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Lurknomore
Member
07-07-2001
| Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 10:13 am
thanks for the idea Rs...I see my library has it but it's on hold. Will take it out at some point...have always wanted to see it even before this show, and just didn't catch it. Given the success of this show, I hope they do another one, but learn how to make it better (less fake Amish pics and more real insight into when they left, how they have been living, and the real struggle they are fighting and why). I think that is far more interesting than the real world folks (and face it how many of those folks are true representatives of the average "English"?) they found to mix it up. I keep hoping one of these days producers will realize they don't need to throw in all these soap opera twists to "make good tv." That interesting people and situations would be enough. For example, wouldn't it be far more interesting to see a more normal "English" interacting and comparing lifestyles with the Amish. They really do have to make a serious decision soon and I'd hate to see them do it based ONLY on this group. Hopefully they have met many more, since most seem to have been living outside the community for awhile longer than normal. I think the one I'm most curious about is Moses. He left AFTER being baptised and that was skipped over. Bet there is a super interesting story there and I'd love to hear it. Wish they would have a chat with these folks, on the off chance some of these questions would be answered.
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Not1worry
Member
07-30-2002
| Friday, August 20, 2004 - 9:11 am
Okay, call me sappy, but I so want Ruth and Jonas to get together and go back to the Amish. I just love Mose, he is my favorite. I got a kick out of listening to them all speak Pennsylvania Dutch at night. I think the Amish men were just as astonished at the Amish meal as the city kids. I heard one of them say "Now I know why Amish women are always so busy." Well, yeah! They are feeding you, cleaning up after you, clothing you, etc. Not that the guys don't work just as hard on the farms, but still. You'd think the men would have realized all that goes into a meal from scratch. Did you think they were just inventing work to stay busy? Kind of funny the way the guys seem so in the dark on domestic stuff. We use a lot of Amish and Mennonite based school curriculum in our home school. It's reasonably priced and simply written. I just realized that all the books have drawings of animals, farms, etc., but no pictures of humans. I never put it together the reason why. Randy hasn't been shown much. His voice kills me, it's like Mike Tyson's. I wonder if any one of them will really go back to the Amish. If they do, how content will they be?
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Ketchuplover
Member
08-30-2000
| Friday, August 20, 2004 - 3:58 pm
This morning on the radio there was a report on an amish girl who'd been sexually assaulted by the men in her family. Needless to say she's no longer amish.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Friday, August 20, 2004 - 6:03 pm
Might be a dumb ?, but why no pix of humans?
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Not1worry
Member
07-30-2002
| Friday, August 20, 2004 - 6:27 pm
Oh gosh, where did I read that? I think I read in the Reality News Online recaps about the no pictures thing. (RNO has good recaps of the show if you've missed some, it was seeing the recap that made me start watching.) When Ruth was saying that art wasn't important to the Amish, some one wrote that the Amish don't take pictures or have drawings of people because it's vain. It said Amish girls play with blank faced dolls as well. RNO explained it a little better.
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Lurkin
Member
02-15-2002
| Friday, August 20, 2004 - 7:40 pm
Not1worry was thinking the same about Ruth & Jonas , he seems to have had an abusive father ,It really brought tears to my eyse over the GED studying and story, Ruth is so sweet Cant see Miriam going back, she seems pretty americanized now Saw Mose on Regis & Kelly so he is still Rumspring"n
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Lurknomore
Member
07-07-2001
| Friday, August 20, 2004 - 8:01 pm
My understanding is the Amish interpret the part of the bible that says "no graven images" to mean that it is against the bible to show images of their face. If anyone wants to see a pic of a real Amish doll I have a couple (full size and 2 cute fridge magnets (boy and girl of course) made by the PA Amish). Let me know I could scan an upload. And I was thinking the same thing Not1...I thought it was so sweet when Jonas said he would come to her baptism "no matter what" if that's what she decides. Funny but at first I thought that Moses (who I just love to pieces and who is so clever and sweet....and very sharp, just rought around the edges from his lack of formal education IMHO) was the surest candidate to go back, but now I think Ruth tops that list. And I think Miriam is least likely. I thought I read that one stayed English but that was before the show started. I'd be surprised if they all go back but one....but they do say the numbers of those that leave are so small I guess it's possible. I think it would be so interesting to know how different they live as Amish after being exposed to so much. Bet these guys will be MUCH better Amish hubby's having seen and understood the woman's roles in a way they ordinarily wouldn't have. When was Mose on Regis?? I would have LOVED to sene that. What did he say? ARGGHHHHH
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Luvmyjrt
Member
09-18-2003
| Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 7:11 am
I've been watching and really enjoying the show. My thought is, though: Amish really dislike vanity in any form, hence, their dress, lack of photos, etc. Here are these folks on Rumspringa hanging out with the very epitome of vanity, and enjoying it. Might be some, "you always want what you can't have", but I truly respect the Amish for their value system and would be sad if more than one of them did not return to the value system they believe. Now, that may make no sense to some of you, but at least I know what I mean! :-)
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Hootyhoot
Member
12-18-2001
| Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 12:52 pm
I was in an area where many Amish families live recently, and I was told that 95% of those who leave for rumspringa return to the Amish life. I thought that was a pretty impressive statistic (assuming it's true ...). They must value the Amish ways highly, to be able to reject all the temptations out there in the world!
