How Amish People Get Around Not Using Electricity

[@patrickjarvis631]

I'm a librarian in Amish country, and I'm occasionally asked to google something for the Amish! Also, the Amish are known for jump-starting the local solar panel industry.

[@chucklebutt4470]

Do you ever Bing it, instead?

[@patrickjarvis631]

@@chucklebutt4470 they would never know

[@adventure6583]

Do your Amish abuse there animals?

[@clarencejacobowitz640]

I live in a place where there are some Amish folks and work at a place where most people find what they are looking for on the app. I'm often asked what aisle something is on by Amish folks because they can't do that. And yes, they were early adopters of solar power in our area as well!

[@illialidur8244]

Dang we all probably live pretty close to the same area.

[@Marconius6]

Basically they rules lawyered their way out of it... "Well it says we can't use GRID electricity, ain't nothing there about setting up a uranium fission generator in the barn!"

[@LowJSamuel]

It seems reasonable enough to me. Using electricity without using grid electricity is still meaningful. Decentralization, minimizing connection to the rest of society, etc. If you really want to see a religion "lawyering" their way out of their own beliefs, look into Orthodox Jews. The most egregious of which is putting up a giant wire around all of Manhattan so that they can consider all of Manhattan a private domicile for purposes of being able to carry things around the city on the Sabbath day.

[@freyjathehealer5559]

Step 1. Create solar farm independent from grid Step 2. Invest in solar technology Step 3. Have excess electricity Step 4 sell it to the grid Step 5 accidentally be hooked up to the grid and now the Amish control our grid

[@edwink1467]

​@@LowJSamuel Well who made the batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels they use? I'm guessing they didn't make them themselves. And how are batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels produced? I'm guessing with the use of grid electricity. They can spin the truth however they want, but they are just doing "holier than thou" mental gymnastics at the end of the day. All religious people do the same thing to a varying degree. Amish, Orthodox Jews, Baptists, Catholics, Muslims, Mormons, etc. -- same shit different smell.

[@yankymate2314]

@@LowJSamuel kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYG8oWaihLSCqMk *this is the vid you are looking for*

[@orangecat504]

With nuclear fussion reactors they can probably do that. As they goal of tech is to make smal and decentralized as possible thus making it cheaper.

[@busslayer4790]

A few years ago I stopped at an Amish bakery/preserves shop that was on their farmstead. The woman running the shop showed me the 'kitchen' which was a modern pole barn filed with commercial grade kitchen equipment. In back of the barn was a huge solar array that charged massive Caterpillar brand batteries which they used to operate their kitchen.

[@21kaduku]

@someuser.no it’s not. Shut up spam bot

[@death13a]

As long as they don't Directly use electricity from power source they can justify that it is fine. And you can't blame them if they want to do business they need to rely on technology in order to preserve fresh food. But they don't use technology for personal entertainment so no social media for them and that how they live happier life's.

[@mina86]

@@21kaduku, just report as spam. Commenting only introduces more unnecessary noise.

[@giantmanice]

@@death13a that's still dumb as hell that they use solar and not just grid power just extra steps like hiding your booze in a brown bag

[@edwink1467]

@@death13a How do you know they don't use social media or the internet in private? Because they claim they don't?

[@Iamthelolrus]

Have you ever seen the Amish barn moving video? It's pretty neat. They just get a bunch of people and lift it up and walk with it. That's hard-core, in my opinion.

[@roystonlodge]

“Just” ;-)

[@rewindcat7927]

Flex 💪

[@Chubby_Bub]

@Oprator fake, you are also a bot

[@kangsate3459]

Sound similar to house you can lift in NTB Indonesia They gather a lot of people, and they get pay by foods and drinks not money

[@TheMbmdcrew]

WE SHOULD TAKE BIKINI BOTTOM AND PUSH IT SOMEWHERE ELSE!

[@NoThisIsPatrickOfficial]

Atleast you won’t get any backlash from anyone Amish for making this 😂

[@FictionHubZA]

They'd be angry if they could see this lol

[@thelittletyrant5539]

@Fish World no he didn't

[@cyberherbalist]

There was a reply to this that has been deleted (too bad) that was deceptive, but it was at least cute: Feeding hungry street animals I like cat videos.

[@ZoeCalico]

Unless they're doing their rumspringa 😅 I bet they might search out videos and perspectives like this during that time.

[@alihakanylmaz6845]

@Fish World shut bot

[@alex_stanley]

Years ago, I used to drive a friend way out in the country to an Amish dairy farm where she'd go to buy milk. Their energy system was based on a stationary diesel engine running two pumps, a compressor to fill large old propane tanks with compressed air, and a vacuum pump for the milking machine. Air motors running off the compressed air ran the refrigeration, agitators, etc., and the compressed air supply was recharged at every milking.

[@killaship]

Electric grid, but with air! Pretty amazing, both in how it works, and the rules lawyering.

[@aryanram02]

bro, what happend with the girl? yall dated??

[@ABW941]

@@aryanram02 ?

[@DMahalko]

The Amish are allowed to produce a lower grade of farm milk called Grade B, compared to standard American dairy farms that must be Grade A. Normal milk must be chilled to 40F to minimize bacteria growth until a milk hauler can pick it up, using either high power refrigeration systems, or ice-bank chiller systems. The Amish are allowed to not use refrigeration but just use well water to cool the milk, which is kept in small milk cans in a water bath about 45-50 F so their milk spoils faster. Grade B usually goes to cheese because of the higher bacteria content and worse quality at pickup.

[@markjackson5806]

@@DMahalko As we suspected, USA upholds people's "Freedom" to produce lower quality food.

[@TheSourKraut]

I've done business with many Amish for many years (mainly in the 80s-early 2000s) and while there are some communities who are VERY strict, my experience was that most are just as hypocritical as any other organized (somewhat)extreme religious group. I learned to respect the very strict Amish. They were tough negotiators but at least they were very honest and upfront. But the ones that basically pretended (i.e. hiding their cell phones and charging it at non-amish or public outlets while asking me to "hide" or "disguise" modern technology in my products), well, I put them in the same category as Baptists who hide their booze in brown paper bags "because then God can't see it"...

