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Message no. 1
From: Bull <chaos@*****.COM>
Subject: Hostile Amish
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 00:40:40 -0500
Ok, now just as a sidenote, before I get into something really silly...

I have nothing against the Amish, and if anyone on this list happens to be
Amish...

WHAT ARE YOU DOING USING A COMPUTER?????

<grin>

Well now, with that out of the way...

About an hour south of where I live there is an Amish community called
Middlefield. A couple weeks ago I had to ride down there with my
grandfather and help him pick up some stuff... Anyways, while down there,
we stopped at a restaurant down there, and lo and behold, what did I see?

An Amish Dwarf! He was about four feet tall, about three feet wide, and had
the Amish beard and clothes... Pretty fuky looking... I mean, he didn't
just look like a midget (also appologies for that term... But vertically
challenged sounds wierd), he looked like your typical Fantasy/SR dwarf. He
even had the wide nose that fantasy dwarves have...:)

and that got me thinking... What would Amish Country be like in 205X?

Any Suggestions?? These may be included in my Cleveland posting to the next
Nerps posting...:)

BTW, for those of you who don't know what Amish are, they are a
semi-religious group of people who don't believe in technology (hence my
earlier comment). They farm most of there own food, drive horse and buggy's
instead of cars, etc...

They also dress odd... The men wear these dark suits most of the time with
these black hats (similar to a fedora), and all where a beard cut in a
specific style with no mustache... The women all where black or lite blue
dresses and white bonnets...

They're all nice people, real friendly, but a little odd...
Message no. 2
From: Gurth <gurth@******.NL>
Subject: Re: Hostile Amish
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 13:17:17 +0100
Bull said on 0:40/ 7 Nov 96...

> and that got me thinking... What would Amish Country be like in 205X?
>
> Any Suggestions?? These may be included in my Cleveland posting to the next
> Nerps posting...:)

It would make a good addition to the NAGTTW, I think. As for what they're
like, how about "much the same as now"? They're wearing clothes today that
are 200 years out of fashion, so I think they can keep it up for another
60 years :) Although they'd have to find a way to live with magic and
metahumanity, which might cause great problems for them...

> BTW, for those of you who don't know what Amish are, they are a
> semi-religious group of people who don't believe in technology (hence my
> earlier comment). They farm most of there own food, drive horse and buggy's
> instead of cars, etc...

Watch that Harrison Ford movie with the little Amish boy who witnesses a
murder, and you should be able to recognize them on sight. Although I saw
something once that about a former Amish (would that make a good
shadowrunner?) who said the movie was a good depiction, except that the
woman (the boy's mother, who (naturally) falls in love with Ford's cop
character) would become an outcast.

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
The flat earth society has been here today.
-> NERPS Project Leader & Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
-> The Plastic Warriors Page: http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/plastic.html <-

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Message no. 3
From: "Steven A. Tinner" <bluewizard@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Hostile Amish
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 1996 12:25:56 -0800
> It would make a good addition to the NAGTTW, I think. As for what they're
> like, how about "much the same as now"? They're wearing clothes today that
> are 200 years out of fashion, so I think they can keep it up for another
> 60 years :) Although they'd have to find a way to live with magic and
> metahumanity, which might cause great problems for them...

As far as dealing with magic, I think the Amish tradition would be a
form of hermeticism.
The Amish are also called "Pennsylvania Dutch" in this area, and even
today make extensive use of Hexes.
These are those detailed circles and pentagrams seen on barns in the
area.
They supposedly act as wards, keeping evil spirits away from the Amish
family home and crops.
They also make wide use of secret signs.
They lay the evil eye on people, and mix tonics and potions.
Some of the Amish can trace their roots back to Salem - home of the
infamous witch trials.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the Amish have a very black and
white view of Good and Evil.
Only the Good use of hexes and other magics is acceptable to the Amish
and in their view, God.
Those who use their magic selfishly, or for Evil are branded as witches.
When that happens, or even if you are caught breaking Amish traditions
you are labeled as "Sod" - meaning you are no better than dirt.

Of course this doesn't stop a lot of Amish kids from sneaking out at
night, and heading to the local bars for a good time.
There's a lot of desire among young Amish to escape from their
lifestyle,
They still honor and respect the old ways, the just wasnt to modify
them.

Overall, I think the Amish tradition would simply be a more flavorful
brand of Hermeticism.

Steven A. Tinner
"Yes, I Had a good friend in college who married a lapsed Amish girl.
She was Sod, and knew a lot about this stuff."
Message no. 4
From: Marty <s457033@*******.GU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Re: Hostile Amish
Date: Fri, 8 Nov 1996 13:00:22 +1000
> About an hour south of where I live there is an Amish community called
> Middlefield. A couple weeks ago I had to ride down there with my
> grandfather and help him pick up some stuff... Anyways, while down there,
> we stopped at a restaurant down there, and lo and behold, what did I see?
>
> An Amish Dwarf! He was about four feet tall, about three feet wide, and had
> the Amish beard and clothes... Pretty fuky looking... I mean, he didn't
> just look like a midget (also appologies for that term... But vertically
> challenged sounds wierd), he looked like your typical Fantasy/SR dwarf. He
> even had the wide nose that fantasy dwarves have...:)
>
> and that got me thinking... What would Amish Country be like in 205X?
>

Hell, considering the reputation that the Amish have for being
masochisitc workophiles, then they'd make the best Dwarf culture that
I've ever heard of.... Perhaps they *all* should ahve metahumanised.

*evil grin*

> They also dress odd... The men wear these dark suits most of the time with
> these black hats (similar to a fedora), and all where a beard cut in a
> specific style with no mustache... The women all where black or lite blue
> dresses and white bonnets...
>
Dwarf in suit and hat*grin*... I've got the image in my head already.

Bleach
Message no. 5
From: Bull <chaos@*****.COM>
Subject: Re: Hostile Amish
Date: Fri, 8 Nov 1996 01:24:23 -0500
>Hell, considering the reputation that the Amish have for being
>masochisitc workophiles, then they'd make the best Dwarf culture that
>I've ever heard of.... Perhaps they *all* should ahve metahumanised.
>
>*evil grin*
>
Hmmm, that's a thought... Unlikely, though...:) Too bad...:)

>Dwarf in suit and hat*grin*... I've got the image in my head already.
>
You should have seen him in person... I wish I'd have had a camera and the
nerve to ask him for a picture...:)

Steve

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