]. At the same time, their higher-ups are not necessarily as opposed to tech as their party line suggests, it's just a way to keep all the shiny, shiny tech away from the unwashed masses.
** And even the Jovians consider neo-primitivists to be [[Knight Templar|a little too hardline]].
* From the ''[[Ravenloft]]'' setting, Vlad Drakov, Darklord of Falkovnia is this ''and'' an [[Evil Reactionary]], but this Trope is one of many reasons he is a [[General Failure]]. He is fixated on "old fashioned" methods of warfare that were the norm of his homeworld of [[Dragonlance| Krynn]], refusing to allow magic-users or gunpowder weapons in his armies. Because the Realms that border Falkovnia either have Renaissance-level technology, powerful wizards, or both, his swordsmen and archers are routinely slaughtered by the flintlock and wheellock firearms of the oppositions' soldiers, or are turned to ash by the Fireballs and Lightning Bolts of enemy wizards. Even worse, any time he attempts to invade Darkon (and later Necropolis) soldiers slain on his side quickly become zombies under Lord Azalin's command. All his attempts as a result have been [[Epic Fail]]s, each more epic than the last, further and further cementing his reputation as a laughable upstart.
== [[Video Games]] ==
* The Church of Yevon in ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'' claims that technology was what brought [[The Dragon|Sin]] on the world and encourage [[Fantastic Racism]] against the Al Bhed (who salvage and use technology). {{spoiler|[[Corrupt Church|They have no problems using it themselves]] and know full well where Sin actually came from.}}
* The Retros from ''[[Wing Commander (video game)|Wing Commander]] Privateer'' are on the same level as the pirates and Kilrathi.
* ''[[Deus Ex:
* ''[[Vega Strike]]'' has an [[Expy]] of Retros from ''[[Wing Commander (video game)|Wing Commander]]'', "Interstellar Church of True Form's Return" (as in, "Luddite [[X Meets Y|meets]] [[Manifest Destiny]] theology"), whom everybody else calls
* The eponymous "Dark Project" in the first ''[[Thief]]'' game is the Trickster's plan to take humanity back to the Stone Age.
* Several cases in ''[[Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura]]'', in part due to the fact that technology and magick interfere with each other. King Praetor of Cumbria forbids technology in his realm, because {{spoiler|he came to power in a mage-backed coup d'etat, "disappearing" his brother to the Isle of Despair}}. Also the Dark Elves, though in this case Luddism is only part of their package (their objective is to restore Elven dominance over the world). Finally, in [[The Time of Myths|the Age of Legends]], {{spoiler|Arronax destroyed the technological civilization of Vendigroth because their technology was growing too advanced and threatened the dominance of the Elven Council}}.
== [[Web Original]] ==
* The main villain of ''[[Suburban Knights]]'' - though his [[Backstory]] explains that he hates technology because he wound up ostracized after the king decided to favor his scientist friend instead of him, a wizard. He kills people for relying on cars full of gizmos, calling people on cell phones and watching TV. Still, {{spoiler|[[Hypocrite|he has an iPhone, says it's not technology, and using it is not being a hypocrite]].}}
* ''[[SCP Foundation]]'' has Yaldabaoth, a godlike entity worshipped by practitioners of Sarkicism. According to the creation myth believed by both Sarkicism and their enemies the Church of the Broken God, Yaldabaoth and Mekhane (the Broken God) created humanity as a joint project, but came to blows over what path their evolution should take. Mekhane favored gifting them with ingenuity and creativity, giving them the ability to create technology and advanced civilization, while Yaldabaoth believed all humans needed was the instinct and primal nature exhibited by animalistic predators plus the cunning and willpower that sets them apart. The battle ended with Mekhane sundering himself in order to imprison Yaldaboath, and to this day, the Sarkicism followers are trying to free him while Mekhane's worshippers are trying to find the components of his body to reassemble him. Now, while Yaldaboath may not be ''truly'' evil (as one could argue he only had good intentions) and the Church of the Broken God can be an extremist cult at times, the atrocities committed by Yaldaboath's followers are rather horrendous, making them the black side of a [[Grey and Black Morality]] conflict.
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* The League of Flesh and Blood from an episode of ''[[Defenders of the Earth]]'' were a group of three individuals who claimed to despise robots and computers, claiming humans were becoming too dependent on them. As it turned out, this hatred was a result of them [[You Are What You Hate| actually ''being'' androids]], the realization of what they were causing a rather bad case of [[Pinocchio Syndrome]].
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:Villains]]
[[Category:Evil Luddite]]
[[Category:Technology Tropes]]
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