[@jareknowak8712]

Interesing. What did They sold You?

[@jasonfischer8946]

@Oprator Wow, you edited the comment and it still sound like an idiot wrote it.

[@mina86]

Or maybe they just thought that rule was bullshit but feared anger of the community they were part of?

[@edwink1467]

@@mina86 I mean all religious rules are made-up bullshit, so what's the difference? People just pick and choose what to follow and what to ignore. If they broke a rule, they just ask "God" or whoever they pray to for forgiveness or some shit. I've yet to meet a religious person who's not at least a little hypocritical.

[@bponterci]

Interesting.

[@ModernRedneck13]

I like how he thought the explanation of pneumatic tools was necessary but didn't bother telling us how the Amish are powering their air compressors. The air doesn't just compress itself, folks.

[@mattkennedy9308]

Diesel from memory. It's mostly connecting to a centralised grid they're opposed to.

[@FordGTmaniac]

@@mattkennedy9308 They could also be using trompes, which are basically water-powered air compressors. That method would require you to store the air inside separate, smaller tanks and then connect them to the tools. A bit clunky having to carry a bunch of compressed air around with you, but certainly doable.

[@theboringchannel2027]

they generate their own electricity with solar, water and wind, this powers the compressors.

[@tessjuel]

Hamster wheels perhaps?

[@nickgoodall578]

@@mattkennedy9308 that’s gotta suck. Either they’ve got massive accumulators or they run the compressor nearly constantly. Either way, the noise would drive me to sin for sure!

[@soundscape26]

A HAI video on a Sunday? The world is definitely upside down.

[@Stache987]

Well, have you thought about the video being kept hidden until a release date, already online at that?

[@soundscape26]

@@Stache987 Yes, I assume he scheduled the video release but he never did so on a Sunday that's all.

[@poocrafter2]

I do like the option of you going town to town to whisper moderately interesting facts in our ears

[@prettypic444]

Next season of Jetleg has a much lower budget

[@darkaxel1991]

The funny thing is, while the Amish have a lot of exemptions when it comes to local laws, but the ones in Pennsylvania still have to meet building code. Which means the houses have to be wired for power, even if they are never hooked up. There's lots of Amish homes up there with power outlets and switches that do nothing.

[@Aaron42J]

As a "modern Mennonite" (no restrictions on tech or isolation from society, although simplicity is encouraged, and pacifism is a big part) thank you for pointing out the intricacies of the Amish community. I'm surrounded by a (slightly more liberal) Amish community, and it's usually great to have them around. Lots of Amish businesses around, with great food and woodworking, and biking is easy in my area since they rely on it a lot.

[@RabbitsInBlack]

And you Mennonite go to Golden Corral. LOL Once a Month just before close. I think after you Stock the Amish store down the street with new products.

[@aaaaghdoor6056]

I don't get why people like or buy their cooking, the fresh ingredients are great but a Marylander can only go so long without seasoning

[@RabbitsInBlack]

@@aaaaghdoor6056 They use seasoning. Just not the same ones you might. Less seasoning maybe?

[@randomcow505]

I have to ask, if its about pacificism, what's with the CPL stripes?

[@bahamutbbob]

​@@aaaaghdoor6056 As a Marylander, as long as it's not Old Bay, I don't mind some seasoning.

[@Leyrann]

I don't know how widespread this is, because as you pointed out repeatedly the Amish communities are really decentralized, but I know that in at least some Amish communities, it's tradition (for lack of a better word) for young adults to spend one year traveling the 'modern world', so to say, so that they actually KNOW what the choice between Amish life and 'normal' life is, rather than living the former in ignorance of the latter, and thereby allowing them to choose if they so wish.

[@Xazamas]

This rite of passage is called "Rumspringa" and according to Wikipedia, is practiced by "some" Amish communities.

[@fellipec]

Imagine knowing a refrigerator and microwave oven and deciding you will not live with that

[@pilotwhaleproductions5880]

I sincerely believe non-amish should do the reverse too. A lot of people would benefit from the perspective

[@Simqer]

@@fellipec I know refrigerators and microwave ovens, and it's been 8 years since I last owned a microwave oven. I'm not missing it one bit. But I do still use refrigerators. And there are ways to create refrigerators without electricity. There are Yakhchals, ice houses, etc... So none of those are really things people can't do without. It is really more if they can resist the temptation that the modern society brings.

[@fischX]

@@Xazamas It's not even a special term it's just "jumping around" in alleman (a variety of German the German equivalent is "herumspringen") and because they basically use old fashioned German it's not a specific Amish thing but some sort of behaviour of the young that is tolerated.

[@TheOrangePick]

Can confirm. I live in an Amish town, they use plenty of electricity. Hell, sometimes they do use the grid. For the Amish-run businesses in town they do.

[@Seff2]

@Oprator shut up spam bot

[@rundown132]

are you amish

[@freedomlinux]

I grew up in an Amish/Menonnite area. Our grocery store was run by a Mennonite family. They have modern-ish cash registers, telephones, and even a web site for their business. But having a telephone in your home - no way! Likewise, we used an Amish auto exhaust shop - they don't drive cars but are more than OK to bend pipe to repair them

[@eventingkate1339]

Some of the amish communities where I live operate on the basis that phones/electricity/the internet can be used, but only for work. So you’ll go to a farm and the house has absolutely nothing, but the shop has a computer, a phone, and electric heat! Others are more along the lines of what you mentioned- charging their cellphones (which are generally work/emergency only) off the wheels of the buggy. Quite smart really.

[@cooljonathan]

You forgot to mention that compressed air powertools are also used for mining as they don't make sparks that would ignite underground gasses. So these tools were probably developed for mining first, and then sold to the amish.

