anybody going to watch "Amish in The City"

[airhead]

It starts tonight. I'll be watchin!

 

[HollyJoy]

Not sure. I saw a commercial for it, and I have to say it bothers me a bit. I find it odd that the Amish community would allow such a thing. Don't really know anything about it though.

 

[Galahad]

Would you think, for example, that it would be OK to take , say, black kids from their neighborhood, and take them to a place completely foreign to them, with the intent to create a bit of entertainment at their exploits. Even if the kids in question volunteered and their parents agreed, I think most people would find it an offensive exploitation. They may handle this better than I suspect they will, but the premise of the show is entirely offensive, IMO.

 

[Dancind]

I may be way off, but my impression is that the Amish don't try to control the lives of their children. Unlike some religions, Seventh Day Adventists come to mind. They are given an opportunity to experience the "outside" world (which is what the Amish kids on this show are doing), and then decide how they want to live their lives. I don't know that the TV show environment will be a good representation of the outside world, but the premise is interesting.

 

[binny]

Originally posted by Galahad
Would you think, for example, that it would be OK to take , say, black kids from their neighborhood, and take them to a place completely foreign to them, with the intent to create a bit of entertainment at their exploits. Even if the kids in question volunteered and their parents agreed, I think most people would find it an offensive exploitation. They may handle this better than I suspect they will, but the premise of the show is entirely offensive, IMO.

yeah that was my feeling as well. Incredibly disrespectful.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Originally posted by HollyJoy
Not sure. I saw a commercial for it, and I have to say it bothers me a bit. I find it odd that the Amish community would allow such a thing. Don't really know anything about it though.

When Amish children turn 16 they are allowed to take a year away from the community to sample urban life it's called rumspringa which mean running around. After this year they then decide if they want to be baptized into the Amish faith as adults, most children do return.

 

[Rajah]

What channel is it on?

I think, if handled right, it would be an interesting way to learn about the Amish life.

 

[airhead]

It'll be on for 2 hours tonight

 

[alabamaalan]

Somehow I don't think that what these kids will experience is going to be a realistic taste of what "outside" life is like.

What happens when they decide not to go back and discover that reality TV isn't really the real world after all?

In any event, way too exploitive for me.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Originally posted by alabamaalan
Somehow I don't think that what these kids will experience is going to be a realistic taste of what "outside" life is like.

What happens when they decide not to go back and discover that reality TV isn't really the real world after all?

In any event, way too exploitive for me.

The thing is most children on "rumspringa" do go back, only about 10% of the kids decide not to return to the faith.

 

[Trish Bessette]

I thought there was something against Amish people being photographed??? Am I dreaming this? I thought if you visit the Amish country you can't take pictures as it's against their beliefs.

 

[Barb D]

They're putting them in a mansion in LA. That's not exactly representative of "real" American life, especially of the life an actual Amish kid would live if s/he left the community for a short time.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Originally posted by Trish Bessette
I thought there was something against Amish people being photographed??? Am I dreaming this? I thought if you visit the Amish country you can't take pictures as it's against their beliefs.

It's true that Amish don't like getting their pictures taken. But when children are on "rumspringa" they are free from all the rules of the faith, they can drink alcohol, date, pretty much whatever they want to because they haven't been baptized into the faith yet.

But that really doesn't apply to the UPN show because I heard that the Amish involved in the show had already decided to leave their communities before even getting involved with the TV show.

There was a documentary called the "The Devils Playground" that followed Amish teens on their "rumspringa". That probably was much more realistic then this show will be since the people involved in Amish in the City had already made the decision to leave.

Just google Amish if you want to learn more about the Amish way of life, that's what I did.

 

[Alicia87]

Anyone know what channel this will be on if you have DirecTV?

Thanks in advance!

 

[GBsMom]

Oh yes, does anyone know the time or channel in Alaska

 

[4nana]

Just MO, sorry, but this bothers me and I think it is going way too far. I was raised in Amish country and cannot imagine it being allowed. Their community will not be able to watch them as they don't have electricity, TV's, etc.

I saw them interviewed this morn with their new wardrobes, all made up, and just feel they being taking advantage of. Amish women are not allowed to show their hair, much less their body and are in for a rude awakening at swim time.

On the other hand, we could all probably benefit from the Amish simple way of life.

~ Sandie

 

[aprilgail2]

Wow, I can't believe how bad that show was!! I certainly wouldn't watch it again!! It was SO sick how they made fun of the poor Amish people, it was just to mean for me!

 

[TowerOfTerrorFreak]

The whole premise of the show sounds ridiculous.

 

[Kitty 34]

I watched 5 minutes of it before turning the channel!

 

[Tinkbell]

I figured it would just be goofing on the Amish so I never watched. Good thing.