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
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.”
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"
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…
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
Populism runs on pessimistic nostalgia
December 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Populism runs on pessimistic nostalgia
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”
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.
🥂 🥳
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?!?
They said this about the bicycle in 1893 predicting the "evolution of a round-shouldered, hunched-back race"
September 3, 2025 at 4:23 PM
They said this about the bicycle in 1893 predicting the "evolution of a round-shouldered, hunched-back race"
“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)
Defence attorneys for kids love to scapegoat new technologies and trends. The media loves to write about it and lawmakers love to propose ‘solutions’ to the ‘problem.’
Often it is a waste of time, distracting from real problems and solutions to them.
(1977)
Often it is a waste of time, distracting from real problems and solutions to them.
(1977)
August 15, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Defence attorneys for kids love to scapegoat new technologies and trends. The media loves to write about it and lawmakers love to propose ‘solutions’ to the ‘problem.’
Often it is a waste of time, distracting from real problems and solutions to them.
(1977)
Often it is a waste of time, distracting from real problems and solutions to them.
(1977)
The 1980s was a time when technology was rapidly reshaping youth culture/childhood.
- Video games
- Walkman
- Pagers
- VHS
Adults absolutely lost their MINDS.
- Video games
- Walkman
- Pagers
- VHS
Adults absolutely lost their MINDS.
August 14, 2025 at 11:42 AM
The 1980s was a time when technology was rapidly reshaping youth culture/childhood.
- Video games
- Walkman
- Pagers
- VHS
Adults absolutely lost their MINDS.
- Video games
- Walkman
- Pagers
- VHS
Adults absolutely lost their MINDS.
"It remains to be proved how fast the brain is capable of traveling” The New York Times, 1904
August 12, 2025 at 9:13 PM
"It remains to be proved how fast the brain is capable of traveling” The New York Times, 1904
99 years ago
“Solitude, with its opportunity to think, is a thing of the past”
“We have a movie eye, a radio ear, a newspaper brain, and automobile nerves”
“Solitude, with its opportunity to think, is a thing of the past”
“We have a movie eye, a radio ear, a newspaper brain, and automobile nerves”
August 12, 2025 at 12:50 PM
99 years ago
“Solitude, with its opportunity to think, is a thing of the past”
“We have a movie eye, a radio ear, a newspaper brain, and automobile nerves”
“Solitude, with its opportunity to think, is a thing of the past”
“We have a movie eye, a radio ear, a newspaper brain, and automobile nerves”
In the 1980s it was illegal to make a VHS recording of a TV show in Britain.
One suggested compromise was to allow it but only if people wiped the tapes after 28 days.
One suggested compromise was to allow it but only if people wiped the tapes after 28 days.
August 9, 2025 at 10:20 PM
In the 1980s it was illegal to make a VHS recording of a TV show in Britain.
One suggested compromise was to allow it but only if people wiped the tapes after 28 days.
One suggested compromise was to allow it but only if people wiped the tapes after 28 days.
August 6, 2025 at 12:56 AM
In 1988 the UK Conservative Party tried to pass a law that would make it illegal to keep a VHS TV recording for longer that 28 days...
August 3, 2025 at 11:03 PM
In 1988 the UK Conservative Party tried to pass a law that would make it illegal to keep a VHS TV recording for longer that 28 days...