[@eris9062]

Pneumatic tools are actually older than electric tools, the pneumatic drill was developed in 1871 whereas the electric drill was developed in 1889, although the modern electric drill was designed in 1917

[@Impetuss]

Theyre very common all over. And it does require electricity for the compressor, but i guess the tool itself doesnt technically run on electricity

[@dant.3505]

@@Impetuss also air compressor that has gasoline engine. They don't need electricity but do need gasoline. Maybe that is allowed.

[@Alias_Anybody]

@@Impetuss It's a thing in some chemistry plants because a tube with pressured air is less risky if damaged than a power line and a local compressor.

[@tencentpistol1]

@Dan t. - there would still be electricity jn any gas engine. Spark plugs, points, condensers, electronic ignitions, etc. They are still using electricity just not paying the power companies. Its just doesnt make sense...

[@JimG89887]

I recently drove through Amish county in central Ohio and they were riding E-Bikes, had phones, etc. I was shocked when I saw how modern they’ve become.

[@nolesy34]

They have Facebook but it's the Amish version.. you put your head over the toilet wall and talk sh!t

[@radicalnomad1]

Those are the new order. The old order are still far less modern, but yes, some communities are barely Amish anymore

[@nolesy34]

@@radicalnomad1 we've been spending most of our lives living in an Amish paradise

[@minecraftzocker272]

Well their "problem" isnt electricity, as stated in the vid its being connected to the grid, thus being dependant on others.

[@Primalxbeast]

@@nolesy34 You just had to sneak in a reference to the patron saint of nerds, didn't you? 😉

[@0000-z4z]

Pneumatic tools are not only used by Amish. I once worked for a short time in a factory for control cabinets, where I drilled many holes in steel plates with a handheld pneumatic driller. I guess that an electric driller would be much heavier.

[@loganricherson]

Pneumatic tools are generally more powerful than their electric equivalents

[@dalegaliniak607]

I highly recommend the book Running with Sherman by Christopher McDougall. It's a non-fiction book about the author adopting a burro from one of his Amish neighbors and starts to train him to do burro races. It actually goes a fair bit into how Amish and their non-Amish neighbors help each other out, allowing the Amish to get things like car rides to the local hardware store. It also goes into the philosophy behind why something like this might be seen as okay, but something like playing baseball isn't.

[@sirBrouwer]

in a similar vein. In a episode of the Incredible Doctor Poll. While he was helping a Amish farmer. They also said that they did have machinery on the land and what not. but they just do not own it. There non Amish neighbour would buy it. and they would just donate the same amount of money needed some how. in theorie the neighbour owned about everything with in the community. he just did not really pay for it only in paper did he.

[@Teampegleg]

When I was in college (about 20 years ago now), we had a couple of Amish women in the required office programs class. And more recently I see the local Amish riding around electric bikes. Often the older ones on trikes. I talked to the women while I was in college, and the rule at the time allowed for electric fans, lights, and fridges at home but most other electronics were only at their workplace.

[@Brees1986]

I have relatives that live in the middle of Amish country in Western Pennsylvania. They have interesting rules. They can’t build a house with electricity, but they can buy a house that already has wiring. They can’t connect to the grid, but they can use generators.

[@davidroddini1512]

In other words, buy an already wired house and hookup a generator.

[@maikelwarmerdam8911]

That sounds so stupid, i cannot process. "We cannot connect to the grid, but if it's here already, we can use it. We cannot connect to the grid because .... but we can use generators because we are not connected to the grid. What's wrong with that grid then? And what was needed to make those generators? And what does fuel those generators? Are solar panels not allowed? I respect and admire their way of living, but with rules like this it makes it one hypocrite pile of composting hose dump.

[@I_AM_HYDRAA]

@@maikelwarmerdam8911I feel similar about the orthodox jews and how they sometimes feel like cheating sabbath

[@the.anglosphere]

@@I_AM_HYDRAA EXACTLY but no one wants to say that

[@kalahatze]

​@@maikelwarmerdam8911 I saw a comment on another post that talked about how the rule is "Don't tie yourself to the land" and not "Don't use electricity". I am not Amish or an Amish expert or anything, so maybe I am entirely wrong about this, but I can sorta see the point. As long as you don't put a huge investment into one particular thing then it should be fine. Generators for example you can just pack up and move when needed. Pretend the world was in an apocalypse scenario. To me it seems like the idea is to be able to still survive almost as well as you could before the apocalypse. Don't rely on others too much, make sure you have the ability to survive on your own, don't put too much investment into one particular thing or one particular place, have to ability to just get up and leave at any time. That kind of thing maybe?

[@MrSuperflydude]

I used to work for an outdoor furniture store that sold a lot of Amish stuff. The guys we worked with rented all their electronics. An English person would come by after work and charge all their batteries. Therefore, they're not actually owning any electronics

[@zacharycolton267]

When I was a child in western PA (early 2000’s) I had a great little exchange system with the local Amish where I’d trade them batteries for pastries

[@josephtalbot125]

In my area, the amish will hire non-amish people to do the things they cant. For example, an Amish logging and sawmill operation, will hire non-amish people to run the heavy equipment. The semi truck is registered in the name of the guy that drives it (yes they did have one guy leave the state with it). But they are allowed to use gas powered tools, like chainsaws. The sawmill equipment runs on diesel engines.

[@BootScoot]

There's a very similar trend with Jewish people hiring non-Jewish people (aka a shabbos goy) to work for them on the Shabbat, which Jewish people are forbidden from working on.

[@AlanTheBeast100]

Stumbled into an Amish auction in PA while on a road trip to DC. Spent the day there. Nice people if a little reserved. The auction was being held to benefit Haiti.

