Living with the Amish (C4)

Narj

Narj

Narj

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Has anyone else been watching this? I think it's a fantastic programme and am really enjoying it.

To be truthful, I find it quite moving in a way and it also makes me think that most of us in the "modern world" live a pretty selfish and hollow existence. I'm far from religious but I really do admire the sense of community and common purpose that these people have. I'd even go so far as to say that I envy their uncomplicated way of life.

I wonder if any of the teens will choose to stay? I reckon I would if I had naff all else for me at home. :p
 
I have been watching it, it's good and quite a refreshing change to see this on TV compared to the latest non sense someone in the jungle.
Though I do admit that if I lived like them, I would get easily bored. I also wonder what their life expectancies are as I am pretty sure they are supposed to refuse medical treatment.
 
Fenris said:
I assume that included the wide array of genetic disorders they've acquired over generations of in breeding.
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lol

I don't think he took that into account. :o

In-breeding aside for a second, the lifestyle could be a breath of fresh air to a lot of people. Maybe for a week or two though. :p
 
Fenris said:
I assume that included the wide array of genetic disorders they've acquired over generations of in breeding.
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Harsh - I was in no way wishing to engage in activities that would result in my sister being my mother. :p Good point though - surely they must take in "new blood" now and then - just like the Royals do. :D

Seriously though - I'm a bit of a workaholic and I reckon I'd be quite happy living that sort of life (incest excluded).
 
Been meaning to watch this. The show that Channel 4 had on last year (was it last year, or earlier this year?) where the Amish teenagers were sent out across the world to live with teenagers in different backgrounds was really interesting.

It was almost like they'd just stepped out of a time machine into the future, they were so different.
 
Nexus said:
Been meaning to watch this. The show that Channel 4 had on last year (was it last year, or earlier this year?) where the Amish teenagers were sent out across the world to live with teenagers in different backgrounds was really interesting.

It was almost like they'd just stepped out of a time machine into the future, they were so different.
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Yeah I'm a bit miffed that I missed that previous series - I really want to see it now to see how they reacted. Any idea what it was called as I'd like to see if it's still available for viewing somewhere? :/
 
It was a good watch, just shows how we've lost our way in this country, too busy working all the time and not spending enough time on family/friends and community. (I'm as guilty as the rest ;) )

HEADRAT
 
Watching stuff like this does make me think that choosing to have a simple life has a certain appeal. 100-200 years ago before modern technology really creeped into our everyday lives, whether the satisfaction with life was generally better, especially with more rural communities.

I don't think i could choose it over the opportunity and experience that the rest of the modern world has to offer though, even if there is more risk.

The last program was pretty interesting, i'll have to watch this later.
 
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I think one of the teens on the programme got it right when they said you'd be hard pressed to find 40 people from a local community in the UK that would come together and help someone out these days. The only exception seems to be on reality programmes like DIY SOS, but then that's an exceptional situation.

I definitely agree that society here has lost its way a bit. I remember backpacking and seeing people in what I could only describe as poverty who were still ostensibly happy (their only technological convenience being solar panels + batteries for power).

Regarding the medical assistance refusal point above - it seems that this is not always the case. Wikipedia has a few snippets on it:

wikipedia said:
The Old Order Amish do not typically carry private commercial health insurance. About two-thirds of the Amish in Lancaster County participate in Church Aid, an informal self-insurance plan for helping members with catastrophic medical expenses.[33] A handful of American hospitals, starting in the mid-1990s, created special outreach programs to assist the Amish. The first of these programs was instituted at the Susquehanna Health System in central Pennsylvania by James Huebert. This program has earned national media attention in the United States, and has spread to several surrounding hospitals.[34][35] Treating genetic problems is the mission of Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, which has developed effective treatments for such problems as maple syrup urine disease, a previously fatal disease. The clinic is embraced by most Amish, ending the need for parents to leave the community to receive proper care for their children, an action that might result in shunning.
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I suppose the "simple life" aspect strikes a chime with me seeing as I often daydream about moving to Tibet and becoming a monk to get away from all of life's complexities to be honest. :p Whenever I've travelled for a reasonable length of time, I've not missed my PC, and other gadgets. I've deliberately not taken a mobile phone with me on occasion as well.
 
Yes it does look good lifestyle. I wonder if there are genetic benefits in refusing medical treatment. Probably not.
I also want to run away secretly an become a tibetian monk op.
 
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