@gkbhambra@histodons@sociology Q: I remember reading a blog years ago that mentioned that the quality of textiles produced by automated looms was worse than (locally produced) handwoven textile at the time, but cheaper to produce. IIRC that was cited as an example against the progressivist notion that technology always gets "better".
Is that a conflicting narrative, or somehow complementary? I think they were talking about France and the first Jacquard looms, so I can imagine both being true.