The Amish

[pontifex]

On Friday I went to Wal-Mart to get a few things and there was an Amish family there. As I was heading to the checkout I passed the Electronics section. They had the big HDTVs out playing the Jungle Book. As I walked by, there were two young Amish boys watching it.

They had huge smiles on their faces and you could tell they were really enjoying it.

I don't know much about the Amish but I was just thinking that it has to be tough to be an Amish kid in today's world. So much neat stuff out there that you aren't allowed to have or use. Maybe they don't really mind because of their upbringing? If you don't get to go to places like Wal-Mart where you can see this stuff, I guess you would't really know about it.

 

[Kirby]

I'm surprised that there would be Amish in Wal-Mart.

 

[Jeff7]

Give it another hundred years. When we're all using electric cars and 3D TV sets, the Amish will be driving gas-powered cars, and will own HDTV sets.

They drive horse and buggy now, but at one time, the wheel and axle was a form of advanced technology.

 

[techs]

Don't the Amish children from some sects leave home for a year at about 18 to experience the real world and see if they want to live the Amish lifestyle?

 

[bapace]

They were probably Mennonite, not Amish. The two are always confused since the dress similar.

 

[Electric Amish]

I don't have any children...

 

[SlickSnake]

They thought they were looking at something forbidden and taboo. I bet they have to watch all their movies at smallwart. They should set up some seats and charge them admission.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: bapace
They were probably Mennonite, not Amish. The two are always confused since the dress similar.

It's possible, but there are Amish in this area.

 

[daveshel]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Give it another hundred years.

Unfortunately, their gene pool is too shallow. Their community tend to be smallish and closed, so they end up marrying their cousins. Their ability to produce genetically competitive offspring is challenged to the point that I would not give long odds on their having a viable community in 100 years.

 

[tw1164]

I took a call from an office manager when I was a CSR w/ AT&T (2002-3?). All the phone were analog w/ plans that offered 10 mins for $85 (or something crazy like that). I suggested that they upgrade to digital to save money. The lady explained that the phones were for employees of an Amish roofing business. She explained that the owners have to get the "OK" from the Elders to get the phones, and the phones had to be "inconvenient" to use. The phones had to be left in the cars (not driven by the Amish of course).

 

[Greenman]

Perhaps they were smiling because they had both just passed some gas.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: tw1164
I took a call from an office manager when I was a CSR w/ AT&T (2002-3?). All the phone were analog w/ plans that offered 10 mins for $85 (or something crazy like that). I suggested that they upgrade to digital to save money. The lady explained that the phones were for employees of an Amish roofing business. She explained that the owners have to get the "OK" from the Elders to get the phones, and the phones had to be "inconvenient" to use. The phones had to be left in the cars (not driven by the Amish of course).

My uncle lives on a hill above an Amish farm. At the end of the driveway is one of those booths like you see for kids that are waiting for a bus. That is the Amish guy's office and he has a phone in it. I think he makes furniture as his business. it's probably 75 yards or more from the house.

 

[DarkThinker]

Originally posted by: bapace
They were probably Mennonite, not Amish. The two are always confused since the dress similar.

I had for one semester a Mennonite roommate, jeez that guy was f'ed up.
Get this, he was majoring in Computer Science And Engineering (I was too), but he didn't own a computer and that wasn't because he couldn't afford on either!! He was in conflict about who he was and what he wanted. His parent's influence on him was insane, he grew up in a very sheltered environment and I am sooo glad I am not him.

He was given the delusion that his sheltered existence allowed him to feel superior to others in terms of education and so forth. He had no Engineering skills yet he thought he was the next Linus or something, poor guy, he used to get dominated by the class every time he interrupted an engineering seminar professor to try and tell him he is wrong.

 

[Engraver]

Originally posted by: DarkThinker

Originally posted by: bapace
They were probably Mennonite, not Amish. The two are always confused since the dress similar.

I had for one semester a Mennonite roommate, jeez that guy was f'ed up.
Get this, he was majoring in Computer Science And Engineering (I was too), but he didn't own a computer and that wasn't because he couldn't afford on either!! He was in conflict about who he was and what he wanted. His parent's influence on him was insane, he grew up in a very sheltered environment and I am sooo glad I am not him.

He was given the delusion that his sheltered existence allowed him to feel superior to others in terms of education and so forth. He had no Engineering skills yet he thought he was the next Linus or something, poor guy, he used to get dominated by the class every time he interrupted an engineering seminar professor to try and tell him he is wrong.

Was his name Bobby Bouche, and did his professor look like Colonel Sanders?

 

[zinfamous]

I've seen the Amish in airports, which is a bit baffling. I had no idea that there were horse-drawn Airo-mobiles. really makes you think....

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish
I don't have any children...

When I read the thread title, I thought "he doesn't have any kids."

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: bapace
They were probably Mennonite, not Amish. The two are always confused since the dress similar.

oh yeah, I forgot about that.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
I've seen the Amish in airports, which is a bit baffling. I had no idea that there were horse-drawn Airo-mobiles. really makes you think....

again, unless you saw a horse and buggy outside the airport, they might have been Mennonites. that, or they were waiting for a family friend or something.
who knows, I don't know how the Amish live their lives these days. I assume it's still all anti-modern, but eventually that's going to hinder their lives because we are growing near to the time where you will have to have electronics. but it sounds as if it's up to the elders, so yea, eventually they will make slow progress out of necessity.

 

[amdskip]

We have a hitching post for them at our walmart.

 

[Mucho]

Originally posted by: techs
Don't the Amish children from some sects leave home for a year at about 18 to experience the real world and see if they want to live the Amish lifestyle?

You saw Kingpin too, eh.

 

[Analog]

I take my Amish farrier to Wal Mart all the time. There's nothing taboo about Amish in Wal Mart. They can go there. They can ride air planes and cars. They just cant drive them themselves. I think there is a lot of ignorance around here about the Amish. They only shun technology that enables people to be independent. Anything that breaks down the community, family or dependence upon one another is deemed as bad. If electricity means that you don't need your neighbor to help you build something, then its no good. That simple. Our society rewards those who 'can do it on their own' Amish are just the opposite. HTH.

 

[pstylesss]

The Amish are very cool people. I stayed in an Amish community for a couple days... extremely nice. I've never had better grilled chicken in my life. All of them are a bit different. I know in the community I stayed in, electricity was a no no, but using a generator was okay.

Mennonites are more liberal than Amish and are usually the people you see using more modern conveniences.

You can't build a barn or house faster than the Amish can, even with all the tools we have.

 

[ThePresence]

I was raised without a television too.
It's really not that big of a deal.

 

[altonb1]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
I'm surprised that there would be Amish in Wal-Mart.

They may be Mennonite, which is not as strict as Amish. Since OP's profile says he is from PA, I'm going to guess he was in the Lancaster area. There is a fairly large Mennonite presence in the area. They dress as Amish, but I've seen them in cars rather than horse/buggies.

So...that may explain it.

 

[mooglemania85]

TTIWWP of hot amish chicks.