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Comment by cdumler

7 years ago

> while they shun modern tech

This is a common foible of "educated public," and a lot of people misunderstand the Amish: they don't shun modern tech. The have cars and phones, computers and websites, and such. It's not about the tech but what the tech brings about. They consider the social implications of technology: Who does this technology replace? Who does this empower with good habits or bad habits? If I use this and then I am done, what do I do with it? Does this make me dependent on something out side of my control?

While they have technology, they limit who has/owns the technology. Complex tech is often communally used. But, personal technology is usually chosen with durability, simplicity, and reliability in mind. Check out their buggies[1]. These things aren't necessarily simple or cheap. Good ones are designed to last and be handed down, not like your old beater car you hand to your kid because it's frame is rusting out. They understand building technology quite well. We just don't think of it that way because of the materials used.

[1] https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/a24666/...

6 comments

cdumler

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aaron_m04  7 years ago

When you put it that way, why aren't we all Amish? It sounds great.

  • jefurii  7 years ago

    We aren't because it's inconvenient and it goes against the grain of our society. If you eschew a large screen TV and the latest smartphone and all manner of social media accounts and you're not apologetic about it, people ask "are turning Amish or something?" The right answer is probably, "You say that like it's a bad thing."

  • bpodgursky  7 years ago

    I think the main thing that would grate against modern western sensibilities is that the decisions are made communally; there's not a lot of economic freedom of choice .

    The town votes whether air conditioning is OK -- you don't get to decide. If the decision is that nobody in town has Snapchat, then you don't get to install it.

mc32  7 years ago

Point taken. I didn't mean to gloss over the nuance.

We could learn about buying things for the long run in mind when buying things. As well as taking social implications of deploying new technologies (the extremes like gamification, engagement, conflict, surveillance, mass consumption, etc.)