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/noun/

a pejorative term referring to a person who rejects or dismisses modern technology in favor of older, often obsolete designs, usually for no good reason. unlike a luddite, a retrogrouch doesn’t hate all technology, and is usually motivated more by a belief that their particular favorite era of tech is cool, rather than any particular ideology.

a person can think a particular era of technology is cooler than modern tech without being a retrogrouch, the difference being that the casual enthusiast is usually amiable and willing to admit that their preference is based on subjective/aesthetic taste, and that modern tech is generally superior, while the retrogrouch is abrasive, irrational and tends to sh-t on anything they don’t like.

use of the term is generally limited to community forums dedicated to discussion of specific types of technology, such as bicycles, cars, and firearms.
1)

a: “what’s up with fudd? he seems to hate anything that was made later than 1952”

b: “never mind him, he’s just a f-cking retrogrouch”

2)

a: “the us military should have kept using the m14”

b: “seriously? the m14 was practically obsolete when it was introduced”

a: “i bet you’re some kind of f-ggot who can’t handle 7.62 nato. real men use wooden furniture and heavy calibers,

not plastic toys”

b: “that’s ridiculous. every modern military has moved to intermediates and polymer furniture for a reason. you’re

just being a retrogrouch”

3)

a: “personally, i’m a fan of old-school steel framed bikes”

b: “but carbon is so much lighter!”

a: “oh i know, i’m not some stupid retrogrouch. i just think the old steel ones are cool-looking”
3 more definitions
-noun
1. one who is skeptical of technological developments until their usefulness and reliability have been proven.
2. one who insists on minimalist equipment that may be user-serviced.
3. sagacious but irritable expert.
4. a person who prefers natural and/or organic materials over metals and synthetics.
1. he’s such a retrogrouch; he’s still riding a bike with a brooks leather saddle and friction gear shifters.

2. that retrogrouch is still using a film camera.

3. if it’s not made of wood, it’s not a real sailboat, as far as that retrogrouch is concerned.

one who is too stubborn to learn new technology.
that retrogrouch refuses to learn how to e-mail.
a really cool liberal blog at www.retrogrouch.net