What a shitty way to die.

[Shockeye]

Amish Teen Dies in Farming Accident

Monday April 18, 2005 9:21am

SELINSGROVE, Pa. (AP)

A 15-year-old Amish boy is dead following a farming accident in Snyder County.

State police say Michael Martin was operating a horse-drawn manure spreader on a family member's farm when he fell from the spreader and was run over by it.

Martin was airlifted to Geisinger Medical Center where he died just before six o'clock last evening.

The accident happened just after 4 pm at the farm on Verdilla Road in Union Township.

[HaemishM]

Martin was airlifted to Geisinger Medical Center where he died just before six o'clock last evening.

What kind of Amish lets their kid get airlifted to a hospital?

[Samwise]

I just read an article on the Amish - they're actually allowed to ride in motorized vehicles, just not operate them.  You learn something new every day.

[stray]

I just read an article on the Amish - they're actually allowed to ride in motorized vehicles, just not operate them.  You learn something new every day.

Wasn't that enlightening bit of information in Kingpin?

[Samwise]

It may have been.  I was thinking of an article in the most recent issue of Esquire that talked about a rural region in Pennsylvania where large numbers of Amish and hillbillies live side by side.  Lots of said hillbillies make their money by driving the Amish around, since the Amish have more money than the hillbillies but can't drive.

[Paelos]

Wouldn't that sort of defeat the purpose of being Amish? I mean can they get someone to nuke a burrito for them if they don't actually operate the microwave? If this is the case I know a few rich bastards who might be Amish by accident.

[Samwise]

I suspect the idea is not to deny technology altogether, but to try to keep it from taking over their daily lives.

It's not really possible to completely avoid any "indirect" benefits from technology.  If that's what they were required to do, they wouldn't be allowed to use roads, since they were most likely created with machinery.  So the rules just say that they can't directly use "high-tech" stuff themselves.  Makes sense, even if letting yourself be chauffeured around does seem like a loophole.

I bet there's also a rule against ownership of any of said gadgets, so they could visit your house and you could nuke them a burrito, but they couldn't have a microwave in their own house and have someone come over and push the button for them.

[Paelos]

So if I want to be Amish I just need a shack and a bevy of assistants.


And some of those badass hats! I'm pimpin, English!

[Samwise]

I never wear buttons
But I got a cool hat
And my homies agree
I really look good in black

[stray]

What these people forget is that there was time once when even butter churns were considered "state of the art". I think it's totally impossible for human beings to be against "technology". Our very existence and survival is defined by it.

[Samwise]

I doubt they're "forgetting" that buttern churns are technology.  I figure at some point a few hundred years ago they just decided that life was getting too complex, and decided to stop adding new things to their lives.  Pre-existing technology was grandfathered in.

If only Amish people used the Internet, one of them could chip in here.  I'm sure they'd be able to shed some light.

[Merusk]

If only Amish people used the Internet, one of them could chip in here.  I'm sure they'd be able to shed some light.

If I ever get a chance to talk to some of our framers around Louisville, I'll ask them.  Nothing's more bizarre than seeing an Amish crew building a house with airguns and power saws and I want to know how that loophole works.

[Roac]

What these people forget is that there was time once when even butter churns were considered "state of the art". I think it's totally impossible for human beings to be against "technology". Our very existence and survival is defined by it.

They're not against technology.  

They are against anything which would detract from family and complicate their lifestyle.  Time with the TV is time away from the family, for example.  Each group of Amish votes whether to include specific technology, keeping their values in mind.  As a result, some communities are more strict than others; some allow for neighborhood phones and the use of electricity generated within the community, although some do not.  They allow people to learn about the world outside, and do not try to forcably prevent people from leaving.  On the contrary, people can be ostracized for failure to comply with Amish morals.

While it may not be so easy to argue that some things should be kept out of their society, it's hard to deny that if they want to keep some technology out of their community, it's difficult to nail down what is certainly a slippery slope.  Hence, they often err on the side of caution, and require about everything to be producable within their own communities.

Far as the Amishs' existance and survival goes, they seem to be going fairly well.  They are extremely happy, and speculation is that it has to do with having needs met and not being consumtion-oriented (meaning, they are not dissatisfied by being unable to get the "perfect life").

[stray]

If only Amish people used the Internet, one of them could chip in here.  I'm sure they'd be able to shed some light.

If I ever get a chance to talk to some of our framers around Louisville, I'll ask them.  Nothing's more bizarre than seeing an Amish crew building a house with airguns and power saws and I want to know how that loophole works.

