Comment by npo9
7 years ago
I fail to see this as rational. Not least of which is if everyone has telephones in an outhouse how can two houses call each other?
7 years ago
I fail to see this as rational. Not least of which is if everyone has telephones in an outhouse how can two houses call each other?
Some solve that with an answering machine - leave a message and set up a time for a call. Pretty much the same method we used back in the old days to call a friend "Hi Mrs Johnson, is billy there? No, he's out. Ok tell him I'll call back at 7pm"
Telephones don't need to be real-time.
If they're just looking to be in contact with each other, then I imagine they'd just walk over to their neighbour's house in person. I imagine the phones are more for situations where they might see the need to call a hospital, etc. (though I have no direct experience with the Amish on that part—only SW Ontario Mennonites)
This is such a good illustration of the disparity between our lives and theirs.
Because the answer is, you go over and talk to them.