Living with the Amish

[naomi24]

Has anyone else been watching this Channel 4 documentary? An interesting social experiment.

[Ankou]

i couldn't really bring myself to. i just imagined it was one of those contrived programmes along the lines of wife swap or strictest parents, where they just pair up the social extremeties to see what argie bargie (i.e. recording time) can ensue. are the people living with the amish smoking, drinking, drug taking, spoilt, jobless teenagers who self tan and swear a lot?

if you can convince me i'm wrong, i'll try it on catch up.

[ummmm]

You're wrong Ankou :-)

[Ankou]

i know ummm.

but what about the programme ?

[naomi24]

I don't want to convince anyone to watch it, but there's little conflict and it's nothing like Wife Swap.

[barb1314]

I've been watching it.It's a great programme. I was amazed how they Amish community came together for the barn raising 2 weeks ago. I missed last week and couldn't find it on Virgin catch-up so was gutted. Ankou,it isn't anything like you imagined,honestly.

[Ankou]

thanks barb.

xx

[ummmm]

From what I've watched it's about living with, and like, the Amish. The youngsters involved are not off the rails. It's an experience they've chosen to be involved in. Their parents haven't sent them there to learn the error of their ways and they respect their Amish families (??)

Must say...there is something quite appealing about the Amish way of life, if you take away the religious aspect.

[naomi24]

I agree ummmm.

[RATTER15]

I also agree, I love the idea of such a simple existence but like most I have fallen foul of luxuries :)

[KJN]

Excellent programme which maybe a lot of us (including me) could learn a lot from. Seems a nice way of life which I would live to adapt to, sure they work hard but the rewards out do that.

[KJN]

Make that "love to adapt to"

[puternut]

My only real complaint against the show is the choice of the English teenagers. All seemed to me to be a little upper class ex-uni and/or boarding school types and I wonder if the same would have resulted if they had come from either a poorer or more general background.

[jamesnan]

Found it very interesting, and can totally understand why they like their way of life.

[Elderman]

You ought to join naoim, do good.

[ethandron]

it's a really good series. i also watched the series (last year i think) where some amish teens came to britain and joined in with british families.
i don't think they're all upper class, boarding school kids. the black girl comes from a very ordinary family but just happens to be very bright and eloquent and got a place at oxford uni. the boy with the facial piercings is also from a very disadvantaged background. the only two 'posh' ones are the blonde girl, who actually seems really nice, and the blonde boy who went to eton. to have a mix of backgrounds is really good.
i found it particularly interesting on last nights programme that the older amish lady said she's completely changed her view of the boy with the facial piercings so had learned something about herself.
i agree with ummmm, seems like a lovely life...apart from the religious bit, and possibly the bonnets :)

[woofgang]

I thought it was interesting when the man who has the dairy and the boy with the face piercings clashed last week...turns out that the Amish man's son had been in jail and he found it hard to admit or talk about. He didn't mention "pride" but I did wonder if he felt that it was a failure in humility not to be able to admit it.

[naomi24]

Elderman, //You ought to join naoim, do good.//

The Amish educate their children up until age 14 you know. ;o)

[Khandro]

Naomi, are you considering transferring?

[naomi24]

Khandro, I'll give you one guess. ;o)

[Khandro]

Naomi, It might be worth consideration if only for the hat! A lady friend brought one back from the USA last year; a sort of black, compressed topper, she wore it recently and looked gorgeous. I'm sure one would suit you :-)