Courtesy, manners and tradition

[Catlady711]

If an Amish is friends with a non-Amish then they are not traditional 'Old Order' because those do not commonly associate, nor befriend non Amish folks.

If, in fact, the true traditional Old Order Amish ever do change to that extent then they are doomed to the same deterioration of society and values that our society is and there will be no hope left for them.

Then they could enjoy the 'privileges' our society does by having crime, drugs, lack of community, rebellion, murder, indifference, violence; all in exchange for electricity, internet, tv, movies, cell phones and everyone doing their own 'thing'.

Barn raisings? Nope sorry, we just don't feel like helping you we have our own problems to deal with.

That would be a very sad day indeed.

Personally I think total separation from the modern stuff isn't a bad idea at all, and go back to a sense of community that no longer exists for the majority of Americans anymore.

There's a reason when I go camping I still use a tent, and deliberatly choose completely rustic campsites who's only ammenities are a hand pump for water and a covered outhouse. I like it that way and honestly hate to come back home to the 'convienences' and stress that comes with our 'modern' living.

[pomtzu]

I don't believe they make friends outside of their own society, but they do have to partner at times with non-Amish out of necessity, just as the ones that built my garage - they needed transportation for their construction supplies, and to get to and from here to do the actual construction.

When I bought this parcel of land almost 40 years ago - it was old farm land that had been divided in parcels for sale. Rudy Byler was the old Amish man who drove the well, and he actually used a divining rod to find the best spot. And I had always thought that was a bunch of bunk!

[Medusa]

Perhaps as a general rule they don't make friends outside of their community but the Amish that I know do. They hunt together w/the "English", as they call them, and some of them even stayed for a week's visit in my friend's home. The women don't socialize much but the men sure do. The very first time I met them, they took me to target practice. There I was in the woods w/my boyfriend and several Amish guys. I was the only woman. Afterwards, they came to my boyfriend's camper and spent the evening w/us.