stoppimist

Stoppimist is a neologism used to describe a loosely defined set of ideas and proponents who argue for deliberately slowing or pausing certain aspects of modern life, technoscientific expansion, and economic acceleration. The term first appeared in online forums and think pieces in the early 2020s, and its etymology is often described as a blend of "stop" with a positive connotation such as optimism or activism, though precise origins vary by author.

Despite its vagueness, stoppism is typically framed around deceleration rather than retreat. Advocates emphasize revaluing time, community, and ecological limits, and question the assumption that continual growth and unbounded technological change are inherently beneficial. Core principles may include sufficiency over perpetual optimization, localism, mindful consumption, and governance that prioritizes risk assessment, precaution, and resilience.

Practices associated with stoppism include taking deliberate breaks from rapid information and consumer cycles, adopting slower or low-tech lifestyles where feasible, and supporting policy or corporate norms that slow deployment of disruptive technologies, especially where social or environmental costs are uncertain. Some writers align stoppism with similar critiques found in degrowth, the slow movement, or tech-mutism critiques, while others view it as a provisional stance rather than a fixed ideology.

Critics argue that stoppism can verge on impractical nostalgia, hinder scientific progress, or romanticize stagnation. Proponents counter that it offers a frame for evaluating trade-offs and can complement reforms that aim for sustainable and equitable development.

Related concepts include degrowth, the slow movement, and precautionary technology governance.