The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)
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Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)
#2I live outside of Pennsylvania Dutch country and two weeks ago driving in that area I was shocked to see many horse and buggy drivers distracted by their iPhones.
Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)
#3I live outside of Pennsylvania Dutch country and two weeks ago driving in that area I was shocked to see many horse and buggy drivers distracted by their iPhones.
"The Amish don’t always reject a technology, but they have very specific rules about how it is to be used."
Maybe they determined a way to use their iphones without them being harmful? I.e. using specific apps or only in certain circumstances.
Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)
#4It's not just the Amish. Many communities have decided they wish to live at ~1850. It has always made me curious why, what do they know?
If you look deeply in many religions they are the same. Buddhist monks aren't excluded from tech but they certainly dont own any themselves. Why? Because it's something to consider and create desires. Just as they shave their head not because of aesthetics but because now you never have to worry about your hair looking bad.
When you eliminate the unnecessary from your life, you certainly live a happier life.
Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)
#5It's not just the Amish. Many communities have decided they wish to live at ~1850. It has always made me curious why, what do they know? If you look deeply in many religions they are the same. Buddhist monks aren't excluded from tech but they certainly dont own any themselves. Why? Because it's something to consider and create desires. Just as they shave their head not because of aesthetics but because now you never…
No it's that if they leave the Amish they lose their community.
I realize it's cool to fetishize them but think of them like the Jehovah's witnesses.
Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)
#6Good article in general, except for the title. I know many people and see many people online who understand these truths.
The hard part is creating a viable alternative culture that can make collective choices about technology use.
It’s also worth noting that the Amish rely on the ‘English’ I.e. American legal system and military for their defense. Their way of life doesn’t stand alone outside of American society.
Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)
#7I can relate. Even though I own a smart phone, I've turned off all notifications and sounds that can distract me except for incoming calls. Never used Facebook. Don't want a car.
Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)
#8Good article in general, except for the title. I know many people and see many people online who understand these truths. The hard part is creating a viable alternative culture that can make collective choices about technology use. It’s also worth noting that the Amish rely on the ‘English’ I.e. American legal system and military for their defense. Their way of life doesn’t stand alone outside of American society.
They could manage without our legal system, I'm sure, but I think there's some profundity in the military point. It does no good to create some sort of utopia if that utopia hasn't got an answer to smart bombs or paratroopers, etc. The fundamental game theory of the modern world's arms race has to be considered in any attempt to structure the perfect society.
Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)
#9I feel like I have to drop "Technopoly" here, because that's promoting similar concepts. Postman calls out our bias towards adopting new technologies without any reluctance, and without consideration of the hazards of deploying it. He also espouses the view that once a technology is adopted it will self-proliferate up to the point where it becomes wholly outmoded, which at least as far as I can tell appears to be true. So there's this natural blindspot for technology where mankind seemingly sees only upsides, judges it fit for use. Eventually an overarching technic emerges where it's not mankind that is using the technology, but rather technology is using mankind. Like most of Postman, it's a very compelling criticism, and despite its age the points he made are remain salient.
Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)
#10Good article in general, except for the title. I know many people and see many people online who understand these truths. The hard part is creating a viable alternative culture that can make collective choices about technology use. It’s also worth noting that the Amish rely on the ‘English’ I.e. American legal system and military for their defense. Their way of life doesn’t stand alone outside of American society.
Committed pacifists may not feel as much need for the military.