The Northwest in contrast to this had a higher prevalence of cotton looms. This was a newer industry, and consequently the social and legal institutions surrounding the workforce were not as strong. Their writings thus involved more oblique threats towards manufacturers rather than legalistic appeals.

Yorkshire, however, with a larger focus on croppers were long established, but also without the legal recognitions and traditions of the Midlands. The industry was decentralized, but they were also more violent, both in threats and actions. Rather than appeals to legal institutions, their violence was more direct towards the owners of machines and their threats more aimed at the authorities, advising them to stay out of their way. Their songs were better as well.

It's hard not to read these writings and make comparisons to the present burgeoning of AI. Will industries with a longer history of labor protection, unions, and credentialism martial their institutions to their defense? Will newer industries such as software engineering resort to more drastic measures? Are the artists even truly threatened? Almost nobody cares if the back end of their apps is written with AI, but there is a visible disgust towards AI art online, even if it isn't a ubiquitous disgust. The arts is probably the industry that seemingly has the most community support. Whatever neo-Luddism there is today seems much less economically focused and more aesthetic. But then again, my sample size is mostly from lurking online comments where most people see themselves as potential artists.