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To: ReignOfError
In the Wired article, the elders were just starting to consider cell phones, but it was written in 1999, so I guess they've resolved that.

I have a group of Amish men doing some work on my house. I was shocked to see a cell phone on the eldest man. I asked him about it and he said if they want work they need to be able to get in contact with the outside world. He turns it on 7AM and it gets shut off at 4PM no exceptions. The battery is charged up on his generator
788 posted on 10/02/2006 11:48:31 AM PDT by boxerblues
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To: boxerblues

I live in Amish country, Milroy, PA near State College. Amish cannot use electronics such as telephones. You will find no computers, TVs or telephones. Their business' can use cell phones.


830 posted on 10/02/2006 11:55:51 AM PDT by franky (Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.)
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To: boxerblues
I have a group of Amish men doing some work on my house. I was shocked to see a cell phone on the eldest man. I asked him about it and he said if they want work they need to be able to get in contact with the outside world. He turns it on 7AM and it gets shut off at 4PM no exceptions. The battery is charged up on his generator

That jibes with my limited understanding of the Amish approach to technology. Land in PA is expensive, and Amish communities aren't able to support themselves entirely by farming any more; so as they venture into other areas of business, they have to make concessions to enter into commerce with the English.

It's not too dissimilar to Orthodox Jews. There's an orthodox temple near my house, and on Saturdays I see a large number of people on the sidewalk making their way to services. The small parking lot at the temple is also full. Parishioners who are elderly, or handicapped, or who otherwise can't or shouldn't walk to temple aren't viewed any less favorably than the folks who can and do walk.

The key point is that most "plain folk" -- Amish, Mennonites, Orthodox Jews, and like-minded communities -- don't have a doctrinaire opposition to technology. What they oppose is selfishness, isolation, luxury and vanity. It's not a world-view I share, but it's well thought out, constantly re-examined, and worthy of respect.

The technologies that we use in our daily lives as a matter of convenience, they would accept, but only as a matter of necessity. For example, in today's school shooting, I would guess that evacuating the wounded children by ambulance and helicopter will not raise a whisper of protest.

1,215 posted on 10/02/2006 2:13:38 PM PDT by ReignOfError
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