[@illialidur8244]

I live in the middle of Amish Country Indiana and let me tell you, before even watching this there are so many ways they get around their own rules here. To start, and I highly doubt the video will cover this, but as someone who lives in the area I can safely say the start is their wealth. Not only as holdouts in a healthy agricultural area, but this part of Indiana is the nation’s leader in the production of RV’s. There are several RV factories that easily pay $30-50 an hour, but the catch is they are owned by Amish and they rarely employ non-Amish. This both incentivizes them to live like it’s still the 1800’s and enables them to REALLY break the rules when they feel like it. For starters, they bend “no electricity” into “no connecting to the grid” and then they go and buy a fleet of generators from Menards. They also equip their homes with Solar Panels and enough batteries to power a small nation. They still drive buggies around, which hilariously DESTROY roads thanks to horse hooves, but while they may force us to drive behind them at a mild pace of 10 miles an hour, they also have full on car batteries in their buggies that they hook up to lights, Air Conditioning units, heaters, charging blocks, whatever else you might want electricity for in a car. Then, they decided nothing REALLY is off limits so long as you use it for work. Their barns are often their workspaces and are super modern. I mean like, super modern and advanced. This also means they can have things like trucks and cell phones and tractors so long as they use them for work. Then, ultimately it comes down to the thinking of their individual communities. For example, where I live they play hoodie with the rules more than the Amish communities in Pennsylvania. That is because really, the pastor of their churches can basically declare anything okay or off limits and it becomes the new standard that particular area lives by. The ways they get around “no electricity” is almost as funny to me as Rumspringa. Man, look into that one for the next video.

[@Gamer3427]

I used to work at the ER at the hospital around where I live, and we'd occasionally get Amish people in for various reasons, (usually farm related injuries). They didn't have a problem with using things like the electronic sign in pads and medical equipment that we had, but they didn't have stuff like phone numbers, (or social security numbers), or mailing addresses, so they would have their mail and phone calls be sent to a non-Amish neighbor outside of their community.

[@DMahalko]

When an Amish neighbor asks if they can use your phone, or if you could drive them to the hospital, or whatever, they are just using you as a convenient way to justify their lifestyle. They are taking advantage of people around them.

[@callummclachlan4771]

Differing ideas. Some will go as far as to avoid all outside medical intervention. But most have their exemptions, especially in regards to medical stuff. They are, for the most part, very practical people and understand when they need outside help. I've seen a video of one riding on a plane. Being Amish, they were fascinated by it.

[@toomanyopinions8353]

No social security numbers? How does that work. Doesn't everyone legally have to have one?

[@Gamer3427]

@@toomanyopinions8353 I honestly don't know. Maybe there's a religious exemption of some sort, since I imagine the majority of Amish communities have traditionally done at home births so the normal paperwork wouldn't be submitted. They may not have things like birth certificates either, though I don't know for sure. I imagine for a lot of government related things, the government just considers the "community" as an entity and doesn't have requirements for the individuals, since that keeps more in line with the Amish religion, (or at least what I know about it).

[@pizzadelivery150]

@@toomanyopinions8353 You don't have to have a social security number if your religion is against it (most often considering it gambling) and the religion was founded before the 1900s i believe, so basically the Amish specifically are exempt from social security

[@averagegamer6912]

As I walk through the valley where I harvest my grain I take a look at my wife and realize she's very plain But that's just perfect for an Amish like me You know, I shun fancy things like electricity At 4:30 in the morning, I'm milkin' cows Jebediah feeds the chickens and Jacob plows, fool And I've been milkin' and plowin' so long that Even Ezekiel thinks that my mind is gone I'm a man of the land, I'm into discipline Got a Bible in my hand and a beard on my chin But if I finish all of my chores, and you finish thine Then tonight, we're gonna party like it's 1699 We been spending most our lives Livin' in an Amish paradise I churned butter once or twice Livin' in an Amish paradise It's hard work and sacrifice Livin' in an Amish paradise We sell quilts at discount price Livin' in an Amish paradise A local boy kicked me in the butt last week I just smiled at him and I turned the other cheek I really don't care, in fact I wish him well 'Cause I'll be laughing my head off when he's burning in Hell But I ain't never punched a tourist even if he deserved it An Amish with a 'tude? You know that's unheard of I never wear buttons but I got a cool hat And my homies agree I really look good in black, fool If you come to visit, you'll be bored to tears We haven't even paid the phone bill in 300 years But we ain't really quaint, so please don't point and stare We're just technologically impaired There's no phone, no lights, no motorcar Not a single luxury Like Robinson Crusoe It's as primitive as can be We been spending most our lives Livin' in an Amish paradise We're just plain and simple guys Livin' in an Amish paradise There's no time for sin and vice Livin' in an Amish paradise We don't fight, we all play nice Livin' in an Amish paradise Hitchin' up the buggy, churnin' lots of butter Raised a barn on Monday, soon I'll raise another Think you're really righteous? Think you're pure in heart? Well, I know I'm a million times as humble as thou art I'm the pious guy the little Amlettes wanna be like On my knees day and night, scorin' points for the afterlife So don't be vain and don't be whiny Or else, my brother, I might have to get medieval on your heinie We been spending most our lives Livin' in an Amish paradise We're all crazy Mennonites Livin' in an Amish paradise There's no cops or traffic lights Livin' in an Amish paradise But you'd probably think it bites Livin' in an Amish paradise

[@gaveintothedarkness]

*COOLIO would like to know your location* Rip Coolio.

[@slkjvlkfsvnlsdfhgdght5447]

weird al!

[@averagegamer6912]

@@slkjvlkfsvnlsdfhgdght5447 Damn right!

[@beepboop8152]

Only real gs know this song

[@manickn6819]

First thing that came to my mind too. Weird Al is brilliant.

[@TheDefaultgameer]

As someone who grew up in Lancaster county PA. This is 100% accurate haha. Amish everywhere who were slowly adding more modern appliances to their life. Amish wanted to catch Eagles games too!

[@karlshorstzwei]

Maybe they didn't want to catch yesterday's disappointment though lol.

