How Amish are you?

I'm not sure you can post this kind of thing in an internet forum without undermining your claim.

Hmm, let's see... • used a cash dispenser..yes • sent a text message..yes • used text speak..yes • downloaded a ringtone...no • communicated by videophone..yes, and hate it • cooked with a microwave..yes • listened to music on an iPod...no • played with an Xbox, Wii or PS3...no, and refuse to • voted in a reality TV show...no • used an emoticon...:-) • posted a video to Youtube..no, but I watch Juventus vids there sometimes • sung karaoke..WHAT! Bruce, you sad chicken. Karaoke makes life worth living!! • gone rollerblading..yes • been a driver or passenger in a 4x4...yes, I even owned one. • read the Da Vinci Code...no • seen any of the Bridget Jones films...saw both and loved them • played Sudoku...can't figure out how it works, so no. • bought an Oyster card...no • ordered café latte...obviously yes • drunk a smoothie...ditto • eaten anything themed to a movie...? What does this mean? • watched ITV3...quite likely • downloaded a Lily Allen track...who? • bought a book by a celebrity chef...*cough* • asked for ‘cash back’...yes • uttered the words ‘bling’ or ‘chav’...chavs wear bling, innit • used terms like ‘cognitive’ or ‘societal’...every day • sent anyone an ecard...oh, they're fun! • gone for a ride in a stretch limo...no (see 'chav') However, I have done some near-Amish stuff, I guess. Like many people, I have: raised chickens milked a cow midwifed goats woven cloth on a loom sewn my own clothes spun wool into yarn preferred walking to driving I'm not sure your list constitutes anything Amish or near-Amish, however. More like technophobe or just disinterest in current technological fashion... Now, if you drove to work in a horse and buggy, I'd be REALLY impressed... *insert winking emoticon*

Is it un-Amish to do Sudoku? pe ps oid ... What is "The Art of Tea"? ... (www.pepsoid.wordpress.com)

I've done totting for a living, that's pretty Amish. As for using the word Chav, that's not modern, gypsies have called their kids chavies or chav forever, mind you they also own 4x4's but also are about the only people to use a horse and cart. Personally I'd love to live on a plot of land where I could just live of me own resources, I could trade up with the local shops with labour, eggs, milk or gold. nobody

I'm a little more practical I think. At no point in my life have I ever... 1. Lost my wallet 2. Lost my car keys 3. Locked myself out of the house 4. Accidently cut off an apendage 5. Killed anyone (accidently nor on purpose, but not for lack of trying) 6. Burnt down anything 7. Infected anyone with a disease 8. Been lost in the woods 9. Caused an avalanche 10. Had sex with the sister of my girlfriend or wife Visit me http://www.radiodenver.org/

I'll have a go, Bruce (I wish you'd put your teeth back in, mate!) • used a cash dispenser - yes, most days • sent a text message - no... ain't got a mobile, never will have (as Stephen King said - you don't own them, they own you). • used text speak - R U kidding? • downloaded a ringtone - no • communicated by videophone - no • cooked with a microwave - no... don't have a freezer, neither. Fresh grub only (smug git!) • listened to music on an iPod - no (unless you count an MP3) • played with an Xbox, Wii or PS3 - no • voted in a reality TV show - no • used an emoticon - yes :-/ • posted a video to Youtube - no, but I watch plenty of 'em • sung karaoke - yes... last time to 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' by Green Day. • gone rollerblading - no • been a driver or passenger in a 4x4 - NO... and don't have a car. • read the Da Vinci Code - 1st page only... that was enough. • seen any of the Bridget Jones films - no • played Sudoku - yes • bought an Oyster card - no • ordered café latte - no... don't drink milk. • drunk a smoothie - no (tried once, but couldn't get it up the straw) • eaten anything themed to a movie - only popcorn • watched ITV3 - no... ain't got a telly. • downloaded a Lily Allen track - do me a favour! • bought a book by a celebrity chef - no • asked for ‘cash back’ - all the time • uttered the words ‘bling’ or ‘chav’ - yes • used terms like ‘cognitive’ or ‘societal’ - yes, I'm afraid • sent anyone an ecard - not yet • gone for a ride in a stretch limo - no. As you may have guessed, I live a pretty simple life. I'm a die-hard green. Haven't travelled by air for a few years now, either. Less Amish, more just anti-materialism, really. Can't do without me computer, though. I'll go along with Nobody's idea of trying to live off my own resources. I've looked into it a few times. One day... As long as my bender has a solar panel to power up the PC. Can't cut off altogether! Now, Bruce... I want you to sing karaoke to a song of your choice, video it, then upload it to YouTube so that we can all judge whether or not we want to hear it. You need to give us the choice, you know. (You could always do the Fred Schneider part from the B52's 'Love Shack'.... just spoken-word vocals!) *Bruce sings "Huggin' and a kissin', dancin' and a lovin', wearin' next to nothing 'cause it's hot as an oven ..." * Check it out on YouTube, mate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrBUQzNOn0o

At absolutely no point in my life have I ever:- • used text speak • downloaded a ringtone • communicated by videophone • fucked a goat • voted in a reality TV show • posted a video to Youtube • gone rollerblading • been a driver or passenger in a 4x4 • seen any of the Bridget Jones films • bought an Oyster card • ordered café latte • gone for a ride in a stretch limo. There's nothing more mind-teasing than the incomprehensible eagerly avowed - Dennett

