I read a book recently where the detective was ex-amish and had become a police chief near her old Amish community

gets a bit of discipline into them

This is like seeing life through the eyes of a child 

 - do the museums and all the tousisty bits but love the shops - hoping to go in October half-term -

Oooo that sounds good - see even though she left the community she's still stationed close by 

Must be great...

It's a bit like Victorian times - child labour, sex a taboo (for the working classes - yeah right!), and the male/female divide.

yes - there is a naivety about their way of life and the distinct male / female roles

hi baz

That's it......I can't be Amish.....it's the no impure thoughts bit

I'm in two minds, on the one hand it seems like paradise, but on the other it feels a bit pointless, although that's probably just the influence of modern life on me.

  you'd deffo be shunned 

It strikes me that they're a pretty humourless bunch.  Maybe it's because they're out of their comfort zone...?

Ok... no music - that's me out.

I guess I'm happy with that. Anyway, until Ben de Lisi makes Amish dresses, pinnies and bonnets, I'm out

They're really shocked at the dancing!

It doesn't seem to encourage humour, does it?    Although having said that - can you imagine the culture shock they're experiencing.

That's just plain wrong!

They have gone from one extreme to the other however

I guess for us looking into the Amish world we couldn't live with it because we've been raised differently 

For them, they've been raised the way they have so it's entirely normal.  They're struggling with the music and dancing as that is alien to them but quite natural to us 

I wondered when they'd start speaking German as that's the normal language they communicate in at home.


This really must be a huge culture shock for them - I'm shocked every time I go to London so Lord knows what it's like for them

So was I tbh

That's why I don't like it.  Aside from the fact that S. London estates aren't the only lifestyles to be had in the UK and therefore only 1 representation of 21c living, I don't like how the Amish way appears to be closed minded and oblivious of other communities.

To not be aware, not know.......seems a controlling thing.

You iz ebil 

No...just too old

I can't imagine having to live without music.....

And therein lies the biggest problem with the Amish and shows how they keep their community together - it's all about control.

They may go elsewhere as well Cosi for a more balance view of UK life

I hope so, Kaytee.

However, wouldn't we love to send a few offenders from here to do a lengthy community service there and see how they turn out 

I wonder if they will - it'll be really interesting if they take the series right through to their decision whether or not to go back.

I certainly hope so.....

There is supposed to be 4 episodes of this so hopefully they will go somewhere else to give them a different side to British life 

I think they'd be straightened out

They should give them a try down in somewhere like Hampshire (farmland, countryside etc.,) and/or Cornwall/Devon.  It's not so urban for one thing. 

Country style without religion, if you like

I believe that in each of the 4 programmes, they will be living with different groups of British teenagers.

I think nails THAT long look horrible!

i agree - they did only see one side of life

Yes... but think of the effect of *them* on the Amish.