Even the Amish know about it!

honeybunny · 06-10-2008, 03:19 PM

I live and work in a very heavily Amish area. I was eating lunch in the local 'country' sit-down restaurant, reading my Kindle. One of the Amish waitresses came up and said "Ooooh! Is that one of those Kindle book things??" She's probably 18 or so. It made me giggle, then I gave her a tour. I was just so surprised because I have kind of had it in my mind that not too many non-geeks even know the Kindle exists. She seemed really pleased when I told her you don't need a computer to use it. Around here all the Amish have cell phones, so I guess a Kindle would be allowed.

zelda_pinwheel · 06-10-2008, 03:28 PM

holy cow, if even the *amish* know about it, it must be *huge*.

actually though (and please forgive my ignorance), i thought amish rejected *all* recent technology ? now i discover they have cell-phones and kindles ?? do they read their kindles by candle-light ? seriously, i'm sincerely confused.

(hilarious thread title though)

honeybunny · 06-10-2008, 03:30 PM

There are different 'rules' and it depends on what the elders of your particular district say. It is not a unified religion. The gist of the rules is to preserve family unity and cut back on distractions. Phones in the house are distracting, cell phones for 'emergency use' are not as distracting. Again, they are not all the same.

Cthulhu · 06-10-2008, 03:39 PM

So far as I know, "black bumper" Amish still eschew television. The waitresses reaction to the need for a computer makes me think that her sect of the cult is against those too.
All this leads me to wonder whether media coverage of this device is so prevalent that even a group that gets news from papers, and maybe radio knows about it, or did this girl learn of it from other customers, or was she surfing the internet during "Rumspringa?"

Seriously, if the Amish are hip to Amazon's jive. None of us are safe from them.

Madam Broshkina · 06-10-2008, 04:18 PM

Does not surprise me at all. I have known some hip Amish in my time.

honeybunny · 06-10-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

So far as I know, "black bumper" Amish still eschew television. The waitresses reaction to the need for a computer makes me think that her sect of the cult is against those too.

Just FYI, the use of the word 'cult' here would be pretty offensive to some.

And the non-Amish words for the Amish like 'black bumper' and 'horse and buggy' are not really accurate either. The different groups are just as nuanced as different Christian denominations.

zelda_pinwheel · 06-10-2008, 04:25 PM

Madam B for the win ! as always.

RickyMaveety · 06-10-2008, 04:28 PM

I've known a few Amish as well. It's always been my understanding that they believe that technology is not only distracting, but that to the extent one must use it, then man should control the technology and not the other way around.

I have often seen them coming into San Diego by train to visit relatives that were being treated for cancer in Mexico ... I've never seen an Amish family coming into town at the airport. So, that makes me think that there are levels of technology that are allowed over time.

I had no idea that different sets of elders created different rules for each community. I find that fascinating. Allowing cell phones in emergencies makes sense to me ... and actually, a Kindle would make sense as well, in that, it's just the written word (barring putting music on it) in a different medium. The experience is really the same ...

Cthulhu · 06-10-2008, 04:48 PM

HoneyBunny:

To be perfectly clear, I meant no such singular offense. They are all cults as far as I am concerned. By that I mean whether you believe in angry white bearded sky-wizards or zombies who are they own father,omnipotent squid or elephants or color operating on the 49th dimension.

At any rate, I still wonder if Amazon is advertising in print like SONY does for its Reader.

vivaldirules · 06-10-2008, 04:55 PM

And now for something totally off-topic: MB, would you mind telling us how many of those totally bizarre (i.e., awesome) album covers you own and the story behind how you came upon them? I don't mean to hijack the thread but I'm dying to find out.

mores · 06-10-2008, 05:12 PM

They reverse white-rimmed tires and remove the radio, but read on a kindle?

DixieGal · 06-10-2008, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mores

They reverse white-rimmed tires and remove the radio, but read on a kindle?

Maybe the waitress was thinking they were allowed to use kindling?

honeybunny · 06-11-2008, 10:11 AM

Cthulu, I was not personally offended (not being Amish) but thanks for your clarification. Just in case an Amish person comes here to read the forum.

FWIW, the Amish are allowed to drive and use computers and phones while they are AT WORK as well. They are sure as heck allowed to operate cash registers and credit-card machines in their tourism shops.

I have yet to see a Kindle advertised in print media. I do not watch TV with commercials at all (we download things or watch DVDs, we don't even have satellite or cable TV) so I miss out on all the TV commercials (haha).

WillAdams · 06-11-2008, 10:58 AM

The problem is that the original meaning of ``cult'' 1) a religious system of belief. has been subsumed by the pejorative definition of 2) a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox or extremist. You may mean 1, but most people will perceive 2, which is to be blunt, offensive when describing another person's belief system which is honestly believed in, orthodox, and not extreme.

William

Barcey · 06-11-2008, 12:29 PM

With the gas prices they're just ahead of their time.

It's actually more about humility and anti pride (Hochmut) then being against technology. Everyone is equal in the eyes of god so if you have something like a fancy Kindle that makes you think you're better then your peers it would be frowned upon. Decisions on what is allowed or not is normally made by the elders in each community so there are no central rules. An 18 year old is an 18 year old though and they'll make their own rules.

