The Amish

Kimia · 03-12-2011 4:24am #1

Has anyone had any experience or interaction with the Amish? I find them fascinating and remember seeing some of them in Time Square one year - found it kinda strange that they were in the middle of Manhattan but hey ho.

John Doe1 · 03-12-2011 4:26am

Great bunch o lads

Deki · 03-12-2011 4:28am

There are lots of Amish live around here. Have little stores and farms.

Jesus Wept · 03-12-2011 4:29am

It's Times Square.
I used to also think it was Time Square, pass it on.

Bitta of a drummin going on at the minute.

im invisible · 03-12-2011 4:31am

...knew a lad called Hamish once.

scholar007 · 03-12-2011 4:31am

Kimia wrote: »

Has anyone had any experience or interaction with the Amish? I find them fascinating and remember seeing some of them in Time Square one year - found it kinda strange that they were in the middle of Manhattan but hey ho.

I really like their way of life (seriously) - Are there any in old Ireland? How receptive are they to newcomers?

John Doe1 · 03-12-2011 4:32am

scholar007 wrote: »

I really like their way of life (seriously) - Are there any in old Ireland? How receptive are they to newcomers?

Theres mennonites i think but no amish

chucken1 · 03-12-2011 4:33am

Kimia wrote: »

Has anyone had any experience or interaction with the Amish? I find them fascinating and remember seeing some of them in Time Square one year - found it kinda strange that they were in the middle of Manhattan but hey ho.

Yes I have experience.
Your post makes these people are something to be watched? Like caged animals??

WTF

Deki · 03-12-2011 4:35am

I don't know about Ireland. They work very hard. They want to be viewed as separate from the world but living in it.

Jesus Wept · 03-12-2011 4:36am

What do they work hard at though? Using rudimentary tools to work the land? Or do they do other mainstream jobs?

Kimia · 03-12-2011 4:39am

chucken1 wrote: »

Yes I have experience.
Your post makes these people are something to be watched? Like caged animals??

WTF

Whoa, way to jump to conclusions. I say I find a culture fascinating and would like to learn more (which is usually a good thing) and you leap to the negative. For shame.

John Doe1 · 03-12-2011 4:40am

The-Rigger wrote: »

What do they work hard at though? Using rudimentary tools to work the land? Or do they do other mainstream jobs?

I think they are big into carpentry

Chuck Stone · 03-12-2011 4:41am

Deki wrote: »

There are lots of Amish live around here. Have little stores and farms.

I had one of those little farms when I was a kid. Loved the tractors and little animals.

The Amish are a myth OP. They don't actually exist.

Deki · 03-12-2011 4:44am

Well they make furniture, build and repair things- roofs, masonry, outside buildings. they farm. grow and sell produce, have auctions. They use horses to plow and farm. THey have a bakery and a general store. The store does have electric but it may be from a generator.

Noo · 03-12-2011 4:45am

Tis a fine barn but sure tis no pool, English.

Deki · 03-12-2011 4:50am

Also they don't have zippers. Only buttons and hook and eye fasteners. They make their own clothes.

Jesus Wept · 03-12-2011 4:54am

I only have button fly jeans too, maybe I am am-ish.

chucken1 · 03-12-2011 4:56am

The-Rigger wrote: »

What do they work hard at though? Using rudimentary tools to work the land? Or do they do other mainstream jobs?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish

shannon_tek · 03-12-2011 5:00am

Im surprised no ones put in that video yet. Oh well not my job. but im listening to it. You know the one

policarp · 03-12-2011 5:01am

The-Rigger wrote: »

I only have button fly jeans too, maybe I am am-ish.

I think you're a bit Amiss. . .

Deki · 03-12-2011 5:08am

The men wear suspenders and the married men all have beards and hats. The females have hats too.

3rdDegree · 03-12-2011 5:13am

They drive small black horse drawn carriages. Sometimes people taunt them by sticking ice cream cones in their faces.

Pretty_Pistol · 03-12-2011 5:16am

Yeah, the Amish are odd to see when in big cities. I found orthodox jews weird to see aswell just because I'd never seen them before.

