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.
1899: Minister writes to police re female cyclists, Capt. responds they "wear shorter dresses than the laws of morality and decency permit"
Woman retorts he “must be very hard up for subjects. Perhaps he considers that he has conquered the devil in his own dominions.”
Woman retorts he “must be very hard up for subjects. Perhaps he considers that he has conquered the devil in his own dominions.”
January 23, 2026 at 2:57 AM
1899: Minister writes to police re female cyclists, Capt. responds they "wear shorter dresses than the laws of morality and decency permit"
Woman retorts he “must be very hard up for subjects. Perhaps he considers that he has conquered the devil in his own dominions.”
Woman retorts he “must be very hard up for subjects. Perhaps he considers that he has conquered the devil in his own dominions.”
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
This won’t work and it’s not the right solution. Regulate social media, not kids.
House of Lords votes to ban social media for Brits under 16
House of Lords votes to ban social media for Brits under 16
As public consultation kicks off, members of UK Parliament's second chamber highlight damage to children
UK government is edging closer to following Australia in blocking under-16s from social media accounts after the House of Lords voted in favor of a ban.…
dlvr.it
January 22, 2026 at 12:18 PM
This won’t work and it’s not the right solution. Regulate social media, not kids.
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
Hello Bluesky! Let me reintroduce myself!
My name is Kirby Ferguson and I'm best known for making the OG video essay series Everything is a Remix (2012-ish.) A new version of that series was completed last year and I'm very proud of it. You can watch that below.
Come say hi!
My name is Kirby Ferguson and I'm best known for making the OG video essay series Everything is a Remix (2012-ish.) A new version of that series was completed last year and I'm very proud of it. You can watch that below.
Come say hi!
Everything is a Remix (2023 Edition)
YouTube video by Kirby Ferguson
youtu.be
November 15, 2024 at 6:40 PM
Hello Bluesky! Let me reintroduce myself!
My name is Kirby Ferguson and I'm best known for making the OG video essay series Everything is a Remix (2012-ish.) A new version of that series was completed last year and I'm very proud of it. You can watch that below.
Come say hi!
My name is Kirby Ferguson and I'm best known for making the OG video essay series Everything is a Remix (2012-ish.) A new version of that series was completed last year and I'm very proud of it. You can watch that below.
Come say hi!
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
Everything competes for attention, so everything is in competition with everything else.
1896 @nytimes.com article reports on book sellers blaming the bicycle boom on falling book sales
January 16, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Everything competes for attention, so everything is in competition with everything else.
1896 @nytimes.com article reports on book sellers blaming the bicycle boom on falling book sales
January 16, 2026 at 4:55 PM
1896 @nytimes.com article reports on book sellers blaming the bicycle boom on falling book sales
1900: Librarian says free libraries = too much reading
“Great care must be exercised by parents to see that their children do not read too much”
“When visiting a school recently 3 pupils in one room were noticed reading books under their desks"
“Great care must be exercised by parents to see that their children do not read too much”
“When visiting a school recently 3 pupils in one room were noticed reading books under their desks"
January 16, 2026 at 1:35 AM
1900: Librarian says free libraries = too much reading
“Great care must be exercised by parents to see that their children do not read too much”
“When visiting a school recently 3 pupils in one room were noticed reading books under their desks"
“Great care must be exercised by parents to see that their children do not read too much”
“When visiting a school recently 3 pupils in one room were noticed reading books under their desks"
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
1926: less radio, less reading in bed
2026: MORE please
2026: MORE please
2026 new year resolutions : cycle, read, play chess MORE
1926 new year resolutions: cycle, read, play chess LESS
1926 new year resolutions: cycle, read, play chess LESS
January 2, 2026 at 4:43 PM
1926: less radio, less reading in bed
2026: MORE please
2026: MORE please
The downsides of new things are an indictment.
The downsides of old things are endearing.
The downsides of old things are endearing.
January 15, 2026 at 6:30 PM
The downsides of new things are an indictment.
The downsides of old things are endearing.
The downsides of old things are endearing.
In 1913 the creator of Kellogg’s corn flakes predicted what babies would look like in the 21st century…
January 15, 2026 at 2:35 PM
In 1913 the creator of Kellogg’s corn flakes predicted what babies would look like in the 21st century…
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
You either die a disruptor, or live long enough to see yourself become an incumbent
January 11, 2026 at 12:33 PM
You either die a disruptor, or live long enough to see yourself become an incumbent
You either die a disruptor, or live long enough to see yourself become an incumbent
January 11, 2026 at 12:33 PM
You either die a disruptor, or live long enough to see yourself become an incumbent
2026 new year resolutions : cycle, read, play chess MORE
1926 new year resolutions: cycle, read, play chess LESS
1926 new year resolutions: cycle, read, play chess LESS
January 2, 2026 at 4:14 PM
2026 new year resolutions : cycle, read, play chess MORE
1926 new year resolutions: cycle, read, play chess LESS
1926 new year resolutions: cycle, read, play chess LESS
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
Virtues of today were vices in the past. Did people have opposite New Year’s resolutions? (Via our newsletter newsletter.pessimistsarchive.org/p/new-years-...)
2024: Read more
1924: Read less
2024: Cycle more
1924: Cycle less
2024: Play more chess
1858: Play less chess
2024: Read more
1924: Read less
2024: Cycle more
1924: Cycle less
2024: Play more chess
1858: Play less chess
New Year's Resolutions of the Past: Vices That Became Virtues
Virtues we now aspire to were once habits people vowed to quit
newsletter.pessimistsarchive.org
January 1, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Virtues of today were vices in the past. Did people have opposite New Year’s resolutions? (Via our newsletter newsletter.pessimistsarchive.org/p/new-years-...)
2024: Read more
1924: Read less
2024: Cycle more
1924: Cycle less
2024: Play more chess
1858: Play less chess
2024: Read more
1924: Read less
2024: Cycle more
1924: Cycle less
2024: Play more chess
1858: Play less chess
Reposted by Pessimists Archive
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”
Virtues of today were vices in the past. Did people have opposite New Year’s resolutions? (Via our newsletter newsletter.pessimistsarchive.org/p/new-years-...)
2024: Read more
1924: Read less
2024: Cycle more
1924: Cycle less
2024: Play more chess
1858: Play less chess
2024: Read more
1924: Read less
2024: Cycle more
1924: Cycle less
2024: Play more chess
1858: Play less chess
New Year's Resolutions of the Past: Vices That Became Virtues
Virtues we now aspire to were once habits people vowed to quit
newsletter.pessimistsarchive.org
January 1, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Virtues of today were vices in the past. Did people have opposite New Year’s resolutions? (Via our newsletter newsletter.pessimistsarchive.org/p/new-years-...)
2024: Read more
1924: Read less
2024: Cycle more
1924: Cycle less
2024: Play more chess
1858: Play less chess
2024: Read more
1924: Read less
2024: Cycle more
1924: Cycle less
2024: Play more chess
1858: Play less chess
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”