[@OkieOtaku]

The community near my area (NE Oklahoma) makes furniture commercially via a company called.... Wait for it..... Amish Crafted Furniture, and they have several show rooms across the area, attend fairs, etc. These in person things are operated by representatives, not the people themselves though usually. When electricity is required, like powering the workshop, they use a diesel generator with a mix of electric and pneumatic tools. I've also seen amish with cell phones (flip phones specifically), and when I asked about it, they said their commune requires traveling members to keep one to ensure a higher level of safety while traveling, and there's a central phone that's always monitored back at the comune as well, so that they always have a connection back home if needed. Thought that was kinda cool

[@archerstown]

Living in PA and near the Amish my entire life makes these videos very entertaining because I don't learn anything but I like how other people view and portray the Amish. They made REALLY good furniture though if you want something that will last generations. (Also the food will give you diabetes just looking at it)

[@stefanietaushanoff3079]

Ha I was just in Ohio Amish country and the top "traditional favorite" on the menu was noodles with gravy served over a plate of mashed potatoes. That was it, plus the side so you could get maybe some mac and cheese or potato salad, or green beans if you want to tell your doctor you've been good. I've got a hot take on broasted chicken if we want to start a fight in this thread.

[@AngryBerb]

@@stefanietaushanoff3079 I love Der Dutchman

[@mike17032]

We had them build a cabin for us. It was done in 3 days. Amazing.

[@dingusfinance8931]

I lived in northern NY for a time with a pretty large Amish community nearby, and i’ve seen them use power tools, cellular phones, rideshare programs, hospitals, they used to come in the gas station I worked at to buy tobacco, and they’re fairly integrated into the rest of the community around them in terms of business. We sold some parakeets to a group of Amish girls who rode to our house on a buggy, and we also sold rabbits and stuff to them because they’re pretty well integrated into the animal trade with breeding and selling animals and we’d trade rabbits for sometimes for canned goods. They are a net positive to the areas they live in.

[@kaymish6178]

Pneumatic tools are not restricted to the Amish. I worked in a bot factory making industrial electrical gear that had loads of pneumatic tools. The factory had airlines running throughout from a central compressor to run them. Some of the manufacturing bots had pneumaticly actuated movements; one had a knife that was shot out to cut things and there were milling machines that worked on plastic that were pneumatic for fire safety.

[@Futuredynamo]

He didn't say that they were restricted to the Amish. He's just saying that it's one of the pieces of technology that many Amish to use to get around the "no electric grid" rule.

[@Homer-OJ-Simpson]

I went to Amish country in Ohio and learned a lot of this. I never realized how decentralized the Amish/Mennonite community is and how each group has their own rules. I saw some groups hanging out with members of others group and they would sometimes get rides from those that can drive cars. It was fascinating.

[@grrey01]

As someone who lives in the middle of Amish Land, this is spot on. Watching 6 giant mules pulling a piece of farm equipment through a field, when the equipment has a little gas power unit on it...or seeing a buggy in the drive through at McD's...

[@stolenshortsword]

hey corinne. don't know if you will read this, but you are doing a fantastic job of running HAI when the boys mostly left to produce jet lag. this is probably the best episode script I've watched. such a great primer into an essential subculture of the US that is poorly understood, which is the expertise of this channel. under all the standard stock footage and duly executed humour by sam, its an exceptional video. thanks!

[@shoredude2]

Back in the late 90s, a high school girl I worked with went to school in Lancaster, PA which was about 30 miles of west of where we worked. She was telling me about Amish barn parties and how the Amish have the biggest boomboxes you've ever seen. I thought she was full of it until the next day it was on the front page of the paper that two Amish kids were caught selling cocaine from the Pagan motorcycle gang to other Amish kids.

[@evandonovan9239]

Rusmpringa I remember that news story too.

[@thesamarawaters]

met an Amish family on a long distance train once, one of them asked to use my phone to to leave a message on his daughter’s answering machine, since she was pregnant and due. they were interesting to talk to given the massive cultural difference

[@TheOriginalJphyper]

A lot of farmers' markets around here include Amish farmers. They drove into town, carrying their goods in vans. (By the way, there are Amish people all over the country, not just in PA).

[@marcchapman6812]

I don't know who else goes to such lengths to create such a detailed montage using stock footage.

[@coastaku1954]

The amount of Amish I've seen pulling up in rented vans to go to Amusement parks is insane, or the amount of Amish I've seen at my normal grocery store

[@knockeledup]

I live in Iowa so it’s not unusual to see a bunch of Amish people file out of a big van in the parking lot of a grocery store. I think they hire the driver to get around the rules.

[@mike17032]

It’s easy for people who are not around them much to confuse Amish with Mennonite. They are similar in a lot of ways (like dress) but differ in what they can do.

[@coastaku1954]

@@mike17032 I've heard that Mennonites are more hardcore Amish, like while the Amish kinda likes technology, Mennonites are full on against technology

[@evandonovan9239]

@@coastaku1954 That's typically the opposite. Most Mennonites I've known are less strict than the Amish. (I grew up in Lancaster County, PA where there are many of both.)

[@coastaku1954]

@@evandonovan9239 I heard somewhere it was what I said, but, you're actually from that area so you'd know

[@metrazol]

As a Jew, I am glad to see other groups reading between the lines of the scripture to such a degree they're on a different page, perhaps another book. Mazel tov!

[@theletter7533]

I’m related to a really big menanite community. One family I stay with a lot when I’m visiting (in KS) uses computers to monitor feed and seed prices, weather, and other stuff he needs to run his farm. And he’s not some small time farmer, (he’s partnered with Pioneer which is a really big farming company) he’s got tractors worth more than california mansions and owns several thousand acres. He only uses Case I-H tractors, mostly from the 90’s

[@Just_AnotherPlayer]

Sadly many Amish communities are basically cults. It is extremely difficult to leave, especially for women due to how sheltered they are. The men get out and work while the women stay in the house most of the time. Eli Yoder is someone who left the Amish and he has a KZbin channel talking about it

[@admiralcapn]

I live in Lancaster County, PA, and work in appliance service. A lot of Amish homes have on-site solar power for things like clothes washers and the electric side of their gas ranges (dryers are still the outdoor-clothes-line variety). However, modern appliances increasingly have little computers inside of them that REALLY dig that perfect 60 hz sine wave the grid provides, and most basic off-grid solar inverters are a little more...lax than that. Supposedly there are some higher end inverters that would solve the problem, but the cost is orders of magnitude more. I'm curious to see how this pans out community by community in the next few years.