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Tk4x5
Member
07-10-2004
| Monday, August 23, 2004 - 9:10 pm
Lurk, sorry it took me so long to get back around to this thread. The producer was on for just a really short time. He basically said that the idea for the show had been controversail, but the intent of the program was not to exploit the Amish or their way of life. Interestly enough, a young Amish man, was in the audience and asked about "using" the Amish Kids. The producer said that wasn't the case and they were very careful about how and what they did w. the cast. i.e. that it was just a bigger scale than what an normal rumspringa would be. Does anyone know when the show airs this week? I have checked my listings (east coast) and am coming up empty. I know it was a short running series (I thought only 7 original episodes) but I don't think we've seen 7 already. This week Trading Spouses was a re-run in my area and I was wondering if a lot of these reality shows are holding off on new episodes until the Olympics are over. Anyway, I couldn't even find a listing for Amish in the City so re-runs aren't even a choice. Thanks in advance for any replies.
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Willwillbee
Member
09-20-2001
| Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 5:32 am
Hootyhoot - 95% return to the Amish life but as they've explained they only have an 8th grade education and it's hard to find work that will allow one to be self supporting in the outside world without a high school education. They are shunned by their family and friends if they don't commit to the church so they have no emotional or moral support if they choose to leave. I greatly admire the Amish for their convictions and for rumspringa but I wonder how many feel trapped by their life due to lack of options. I believe Mose said he was baptized without being allowed a rumspringa. I think he has a tremendous thirst for knowledge and insisted on seeing the outside world before he could commit fully to this lifestyle. I do believe he will return eventually though.
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Not1worry
Member
07-30-2002
| Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 10:00 am
I wonder how many Amish youth go on rumspringa feeling pretty certain that they will be baptized into the church. It seems like many of them are content in their lives, but this gives them a chance to run a little wild. I would think the percentage of Amish who really use rumspringa as a life changing decision time is pretty low. It almost seems like an extended spring break for the average young person. Miriam seems the least likely to go back. If she and her friend Elsie could work together to live as ex-Amish, it would be easier. I think the pull of family is something that brings most of them back.
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Lurknomore
Member
07-07-2001
| Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 12:02 pm
My sense is that these folks have been out longer than most given their age. So I've guessed that they have been having a hard time deciding what to do. And I would think it would be harder now that they saw a lot more of the world than an average Amish youth would during a typical Rumspringa. I think it would be fascinating to hear their full stories...much more interesting than the fake drama they tried to add with the bizarre English roommates IMHO. I love Mose...and I worry for him because since he has been baptized I'm pretty sure if he goes back he will be shunned for a period of time. I really think/agree that so many go back because they don't want to lose all contact with their families. I read an interesting book by a woman who left and how hard it was. BOY did they try to guilt her into staying too. Thanks for the answer Tk. And I can answer you...it's on UPN Wed nite (woohoo tonight) at 8 est. And they usually rerun it on Fri (or Sat if there is a game) nites. It's been UPN's biggest hit. You might want to go to UPN.com....there's a pretty good web site and extra footage etc. I thought they said 10 episodes but that was my memory/guess.
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Ketchuplover
Member
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 5:33 pm
Has anyone here ever petted a fish? 
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Lilfair
Member
07-09-2003
| Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 6:04 pm
I gotta say I love this show. Those City Kids watching themselves should be embarrassed. I thought that maybe this show will make the Amish look unsophisticated or dim but I can’t think of another cast of reality folk that show as much maturity and class as the Amish Kids do. I’m not liking these “City Kids”.
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Ketchuplover
Member
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 6:06 pm
gasp! the city kids and the amish aren't getting along Is there any hope for mankind?
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Lurknomore
Member
07-07-2001
| Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 7:10 pm
I realized tonight that this show, in a way, reminds me of BB1. I would LOVE to go out to dinner with all the Amish kids, talk, ask them a million questions and just say hey. No other reality cast has made me feel that way but BB1 (well I could have skipped some of em, but remember we all wanted to go to Vegas with them lol). I couldn't believe how PO'd the Amish were getting tonight. That is SOOOOO Un-Amish! Turn the other cheek and all that. Oh dear. I really hope there is some follow up with the Amish kids....I want to know what they thought of this experience and that they are all ok. The English kids I hope to never see again lol. ETA....not that Moses is such a "kid" lolol. Wonder how old he is anyways?
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Lilfair
Member
07-09-2003
| Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 7:50 pm
Lurknonore, I'm right with you. I want follow up on the Amish Kids. I did a goole search to see if there was anything written but...nothing interesting or new. I'm guessing Moses is 23-24??
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Lurknomore
Member
07-07-2001
| Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 9:03 pm
Wow Lil ya think? I took him for sooo much older than that. He really carries himself like an older guy don't you think? Now I really want to know! And LOL we are on the same page...I Googled them a few weeks ago...was surprised at the interesting/positive stories but nothing about the Amish kids . I'm gonna really miss this show. I hope they can find more Amish next year...and skip the city kids altogether! With the ratings I bet ya they are scouring the countryside/farmlands as we speak lol. (Maybe they could ship me some stuff hehe).