Deki · 03-12-2011 5:18am

I've never seen anyone stick an ice cream cone in any of their faces. In the Fall when they close their produce auction they make homemade ice cream in appreciation and give it away.

Adyx · 03-12-2011 5:36am

That whole cutting each others hair and beards as an insult thing that's going on the moment is a bit mental.

chucken1 · 03-12-2011 5:41am

Adyx wrote: »

That whole cutting each others hair and beards as an insult thing that's going on the moment is a bit mental.

At the moment where?

Kanoe · 03-12-2011 6:12am

There's a small Amish community in Waterford, they make stuff for the country market in town and often see them in and around.

rob180 · 03-12-2011 6:19am

Didn't Harrison Ford did a film years ago called " The Witness " and it's about this crowd?

BluesBerry · 03-12-2011 6:55am

rob180 wrote: »

Didn't Harrison Ford did a film years ago called " The Witness " and it's about this crowd?

Yes and family guy have an episode about them too :pac:

padd b1975 · 03-12-2011 7:20am

2 pages in and not a smart comment about their obsession with the bible to be seen.
Now if this was a thread about catholics.........

abouttobebanned · 03-12-2011 7:21am

I'm friends with a couple of em on Facebook.

Ellis Dee · 03-12-2011 7:52am

rob180 wrote: »

Didn't Harrison Ford did a film years ago called " The Witness " and it's about this crowd?

That's right. And I'd nearly consider abandoning atheism if I got to ride the Amish woman Kelly McGillis as he did in the movie.:):):)

http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsM/11607.gif

sunflower27 · 03-12-2011 7:53am

The-Rigger wrote: »

It's Times Square.
I used to also think it was Time Square, pass it on.

Bitta of a drummin going on at the minute.

I could watch that all day

Was only there once and would love to go back for a visit.

Adyx · 03-12-2011 8:07am

chucken1 wrote: »

At the moment where?

This is the latest report, but it's been going on for quite a while. The forced cutting of married men's beards and women's hair is extremely offensive apparently.

sunflower27 · 03-12-2011 8:10am

Adyx wrote: »

This is the latest report, but it's been going on for quite a while. The forced cutting of married men's beards and women's hair is extremely offensive apparently.

Hairlarious!

Actually, it really isn't, but as far as hate crimes go, they did kind of get off lightly...

Kevin Duffy · 03-12-2011 9:32am

With all the horsedrawn carriages about the centre of town, I like to take a spin around Stephen's Green on weekend nights and pretend I'm in Amish Country.
Sure 'tis a fine party, but you're no Stags, English.

Flaker · 03-12-2011 10:04am

sunflower27 wrote: »

Hairlarious!

Actually, it really isn't, but as far as hate crimes go, they did kind of get off lightly...

It's not really a "hate crime" as such, if they are doing it to each other, is it?

Anyway, I used to live in Chicago and you would often see them in musuems and such like, but not really out and about in the city. And they were usually young - in their teens or early twenties.

Don't they get sent out to "the real world" at this age to see what it's all about before the fully commit to the Amish way.

But yeah, it is strange to see people walking around in a major metropolitan city dressed like they are from an other century.

I was actually really good friend swith a menonite girl from Dakota, but it was hard to get her to talk about her religion. All she would say was that they were pacifists. The impression I got was that they were similar to the Amish in idealogy if not in practice (they used all types of technology).

She was mad - drinking and sleeping around, but I am still in contact with her and know she has settled down A LOT and is now married to a fellow menonite and has kids. So she was probably sowing her wild oats too.

bonzodog2 · 03-12-2011 12:23pm

What sounds like this: "clip clop clip clop clip clop BANG clip clop clip clop clip clop "?

An Amish drive-by shooting

Celly Smunt · 03-12-2011 12:59pm

i used to park in their little sheds for their horses and carriages in the supermarket to keep my car in the shade.

Kojak · 03-12-2011 1:41pm

3rdDegree wrote: »

They drive small black horse drawn carriages. Sometimes people taunt them by sticking ice cream cones in their faces.

And then they fight back, like this Amish guy..