[@alec4672]

We had an Amish family up the road from me and I somehow befriended one of them when I was little and we were friends right up until I was like 16. They had a water wheel and electric lights but no battery or anything just straight from the river to the lights. I remember his mom telling me that they only got as much power as God put in the river and trying to save it would be insulting. I can remember late at night or early morning when I'd spend the night the lights getting brighter when it would rain and that was great for milking the cows. I used to have to put my phone in their mail box and I remember sneaking out at night telling my friend I was going to text my girlfriend lol.

[@goodbit11]

I love the thought of Hai going around to communities without internet to tell them in person about airline logistics

[@annonomous2158]

I saw a documentary or an interview with Amish members a few years ago. The people featured were part of a group (Ordnund?) that allowed mass produced clothes provided they had no pockets. If you wanted pockets on your clothes, it had to be hand made. They were also okay with being filmed, provided the camera didn't have them centre of focus. Imagine doing an interview without being able to point the camera directly at the person you are interviewing. Somehow the camera-person managed it!

[@mike17032]

Ya the whole no pictures thing is misunderstood. They don’t care about being in photos, but they are not allowed to pose for them or be the center of it.

[@jacorp7476]

Disappointed he didn't mention how they can't fly for long distance trips and have to take the train lol. I've seen Amish people on Amtrak more than once, in completely different parts of the country. Pretty interesting.

[@scottmiller3131]

This is more of a personal choice than a rule. Generally Amish prefer taking the train as a lifetime of shunning modern conveniences has naturally make them afraid of airplanes. Generally a phobia of flying and the comfort of trains makes more Amish and Mennonites take trains not planes.

[@jacorp7476]

@@scottmiller3131 So some of them are allowed to fly then?

[@scottmiller3131]

@@jacorp7476 yes. In fact I believe in all orders both Amish and Mennonite are allowed to fly. Some orders might be more strict than others but even the strictest would allow a member to fly for medical reasons alone. Additionally since Amish and Mennonite communities span the globe it’s very common for members to fly to Mexico, Peru or other countries to see family or holiday with other communities. Amish and Mennonite restrictions have much more to do with how something is used not just blatantly you can’t ever use something. I believe at least one Mennonite community I know owns an crop spraying airplane because this is the best way to tend to the crops they grow. I actually employ a Mennonite electrician and I know that some of the best generators make where I am are made by the Amish. It’s a paradox I know but it is what it is.

[@jacorp7476]

@@scottmiller3131 Interesting, thanks for the info. I briefly visited Lancaster County earlier this year and I learned that they are allowed to fly for emergencies, but I wasn't sure how much that principal varied between different groups

[@scottmiller3131]

@@jacorp7476 no problem I’m originally of Pennsylvanian Mennonite descent and even in my family we have a VERY wide range of beliefs so it can be very hard to understand the culture when ideologies can change from family to family to communities and whole orders.

[@augustuscaesar8287]

I live in South Eastern PA, just north of Philly. There's literally a giant Amish market right off the turnpike. The only technology they really use are ATM'S, you can't even use a credit card there. Their food is really good too.

[@ultra_gagayay]

You could say they live the Amish paradise

[@TrailsVonMudder]

Sam, I had high hopes for this video as a Pennsylvanian with a Lancaster Co native wife. You delivered! Very well explained, especially with the short HAI format

[@adventure_joe6731]

Love the inclusion of weird Al lyrics. What a class act

[@EyeMWing]

I had an amish contractor build my garage... A modern engineered-lumber, concrete and steel structure. With powertools and a skid-steer, and the foreman had a cell phone. I found this intensely interesting and spoke to the foreman about it. Basically, if the tools belong to work, and are only used for work, and are the minimum impact to still get the job done at an acceptable cost, it's cool. Flip phone, fine. Smart phone no. Skid steer yes, big loaders no. The truck to get to/from the jobsite.... They hired a normie teenager to drive them back and forth, because that, strictly speaking, is not work.

[@spencerock2187]

I work for a company and the owner is Mennonite. We have roofers that are Amish yet use an air compressor and nail guns. Apparently the idea is if the technology was capable of being made back in the day then they can use it's equivalent today

[@somebodyintheworld5036]

How do they get the compressed air to run the pneumatic tools? Do they have a hand powered compressor?

[@anustubhmishra]

@@somebodyintheworld5036 yeah i was wondering about that . if its actually hand powered then that rally impressive

[@riograndedosulball248]

@@somebodyintheworld5036 they're using steam lol

[@DMahalko]

It'a gasoline-engine air compressor. You can get one at Harbor Freight. Small gas engines are terrible for the environment, spew out tons of smog without catalytic converters or emission controls. The Amish don't care about pollution.

[@lukejohnston5566]

A very respectful take on how Amish people have had to adapt to keep their communities running.

[@simrock_]

- Or read a book - looks at Kindle - yeah, about that ...

[@mistermist634]

Why use a kindle? Your own fault

[@ltjgambrose]

Pneumatic tools are also used for a lot of other industries, especially ones where electricity can be dangerous. Compressed air doesn't spark, which can be useful if you're in a coal mine, a wood shop, or anywhere else that every surface around you is liable to catch fire.

[@KingArthurWs]

Worth mentioning that the Amish are very diverse in rules and tradition, with some shunning so much that not a single workaround is possible, e.g. the Swartzentrubers and Swiss Amish.

[@hereLiesThisTroper]

I once saw a video of a group of Amish building a barn in a day. I am still mind blown at their efficiency especially considering they don't use electricity.