06-10-2008, 03:19 PM	#1
honeybunny Connoisseur Posts: 96 Karma: 76 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Brisbane, AU Device: Kindle 2 GSM	Even the Amish know about it! I live and work in a very heavily Amish area. I was eating lunch in the local 'country' sit-down restaurant, reading my Kindle. One of the Amish waitresses came up and said "Ooooh! Is that one of those Kindle book things??" She's probably 18 or so. It made me giggle, then I gave her a tour. I was just so surprised because I have kind of had it in my mind that not too many non-geeks even know the Kindle exists. She seemed really pleased when I told her you don't need a computer to use it. Around here all the Amish have cell phones, so I guess a Kindle would be allowed.

06-10-2008, 04:18 PM	#5
Madam Broshkina Manic Do Fuse Posts: 2,312 Karma: 3325462 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony 500, 505, 350, Kindle 3, DXG, nook, Irex DR800SG, iPad	Does not surprise me at all. I have known some hip Amish in my time. Attached Thumbnails

06-10-2008, 03:28 PM	#2
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	holy cow, if even the amish know about it, it must be huge. actually though (and please forgive my ignorance), i thought amish rejected all recent technology ? now i discover they have cell-phones and kindles ?? do they read their kindles by candle-light ? seriously, i'm sincerely confused. (hilarious thread title though)

06-10-2008, 03:30 PM	#3
honeybunny Connoisseur Posts: 96 Karma: 76 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Brisbane, AU Device: Kindle 2 GSM	There are different 'rules' and it depends on what the elders of your particular district say. It is not a unified religion. The gist of the rules is to preserve family unity and cut back on distractions. Phones in the house are distracting, cell phones for 'emergency use' are not as distracting. Again, they are not all the same.

06-10-2008, 03:39 PM	#4
Cthulhu Technologist Posts: 488 Karma: 585237 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I'm between Cities Device: SONY Reader PRS-500	So far as I know, "black bumper" Amish still eschew television. The waitresses reaction to the need for a computer makes me think that her sect of the cult is against those too. All this leads me to wonder whether media coverage of this device is so prevalent that even a group that gets news from papers, and maybe radio knows about it, or did this girl learn of it from other customers, or was she surfing the internet during "Rumspringa?" Seriously, if the Amish are hip to Amazon's jive. None of us are safe from them.

06-10-2008, 04:25 PM	#7
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	Madam B for the win ! as always.

06-10-2008, 04:28 PM	#8
RickyMaveety Holy S**T!!! Posts: 5,213 Karma: 108401 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Diego, California!! Device: Kindle and iPad	I've known a few Amish as well. It's always been my understanding that they believe that technology is not only distracting, but that to the extent one must use it, then man should control the technology and not the other way around. I have often seen them coming into San Diego by train to visit relatives that were being treated for cancer in Mexico ... I've never seen an Amish family coming into town at the airport. So, that makes me think that there are levels of technology that are allowed over time. I had no idea that different sets of elders created different rules for each community. I find that fascinating. Allowing cell phones in emergencies makes sense to me ... and actually, a Kindle would make sense as well, in that, it's just the written word (barring putting music on it) in a different medium. The experience is really the same ...

06-10-2008, 04:48 PM	#9
Cthulhu Technologist Posts: 488 Karma: 585237 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I'm between Cities Device: SONY Reader PRS-500	HoneyBunny: To be perfectly clear, I meant no such singular offense. They are all cults as far as I am concerned. By that I mean whether you believe in angry white bearded sky-wizards or zombies who are they own father,omnipotent squid or elephants or color operating on the 49th dimension. At any rate, I still wonder if Amazon is advertising in print like SONY does for its Reader.

06-10-2008, 04:55 PM	#10
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	And now for something totally off-topic: MB, would you mind telling us how many of those totally bizarre (i.e., awesome) album covers you own and the story behind how you came upon them? I don't mean to hijack the thread but I'm dying to find out.

06-10-2008, 05:12 PM	#11
mores Guru Posts: 834 Karma: 102419 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vienna, Austria Device: iPhone	They reverse white-rimmed tires and remove the radio, but read on a kindle?

06-11-2008, 10:11 AM	#13
honeybunny Connoisseur Posts: 96 Karma: 76 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Brisbane, AU Device: Kindle 2 GSM	Cthulu, I was not personally offended (not being Amish) but thanks for your clarification. Just in case an Amish person comes here to read the forum. FWIW, the Amish are allowed to drive and use computers and phones while they are AT WORK as well. They are sure as heck allowed to operate cash registers and credit-card machines in their tourism shops. I have yet to see a Kindle advertised in print media. I do not watch TV with commercials at all (we download things or watch DVDs, we don't even have satellite or cable TV) so I miss out on all the TV commercials (haha).

06-11-2008, 10:58 AM	#14
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,258 Karma: 3439432 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	The problem is that the original meaning of ``cult'' 1) a religious system of belief. has been subsumed by the pejorative definition of 2) a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox or extremist. You may mean 1, but most people will perceive 2, which is to be blunt, offensive when describing another person's belief system which is honestly believed in, orthodox, and not extreme. William

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06-11-2008, 12:29 PM	#15
Barcey Wizard Posts: 1,531 Karma: 8059866 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Device: Kobo H2O / Aura HD / Glo / iPad3	With the gas prices they're just ahead of their time. It's actually more about humility and anti pride (Hochmut) then being against technology. Everyone is equal in the eyes of god so if you have something like a fancy Kindle that makes you think you're better then your peers it would be frowned upon. Decisions on what is allowed or not is normally made by the elders in each community so there are no central rules. An 18 year old is an 18 year old though and they'll make their own rules.