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Max
Member
08-12-2000
| Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 10:13 pm
One thing that bugs me. If this is supposed to be the Amish kid's chance to see the outside world and decide whether or not to live in it, they are getting a totally unrealistic viewpoint. Mose saying that he could see himself "retiring" on Catalina island is a great example of how ill-informed they are about what life in the city really is like. I'm disappointed that they aren't getting any kind of sense of what it would cost to live in the city and how hard it would be to find a job. As for the city kids, I don't think there's much I can say that wouldn't get modded, so I'll just be quiet. Oh, no, I can't be completely quiet! LOL I think they are pretty much all spoiled rotten -- or at least that's the side of them we're seeing on the show. Kevan and the kid from Boston (sorry, can't remember his name) are the most down-to-earth, but they both still have their issues. And Mose is right on in saying that the city kids seem to think they are superior. I really wish they could find a way to throw the city kids into Amish life for at least a week. They'd never survive. 
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Conejo
Member
08-23-2002
| Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 6:26 am
I thought it was extremely rude of that girl (Ariel?) to take Randy's clothes out of the dryer before they were dry. Was glad to see he stood up for himself! Anyone else notice that he has both ears pierced and that he seems to dress very fashionable (IMO). What a body!
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Not1worry
Member
07-30-2002
| Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 8:08 am
Max, ITA about this whole "real" experience. I think this would be a much better show if they had city kids that weren't so rotten. I'd like to see some "city" kids that were also going through decision making times. Granted, most city kids don't have to make huge choices about leaving their families like the Amish do, but there must be some better kids out there. I hate that the city kids are so ridiculously awful. They picked the most obnoxious gay guy - if he said honey in that accent one more time last night I was going to stick something sharp in my ear. They pick the dingiest, laziest, dingbats. I was appalled at how the city girls were treating the Amish guys. Just like slaves! Whitney was particularly awful to them. They made her dinner, and she snipes at them to clean and put away stuff. Last week, her "I'll clean when I feel like cleaning" attitude really irritated me. DH and I were discussing that we just don't really know any kids as lazy, shallow, and obnoxious as some of this bunch. I think your average young person may have irresponsibilities, bad habits, etc. These kids just seem so extreme about it. I thought I remembered hearing that Mose was the oldest at 25. That was kind of sad hearing him talk about retiring on Catalina. I agree, let them apply for jobs, try out tasks, budget, and so on. The whole "Wow, I've never seen/done/experienced this" things are neat, but there's so much more that this show could be. I'm glad that so many are watching it, since I hope that means they will improve it. Lots of bad language from the Amish this week! I would think it's due to the company they are keeping.
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Riviere
Member
09-09-2000
| Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 8:37 am
Being from the Amish lands of IN as a child, we respected them, sure didn't poke any fun at their expense. They would not have understood nor even cared about stupid "city kids" jokes anyway. If the spoiled city raised kids spent a week in an Amish home and survived it, I'd be impressed! I guess they'd be whining then more about how their backs hurt, and not how the cable went out for a few minutes watching their idols on tv...?
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Lurknomore
Member
07-07-2001
| Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 9:47 am
Oh man they should go to Lancaster and rent out that fake working Amish Farm I have always refused to go to lol. (I don't like fake tourist anything....I'll always go to the real thing). ROFLMAO @ your fabulous idea Max. These brats were whining about how hard they Amish girls were cooking for crying out loud. They prolly would lie down in the fields and die after 15 min of a regular Amish day lol. And you know on one hand, at first, I agreed with you about Moses and how he wasn't getting that most mortals can't retire to Catalina. BUT after I thought about it....and I actually think about this show go figure....I thought it was kinda interesting because the average Amish person has no dreams. The most they look forward to in their retirement is (hmmm let me see if I recall the name right), moving out of their big house and into a tiny attached little house I think they call a deddehous. At least the man would have a dream, and something to work years for. Plus if they stay English I'm hoping they'll see more affordable and still pretty states where I think they might fit in better. Next year (Jon Kroll can you hear me lol) it might be good to have them go to like New Hampsire or Florida to live or visit. See more of the country etc. Then they could decide if it was a place they really wanted to stay or not. I still say I would LOVE to know how long they have been out of the Amish community and where they have been living, working, etc. Have they had the chance to meet some regular "English" and live among them? I love these guys....and I agree was nice to see Randy (who I'm sorry I still cringe when that horrid voice comes out of that hunk body lol) stand up for himself. Moses comment about language almost had me crying lol. Wow 25 I'm telling you there's an old soul in that man!
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Lilfair
Member
07-09-2003
| Thursday, August 26, 2004 - 10:32 am
I think Mose has a good shot at making good money. He's a fine craftsman and I know of a lot of people that pay BIG bucks for Amish cratsmanship. The other Amish kids could find work too. Most employers are looking for hard working, honest people. I know I would hire thses kids and they'd be a welcome addition. I think they'd do fine in the workforce.
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