[@gavinthecrafter]

"Say Jeremiah is building this $2,000 *Amish TV Stand* " wait

[@billjohnson69]

The week after my wife and I got married our area (NorCal) had a devastating wildfire. We spent the next 10 days on our ranch with no electricity, limited water, no cell service and no internet. We like to joke that we took our honeymoon to a third world country and that if the first 2 weeks of married life were like that, the rest would have to be easier. That was a kid and a few wildfires ago :)

[@tylertriezenberg1399]

Like you said, each community sets their own rules, but in general, from what I've noticed, they're more open to modern technology as long as it's for business purposes.

[@PLuMUK54]

Here, we have the Plymouth Brethren. They live similarly to the Amish, but generally in urban rather than rural areas. A friend's cousin was a member of the Plymouth Brethren, and was not allowed newspapers or magazines, radio or television, telephones, or the Internet in her home. She would go to my friend's house to make use of each of these things, which I used to find hypocritical as she tended to look with pity at those of us, as she put it, who were "wedded to the world". One aspect of her life that would have driven me mad was the restriction on reading matter. She was allowed The Bible, a medical book (they were supposed to shun doctors), and a book on how to make and repair things. Take my phone, take the internet, take my car, but you take my books from my cold, dead hands, if you survive the attempt!

[@catholiccontriversy]

My grandparents had an Amish community where they lived and one thing they would do is have a landline phone in the barn for emergencies since their rules were against having a phone in the house. My mom also befriended the school teacher and they had to figure out how to do special needs accommodations and assistance tools while still being within the rules.

[@JimNutt]

The important thing to remember about the Amish is that they adopt technologies on their own terms. They slowly integrate them in ways that disrupt their lives as little as possible.

[@evandonovan9239]

It's also worth noting that Amish teens haven't joined the church yet (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumspringa), so they could use TikTok without necessarily falling afoul of the church. I'm glad you mentioned the compressed air-powered tools. As someone who grew up in Lancaster County, PA (the original Amish Country in the US), I've always found that interesting. For a short video, I felt like this was fairly accurate.

[@DMahalko]

I was thinking about setting up an Amish Re-education Program, providing free cable and Internet access to the local Amish teenagers at a rural Internet Cafe. I was going to call it Rumspringa's.

[@alexz5574]

I love the perspective towards accepting and embracing change this video introduced.

[@illusoryphoenix5178]

I remember this one episode of Arthur where Buster wanted to be Amish but ended up being miserable, and someone told him something along the lines of "The Amish might not be allowed ton OWN cars, but that doesn't mean they can't RIDE them"

[@HD-wv4ul]

I’ve worked 9-9 for a company taking on every responsibility in upper management. I have not missed a day, worked on every birthday every Saturday missed valuable time with my family. Today I took two hours off due to a severe stomach illness and got a write up and severe backlash from the owners. Life is crazy thanks for reading.

[@CandleWisp]

Oof, sorry about that. Hope you're feeling better. Coincidentally, I'm currently weathering through food poisoning. Misery sure loves company😅

[@TheElusiveReality]

i love the idea of using water wheels instead of connecting to the grid

[@riograndedosulball248]

That is exactly what the people living in my house when it was built did, shame that the nearby creek changed course and diverted to lower ground, drying up the pond. But there is still a waterwheel mount in the backyard

[@HermaeusM]

They must be so close to God, the way they live. I’m happy people like them still are around. No ulterior motives, just wisdom and kindness

[@Zripas]

You can have wisdom and kindness while having radio playing your favorite music.

[@prettypic444]

Think You're really righteous? think you're pure of heart? well I know I'm a million times as humble as thou art!

[@MrMineHeads.]

My favorite subreddit actually is /r/Amish, plenty of great discussion on there.

[@syed_mamoon99]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@alexandergilles8583]

That Amish Slim Jim commercial is still one of the funniest I’ve ever seen

[@phoule76]

with Randy "Amish Man" Savage?

[@alexandergilles8583]

@@phoule76 nah it was the “what’s it like without internet” “it’s alright, I just get photos of your mom through the mail” one

[@alexpraksti6132]

So as a person who grew up in the middle of Amish Country, PA, I can say that this is pretty true . They don't really use any electricity at home or in their personal life, but a lot of them will use technology in business transactions if they are selling produce/food at stalls.

[@mike17032]

Ya it’s easy to spot an Amish house, it won’t have any wires going into it. Usually one to the barn.

[@BiggerDingus]

Seeing my old workplace on an HAI video is pretty neat!

[@lonestarr1490]

You used to build Amish TV stands with Jeremiah?

[@FlorenceSlugcat]

“Most of us wouldnt last a day without power” I beg to differ. I was hit with a storm last year that gave me a 3 day outage. Despite the fact that I need a computer for everything I do, and work from a desktop located in my appartment that I built, its not that bad to lose power for a couple days. You light up candles, and do other things. Youl get over it.

[@RobVicRJ]

I don't totally get it (I'm ignorant about the Amish), but the reason for not using electricity is for isolation of the rest of the society? How this principle applies to sewage, roads, etc? Why grid electricity specifically?

[@RustyorBroken]

They know that they have to evolve as a society. It's that they choose when and how. The Amish near me can have electricity for business purposes. There's a furniture store where he has a phone and a laptop, but gas lighting. They have tractors, even quite modern ones, but with steel wheels rather than rubber. They most have cell phones, but they charge them with solar panels and they don't take them into their house.

[@JaykPuten]

That's why I loved George Romeros 2nd from last movie diary of the dead It's a zombie movie that has an Amish character for a minute All those end of the world movies because "no power" and plenty of Amish and Mennonite communities would be like "meh" Or "the English psh, Jedidiah, get that barn up, Jacob plows..." Been spending most our lives living in an Amish paradise Oh off rails there

[@mike17032]

They take the non-violence thing to heart. They wouldn’t last a week if things went bad, sadly.