Sonnenblumen · 03-12-2011 1:42pm

padd b1975 wrote: »

2 pages in and not a smart comment about their obsession with the bible to be seen.
Now if this was a thread about catholics.........

Yes religion does appear to be an important (hardly obssessed by bible)aspect of how they live but so too are many other things including family, community, self sufficiency, importance and awareness of nature etc.

They are by many standards conservative and have unique attitudes and rules on what might be consisdered 'modern living trappings and utilities' but no one can ignore that they are a very resourceful and creative community.

Simply making fun of their appearance/lifestyle is facile and nothing more than ignorance on the part of the critic.

There is currently a very interesting documentary series (Channel 4) which offers fascinating viewing and an insight to various aspects of the Amish community.

Benny_Cake · 03-12-2011 1:44pm

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

There is currently a very interesting documentary series (Channel 4) which offers fascinating viewing and an insight to various aspects of the Amish community.

You can see it here: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/living-with-the-amish/4od

Basically British teenagers are sent to spend time with Amish families - it's better than it sounds.

PG4000 · 03-12-2011 1:45pm

Adyx wrote: »

This is the latest report, but it's been going on for quite a while. The forced cutting of married men's beards and women's hair is extremely offensive apparently.

Anybody else find it incredibly ironic that the offending family's surname is "Mullet"?

Kevin Duffy · 03-12-2011 1:49pm

Kojak wrote: »

And then they fight back, like this Amish guy..

An Viggo Mortenson there in the background could knock the bollix outta yah as a Russian copper, Ranger or reformed gangster in his diner, so the Amish as clearly not defencless.

tricky D · 03-12-2011 1:58pm

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

... have unique attitudes and rules on what might be consisdered 'modern living trappings and utilities' but no one can ignore that they are a very resourceful and creative community.

Someone you and I worked with back in the day was on holiday in Belize not long ago where the Amish/Mennonites have a thriving weed trade (legal in Belize).

DEFTLEFTHAND · 03-12-2011 2:05pm

I visited an Amish farm in Lancaster county Pennsylvania with my parents back in 05. I was very exited as I was preparing for my LC the following year and 'Witness' was our film study in English.

The experience was a bit of a let down as most of the visit was spent with them trying to sell us a variety of overpriced handmade garments. They also kept asking if we we're Russian

Ireland didn't seem to register with them at all.

Benny_Cake · 03-12-2011 2:07pm

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I visited an Amish farm in Lancaster county Pennsylvania with my parents back in 05. I was very exited as I was preparing for my LC the following year and 'Witness' was our film study in English.

The experience was a bit of a let down as most of the visit was spent with them trying to sell us a variety of overpriced handmade garments. They also kept asking if we we're Russian
Ireland didn't seem to register with them at all.

Lancaster County has become something of a tourist trap,largely due to Witness and the fact that it is so close to the major eastern cities.A lot of the Amish have moved on to other parts of the States.

03-12-2011 2:44pm

Benny_Cake wrote: »

You can see it here: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/living-with-the-amish/4od

Basically British teenagers are sent to spend time with Amish families - it's better than it sounds.

cool, i saw the amish kids going to live with the brits, this might be interesting

HavingCrack · 03-12-2011 2:51pm

I'm fairly sure there's an Amish girl currently studying in UCD actually. Might be a Mennonite I suppose.

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

The experience was a bit of a let down as most of the visit was spent with them trying to sell us a variety of overpriced handmade garments. They also kept asking if we we're Russian
Ireland didn't seem to register with them at all.

A lot of Americans used to automatically assume I was Russian because of my blonde hair. Maybe the Amish are the same?

Fromthetrees · 03-12-2011 2:52pm

A small Beachy Amish congregation associated with Weavertown Amish Mennonite Church exists in Ireland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish#Population_and_distribution

Saaron · 03-12-2011 2:56pm

When I was in Pennsylvania we visited a little market where some of the Amish community were selling their produce along with many other people from the area. We bought some of their homemade jam and a few other things as presents for family back home.

They seemed pretty normal other than the fact they clearly dressed slightly differently to us. Although some of the girls were even wearing runners.

The Amish

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