Share 'Did things used to be better?'

For some years now I have been sort of a Luddite. Occasionally I get into arguments about this with people, and hit a wall when they accuse me of dreaming of a non-existant pre industrial romantic ideal. So I was wondering can anyone here provide some evidence that things used to be better? My views on this, as many views on complex matters can be, have been cobbled together somewhat haphazardly…