What Does 'The Industrial Revolution And Its Consequences' Mean? The Unabomber Quote Turned Meme And Copypasta Explained

Ted Kaczynski, better known to some as the Unabomber, died in June 2023, leaving a curious wake of quirky fans who may or may not fully comprehend his philosophies. A popular quote attributed to his work is "The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race." But what does this mean, and how is it used in memes?

Who Is Ted Kaczynski, The Unabomber?

Ted Kaczynski is a domestic terrorist known for his primitivist beliefs and for a bombing campaign he undertook in order to stall advancements in modern technology and the destruction of the environment. Before Kaczynski was arrested for killing three people and injuring 23 others in 1995, he penned a manifesto titled "Industrial Society and Its Future."

But before the Unabomber decided to mail bombs to people from his remote cabin in forested Montana, he lived a life as a Harvard-educated math professor. His intellectual aptitude and his message about the perils of modern technological progress seem to resonate with a lot of children in the age of the iPad kids.

What Does 'The Industrial Revolution And Its Consequences' Mean?

"The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race" was the first line in the Unabomber's nearly 100-page long manifesto, titled, "Industrial Society and Its Future." The essay delved into the ways in which Kaczynski thought industrialization and technological advancements had harmed humans and the environment while smothering human freedom and potential.

Similar ideologies criticizing breakneck technological progress began to gain steam in meme communities in the late 2010s, and Kaczynki's quote became a hallmark of primitivist tendencies as a whole.

For the full history of "the Industrial Revolution and its consequences," be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.