I’m sorry to say my first exposure to the Amish was through Weird Al’s Amish Paradise, which I now recognise has some unfairly unflattering passages. I still w

I’m sorry to say my first exposure to the Amish was through Weird Al’s Amish Paradise, which I now recognise has some unfairly unflattering passages. I still wouldn’t endorse the bible-based aspects of the Amish lifestyle, but I see that their approach to technology isn’t all that irrational. They are taking a very methodical approach to what we might call dependency management. They seek independence, and they realize how dependence and risk can arise from the deep supply chains inherent in technology. Hence they do not reject electricity outright, but do reject grid connections. Their approach is also to thoroughly impact assess technology on their community. They assess holistically whether a technology will help or hinder them, in a social as well as economic sense. I think we could learn some things from the Amish when tempted to chase new tech.