[@JaykPuten]

@@mike17032 zombies? I mean I think they'd be ok putting down what's already dead Now marauders or something sure... But the dead walking I think they'd do it so their soul could rest again

[@capitanodessa7472]

I'm from Argentina, and I saw a mennonite colony documentary on TV. ...Men had several fridges, air conditioning, electrical tools for working, but women washed clothes by hand and were not allowed to have a washing machine. They used electricity through generators instead of using the grid, contaminating quite a lot. That community they showed in particular was dystopian lol

[@hillppari]

all about keeping women in line. cant have them have any freedom from chores

[@vampirevore]

"most of us wouldn't last a day without electricity" i'm watching this video from south africa, that's just another tuesday

[@devotion3037]

TL;DR: they get round the not using electricity rule by ignoring it and using electricity.

[@VanerTheogus]

Talk about reinventing the water wheel

[@MicMan123456789]

What you didn’t mention is how all of their technology is owned by their businesses which get around the ordnung. For example they have businesses that own truck that they make employees drive them around in. They also have company cell phones.

[@aldrichjosiah6495]

If I subscribe to Nebula, will I also get the sweet nothings whispered to my ears every month?

[@Zander2212]

Reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite comedians "When all else fails, make fun of the Amish. Why? because they have no recording equipment to prove I said anything."

[@staiain]

You're wrong. We don't mind standing in line, buying groceries, it's cleaning up after making food that we don't like. HelloFresh can't help with this.

[@matthewmoser1284]

Thanks for making this video! I grew up in another Anabaptist community which were basically just rebranded Amish. It's neat to see so much interest in this particular field! A couple things I'll note, keeping in mind I'm well aware most of this was done for gags, so I'm not upset. But as a point of education, the Amish community, alongside other Anabaptist groups like the Mennonites and Nazarines, we're primarily persecuted in the middle ages, Renaissance, and Enlightenment period because of their opposition to infant baptism. That's actually where the term "Anabaptist" comes from. This persecution wasn't exclusive to us of course. The movement grew out of the larger Protestant Reformation just like Lutheranism and Calvanism. But admittedly the strict rules for the Anabaptist communities DID rub the Catholic church, as well as other Protestant groups, a bit raw. All of which as mentioned led to their en masse migration to the American colonies. I'll also back up what he said about the gradual transition to modern technology, which in the various Anabaptist communities is referred to as "Liberalizing". When I was younger, we weren't supposed to have TV's, video games, or computers. But my grandfather, who was a Deacon, loved to watch basketball on TV, grandma's favorite game was Tetris, and they gradually allowed computers as long as it was only for school work. Nowadays, they even relaxed the rule in my community regarding facial hair. So while some old die hards like the Schwartengruber Amish do continue to resist change, others recognize the value in some modern technology and allow those conveniences. ....so long as you don't use them for behavior that would be "frowned upon". 🤣

[@FictionHubZA]

This video seems like a fact I'd bring up to a stranger when I have trouble thinking of something interesting to say.

[@jamesburton1050]

Not a bad set of mechanics. If things ever go south, they will definitely be ahead!

[@maccrazy7335]

How does the air compressor work, then? Petrol engine? Or electricity afterxall?

[@JaykPuten]

Ever used a balloon? You can compress air without electricity Or as stated in the video, using off grid electricity

[@jareknowak8712]

God blows wind in to the pipe. Those 2 gentelmens above dont know how much air does an air-drill uses.

[@JaykPuten]

@@jareknowak8712 I know how much they use, I've worked in an auto shop, my point was air can be compressed and stored Speaking about it most firearm manufacturers used pneumatic tools(before the industrial revolution) compressed usually with waterwheels, which is why FN and DWM we're built near rivers (Waves crazily and vaguely towards Belgium on a map) Billythekid is right, a repeating air gun was brought on the lewis and Clark expedition.. Which if I recall takes place before electricity Also, if your willing to wait longer then you can use less air compression, or use a softer material to cut through if you can't get to above 100+ psi

[@jareknowak8712]

@@JaykPuten Yes, they often use air instead od electricity in the places where its easy to start a fire with a spark. In my cousin's workshop there were two 200L compressors. Ive seen one in a carpenters shop also.

[@jefferyspurlock4272]

It's also no uncommon for the Amish to set up business agreements between them and their neighbors to share utilities. This is seen as a sidestep to the rule. They do not have a grid connection they just borrow the neighbors connection.

[@brianzmek7272]

The pneumatic power tools actually have lots of uses outside the Amish in part because some tools are better as pneumatic than electrical and once your shop has a pneumatic system on line for one tool why use electric when pneumatic ones are often much cheaper and more rugged.

[@nancycowell-miller4321]

I fell down the KZbin rabbit-hole for awhile; researching more about how the Amish lived. It's actually kind of fascinating about how the different sects utilize technology. There are some who do have cellphones. One thing that did surprise me: Amish-produced food is not necessarily organic. Many farmers do use commercial pesticides / herbicides.

[@cyberherbalist]

Not being Amish myself, I nevertheless respect their dedication to their ideals. Thus I am reasonably pleased that you were respectful in this video, while still being humorous.

[@bahamutbbob]

There is an Amish market nearby, only open 3 days a week, that used to sell furniture and some food, but now it's only food. There are, like, 4 or 5 hot food stands in the building, and it feels very claustrophobic compared to almost 30 years ago when it was mainly a furniture showroom.

[@bibasik7]

0:31 No GPU acceleration

[@DMahalko]

One of the main problems of having Amish in your neighborhood is that horse carriages have zero crash protection. Meanwhile they have no issues with sending a 12 year old out alone on a buggy on 55 / 65 mph highways. If a modern car collides with a buggy, it basically explodes, the people go flying and get horribly maimed or die instantly, and the horse has to be put down. Also horse manure on the roads gets on your vehicle wheels and spatters inside your wheel wells, so your car now smells like horse manure. Horse "diapers" exist to keep manure off public roads, but they won't do it. We have the particularly stubborn Swartzentruber Amish near us, who refuse to use bright lighting at night, just dim little kerosene lamps. Good luck seeing them at night. But speed limits should not be reduced to benefit the Amish. The rest of us don't need 30mph zones all over the place in rural areas. They can drive modern vehicles, they choose not to. The rest of us normal Americans living in this country should not have to suffer from their imposition and inconvenience of their religion on us.