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The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)

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41–50 of 143 posts

Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)

#41
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like depends on whether or not they are using their iPhone while operating their horse and buggy.

To be fair, a horse and buggy is somewhat self-driving. The horse knows how to walk and stop and when to make a noise if something goes awry.

Can the horse and buggy automatically move out of the way if someone else is about to hit it?

Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)

#42

It'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…

https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/buddhist-monks-with-the... It's more complicated than that. Always. The monks I've known accept modern science, medicine, etc cheerfully. It's not really relevant to Buddhist spirituality any more than the advent of frozen fish sticks was. It's fine to LARP 1850 if that's your bag. But people who truly wish to live in the confines of that era will have children who die of cholera.…

Just a simple example is seeing Buddhist monks having a watch around their wrist. I actually saw one with an apple watch.

Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)

#44
post #38
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Could they? If they were outside the legal system I would simply steal their land and build McMansions on it.

Are laws the only thing preventing you from stealing?

Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)

#45

It'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.

Yes, the shunning is problematic. But there is one key difference between Jehovah's Witnesses and the Amish, in this respect: The Amish encourage their teenagers to go experience the modern world, before making that commitment. Among Jehovah's Witnesses, that kind of pre-commitment behavior would lead to (reversible) soft-shunning.

I think the rational play for an Amish youth would be to not commit to the religion, but live the lifestyle. That's not really feasible for a young adult who was brought up as a JW child, after a certain age. They would be gradually excluded from their baptized cohorts, even if never shunned outright.

Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)

#46
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, a horse and buggy is somewhat self-driving. The horse knows how to walk and stop and when to make a noise if something goes awry.

Can the horse and buggy automatically move out of the way if someone else is about to hit it?

Yes but you shouldn't rely on it and should always be paying attention. We're hoping that the next version of horse should be fully autonomous.

Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)

#47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are places where owning a car is a burden. I have lived in such a place and I didn't like it. There are pther places where owning a car is pretty much essential. I'd give up computers and the internet entirely before I gave up my car.

Really curious what those places are. Because for me it's the other way around. I live in a Dutch city where you can get around easily by walking, biking or public transport. And for those rare occasions I need a car, I use a car sharing service. Don't know if you live in car-dependent suburbia(most people do), but that doesn't sound appealing at all.

There are probably farmers no too far outside your city that need trucks and other vehicles. I’m not a farmer, and much prefer a lifestyle like yours. But the people growing the food you eat have a different lifestyle.

Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)

#48
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, a horse and buggy is somewhat self-driving. The horse knows how to walk and stop and when to make a noise if something goes awry.

Can the horse and buggy automatically move out of the way if someone else is about to hit it?

Yes. It is a horse. Horses are completely capable of independent movement.

Re: The Amish have negotiated a pact with modernity (2018)

#49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They also make use of solar panels on their farms. They just don't use public power.

I don't know a lot about the Amish, but my understanding is that it's less about the technology itself and more about its effects (as is the focus of this article) and also the dependencies it creates. The Amish are OK with using electricity as long as they can generate it themselves. They don't want to be dependent on a utility to provide it.

Yes, it's common for Amish carpenters to use lot's of modern power tools in the course of their work, but will often remove the electric motor and replace it with a belt drive that is powered by a water wheel or similar.
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