I'm sure in 20 to 25 years from now, they'll warm to the idea of "driving". Perhaps with only vintage cars, like old Fords or Mercs, but "driving" nonetheless. Movements based on "fear of change" eventually die off. Sooner or later, people stop being afraid.

They're not against technology.

I don't buy it. More than likely it started because they were afraid. They're only justifying it with other reasons now.

[Roac]

Movements based on "fear of change" eventually die off.

Again, total misunderstanding of the culture.  They're not "afraid" of anything.  They understand technology.  They deal with it quite often.  They get it - they just want nothing to do with it, because of the effects they feel it has on their family and themselves.

[stray]

they just want nothing to do with it, because of the effects they feel it has on their family and themselves.

Umm....Didn't I say "fear"?

[Roac]

Umm....Didn't I say "fear"?

Comparing the differences between most US families, and Amish families, it's an entirely rational belief.  Technology and western society changes things dramatically, not all of which are for the better.  They decided to do without, and by all counts live happier lives. Personally I think there are better ways to go about it, but I can't fault their intentions, and their methods are fairly effective.

[Strazos]

My step-father hired the Amish to build a small barn/garage in my backyard. They came in a big truck with all the materials on a bigass flatbed, and built the thing in a day, totally by hand and without power tools. Damn thing is a beast; I could live in it.

[Shockeye]

Umm....Didn't I say "fear"?

Comparing the differences between most US families, and Amish families, it's an entirely rational belief.  Technology and western society changes things dramatically, not all of which are for the better.  They decided to do without, and by all counts live happier lives. Personally I think there are better ways to go about it, but I can't fault their intentions, and their methods are fairly effective.

Yep. I got no problem with the Amish and admire them on many levels.

[EDIT] They also make kick-ass quilts.

[stray]

Umm....Didn't I say "fear"?

Comparing the differences between most US families, and Amish families, it's an entirely rational belief.  Technology and western society changes things dramatically, not all of which are for the better.  They decided to do without, and by all counts live happier lives. Personally I think there are better ways to go about it, but I can't fault their intentions, and their methods are fairly effective.

Yep. I got no problem with the Amish and admire them on many levels.

[EDIT] They also make kick-ass quilts.

Well, to show your admiration, could you please stop posting? And while your at it, just shut down your computer too.

[schild]

Well, to show your admiration, could you please stop posting? And while your at it, just shut down your computer too.

What did I JUST say?.

Last time someone complained about useless news, Shockeye didn't post any for a week.

[Shockeye]

See ya next month, everyone.

[stray]

Well, to show your admiration, could you please stop posting? And while your at it, just shut down your computer too.

What did I JUST say?.

    :-D   

See ya next month, everyone.

 

[schild]

You think he's kidding.

[stray]

You think he's kidding.

Ok, I'm really in tears now.

Come back, Shockeye. f13 wouldn't quite be the same without you -- and that's a bad thing.

[Paelos]

Oh boo hoo, if he's going to pout everytime someone cracks on genital useless news, then its going to be a tough year.

[schild]

Oh boo hoo, if he's going to pout everytime someone cracks on genital useless news, then its going to be a tough year.

Wouldn't the very much simpler solution be not cracking on USELESS news? He makes no illusion to it being important and it makes his day just that much better.

Basically it feeds into the "we don't deserve nice things" genre of the internet.

[Paelos]

Hey I'm not complaining. I need Useless News. Work is lame. I need to know why people are transporting large reptiles across state lines. Or how many digits the FDA is allowing in my chili. Or how many more men are men in name only due to a frisky pitbull. I could go on. BUT I CAN'T WITHOUT IT. DON'T YOU QUIT ON ME NOW DAMMIT!

[stray]

He makes no illusion to it being important and it makes his day just that much better.

It makes my day that much better too. I'm being serious here -- I'm sure to get a smile every time I step into this forum.

The only reason why I didn't use "sarcasm" tags was for umm...aesthetic reasons. I thought the post looked cooler that way. Heh. Turned out it just looked more....cold hearted...?

[Strazos]

Oh come on Shockeye...Stiff upper lip, eh?

If he can take my pounding in UT, this stuff here should be a cakewalk.

[schild]

What can I say. He's touchy about his useless news.

[HaemishM]

I doubt they're "forgetting" that buttern churns are technology.  I figure at some point a few hundred years ago they just decided that life was getting too complex, and decided to stop adding new things to their lives.  Pre-existing technology was grandfathered in.

I thought they were led by William Hurt into the forest to escape the monsters who don't like people wearing red.