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Original poster

Amish: World's squarest teenagers

51 replies

phoenixflower · 25/07/2010 20:41

Who is watching this?? I have it on record, can't wait to see it, I find looking at the different ways people live their lives rather fascinating!

OP posts:

5Foot5 · 26/07/2010 13:15

I was very impressd with the politeness and tact of the Amish teenagers who, even when they must have been shocked or uncomfortable about some of the things they encountered, still managed to stay non-judgmental.

I agree bathbuns it might be interesting if they take them somewhere more typical to most teenagers lives.

diddl · 26/07/2010 13:42

I didn´t see all of it, but it seemed to me that what the Amish saw made them appreciate their own lifestyle more & that the other teenagers were perhaps a little jealous of it?

The community idea, no violence, not valuing possessions.

MrsJamin · 26/07/2010 13:49

It would have been so easy and predictable for the producers to find and create situations in which the amish were shown to be 'boring' and 'prudes' and the British teenagers to be shown as bolshy and making fun out of the amish teenagers - how refreshing that it wasn't like this at all.

MNHQ

OliviaMumsnet · 26/07/2010 16:39

Thanks Roisin (v weird typing that, tis my mum's name )

Loopymumsy · 26/07/2010 16:44

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colditz · 26/07/2010 16:48

i have just started watching it - i get the feeling we ARE NOT going to come off well, here.

colditz · 26/07/2010 18:34

I thought that was fantastic, and I enjoyed the way they had one of the girls narrating.

NanBullen · 26/07/2010 19:09

I enjoyed this. I did think it sad that they had never heard of JFK but then how many british teenagers would be able to name a PM from the 60s?

I think deciding whether to live in the wider world or go back to the amish community is a really big decision for a teenager. And find it odd that if they decide not to go back to their community they basically are cut dead.

TheShriekingHarpy · 28/07/2010 12:55

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ByTheSea · 28/07/2010 13:03

Lovely kids. It would be nice if we could all have a happy medium between their values/lifestyles (community, non-violence) and ours (free thinking).

hockeypuck · 28/07/2010 13:07

I found it fascinating. I was so impressed with the way that the amish did not judge people, but were aware of their own behaviour and the affect that the new culture was having on them. I mix with quite a lot of active christians and I'm not sure that a group of the teenage christians I know would be that unjudgemental. Although a lot of it depends on the ones chosen I suppose.

The group of kids from South London really impressed me, they seemed really interested in the amish culture and not snooty or judgemental or teasing them about it. They were welcoming and inclusive, I was totally impressed and it just goes to show how much the media focuses on the negative aspects of teenagers, particularly those from ethnic minorities in inner-cities. I would dearly love for more tv to be made with this kind of refreshing positive attitude.

I loved how the group of kids they had chosen had formed themselves into a street dance crew and had a positive attitude about resisting gang culture.

I really enjoyed the opinion of one of the amish girls, who was so open and so thoughtful.

A fascinating programme and I can't wait for the next part.

kittya · 29/07/2010 22:24

are they going to send any of our teenagers over there?

mosschops30 · 30/07/2010 11:27

I watched this on the link yesterday and am so glad i did.
I am fascinated by the Amish culture, and agree with whoever posted that some of it is admirable but some of it is quite sad really

I thought the teenagers were very respectful of the Amish teenagers, although Im not sure why the sex shop stuff was in there, I dont know any teenagers who go to sex shops!

diddl · 08/08/2010 21:26

Just watched it again.

The place they were at looked familiar.

Anyone seen it before?

ilovemydogandMrObama · 08/08/2010 21:30

Really interesting. But isn't one of the girls (can't remember her name) a former member of the Amish community? A few episodes ago, she said that her family left the community. What about the boys? Are they still a part of the Amish people? The cider thing might make it a bit tricky

diddl · 08/08/2010 21:34

What I find is how astute they seem to be, more so than teenagers who are actually "out in the world"

Butkin · 08/08/2010 23:53

They seemed to really bond with the posh kids in tonight's episode (not sure if I was watching a repeat). Interesting that they loved to shoot and hunt - something I wasn't sure they would enjoy. Also that they own horses but were suprised to see them being used for sport rather than work.

Thought it was particularly interesting with they spent a day at Stowe School but were not impressed by the variety/depth of study.

kittya · 09/08/2010 23:10

Their own education is very limited isnt it? even though they are beautifully articulate I dont think they would stand much chance getting jobs in the real world.

Fortheverylasttime · 10/08/2010 14:19

If you want Armish, try Skyros, although, it costs an arm and a leg to live like a retro-peasant. For two weeks.

misdee · 10/08/2010 14:28

ilovemydog, i think becky's family were members of a different Amish community, a very strict one, but left. they are still practising Amish, but shunned by that stricter community.

diddl · 10/08/2010 17:13

"Thought it was particularly interesting with they spent a day at Stowe School but were not impressed by the variety/depth of study."

Yes, that surprised me in a way.

But maybe they think that study should be for a purpose, not just for the sake of it?

Yes, they wouldn´t stand a chance at many jobs, I wouldn´t think.

Saladbomb · 10/08/2010 21:41

I have found this fascinating, it has been produced really well and in a very balanced style. I love the way they got one of the girls to narrate and also intercut the father reading relevant passages from the bible. I have felt quite a bit envy of the elements of Amish lifestyle, the simplicity, the moral values, lack of materialism (which I think is one of the most insidious influences on all of us) their self sufficiency. It is just a shame that it is all rooted in religion rather than human morality.

I think next weeks conclusion will be fascinating. I feel the girls especially will have had their eyes opened as they live in such a patriarchal and repressive society. They are obviously both very bright girls and I think it is the opportunities for development/creativity/careers that would tempt them rather than western licentiousness and comforts.

Fortheverylasttime · 11/08/2010 00:35

Diddl, I believe it was the place where they film Monarch of the Glen amongst other things. So you probably have seen it before, on a Sunday evening.

diddl · 11/08/2010 09:03

Yes, Monarch of the Glen-I saw the intro to last last night & thought that that might be where I´d seen it.

Although I don´t really remember watching MOTG !

Fortheverylasttime · 12/08/2010 10:28

The person I was watching it with recognised the family name and said that the family that own it rent it out for lots of filmsets/ads/anything, so you might have seen it anywhere.

It gives rather a misleading picture to people trying to get in to this country, about the nature of accommodation that they ought to expect.

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