Blimey, brooosh, I'm amazed by all the stuff you've managed to avoid - so much so I find it hard to believe you. I yearn for some kind of purity, though I'm not sure why that is ever linked with a removal of 'new' technologies. There's a fantasy that human communication is simpler without the use of these things, but I think that may be a load of balls. Humans are complex full stop. But I am feeling a bit complex because I've just had cava, red wine, and apricot liqueur (hmm, I know). Anyway. I'll go with Yan2's list. • used text speak - of crs. Lazy. • downloaded a ringtone - nope, am nearly 36. Somehow this is beyond (ahead of) me • communicated by videophone - once, but only because of a pervy friend • fucked a goat - nope, but have made love with a couple of Capricorns • voted in a reality TV show - yes, shameful though it is to admit. I tried to vote Anthea Turner out of CBB once. • posted a video to Youtube - no, but I do watch them. Some sweet films. See for example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIy540QP0N0 (someone I know made this so I hope you like it...) • gone rollerblading - hahahahaha • been a driver or passenger in a 4x4 - bleurgh. Me neither • seen any of the Bridget Jones films - yes, hm. I even cried at the end of the first one. It plugged in to an atavistic part of me. Or something. • bought an Oyster card - I am scared of these but having paid £2 to a few bus drivers this weekend I am going to get one. How do you use them again? • ordered café latte - ahem, yes. I live in North London.... I went through a phase of asking for 'a coffee' but I was asked to qualify this request so frequently that I gave in and asked for a latte eventually. Hey, I have even utterered the word 'babyccino' for God's sake. • gone for a ride in a stretch limo - no, thank the Lord I feel ashamed. Night night.

sorry: utterered? Not surprisising after apricot liqueur. I don't like apricot liqueur.

I'd LOVE to be asked to qualify my order for 'a coffee'. I'd really LOVE it. "Listen... I want a mug of coffee, black, made with hot water and a couple of sweeteners and nothing else. No milk. No froth. No goddamn sprinkly bits on top. Coffee. You got that? If not, which bit are you having problems with?"

Okay then... • used a cash dispenser - well duh! • sent a text message - many • used text speak - yes (ironically... and for purposes of efficiency... honestly) • downloaded a ringtone - no, but I have downloaded a few mobile phone games (but only when on sale!) • communicated by videophone - yes... not by choice... my girlfriend had free video-minutes... :-/ • cooked with a microwave - scrambled eggs actually taste better microwaved! (well I think so... (so that's a yes then)) • listened to music on an iPod - don't have one, but they do look so perdy... • played with an Xbox, Wii or PS3 - you missed PS2 (so obviously yes) • voted in a reality TV show - erm... don't think so... • used an emoticon - yes (ironically (!)) • posted a video to Youtube - no! I craveth not le fame • sung karaoke - god, no... :-/ (oops, there goes another "ironic" emoticon) • gone rollerblading - rollerskating count? • been a driver or passenger in a 4x4 - nope • read the Da Vinci Code - played the PS2 game... • seen any of the Bridget Jones films - both! (obviously it was a boyfriendly duty) • played Sudoku - I got a book of 'em for my last birthday! • bought an Oyster card - wazzat then? • ordered café latte - well of course (being Mr Sophisticated'n'all) • drunk a smoothie - see above • eaten anything themed to a movie - possibly... and I do have a "Over the Hedge" and a "Men in Black 2" mug (both from Poundland, if they exonerates me at all) • watched ITV3 - got digital TV for Xmas, so ask me in a few weeks! • downloaded a Lily Allen track - no, but she is well cool, innit! • bought a book by a celebrity chef - what's cooking, then? • asked for ‘cash back’ - well, duh! • uttered the words ‘bling’ or ‘chav’ - oh no doubt... • used terms like ‘cognitive’ or ‘societal’ - I did Sociology and Psychology! So obviously... • sent anyone an ecard - yup! • gone for a ride in a stretch limo. - nup! :-) :-/ :-! pe ps oid ... What is "The Art of Tea"? ... (www.pepsoid.wordpress.com)

Amish country is only a couple hours from me - I visited once, cool and strange all at once. I often buy their veggies here in the city. I don't have a car or tv - I'm un-Amish in every other way.

I share quite a few with you. I've never drunk a smoothie or voted in a TV reality show. Not sure I entirely understand whilst all of these things help you enjoy a simpler, less technology-focused lifestyle experience. A single journey in Zone 1 on the tube is £4 but only £1.50 with Oyster plus it's quicker. If you don't have an Oyster, you still have to buy a paper ticket (probably from a machine) and put it through the automatic gate. I don't understand what is wrong or even trendy about the word ‘cognitive’ which is widely used in medical and scientific terms. Avoiding technology that erodes communication skills and other human values is good. I too do not send eCards as it shows a lack of care and I would rather talk to somebody than text them if I had something important to say. I respect but do not entirely understand the neo-luddite reaction. jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

Oh, I prefer eCards to paper cards. I always feel guilty about the amount of paper that's consumed during Xmas/birthdays, making all those cards, which most people just throw away. Okay, sure, you can recycle them, but how many people do? Plus, eCards have *animation*; I've sent and received some truly hilarious ones. This is my plug for eCards because in actuality I'm crap at remembering to post anything on time, ever. Thank you.

There is a true story from a British Lions rugby tour to New Zealand back in the 1960s. In those days the game in England was very much a middle class preserve, while the Welsh,Scots, and Irish players had more mixed backgrounds. One of the Welsh forwards, a miner, protested to an Eton and Oxford educated English player that " You'm always usin' them long words, like corrugated iron and marmalade."

I am described as having cognitive deficits as a result of a brain injury. There's nothing wrong with my awareness and memory is a different issue. I suppose 'impaired thought processes' would be the most accurate description but that's more long winded than cognitive deficits which is no more high brow than 'marmalade'. jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

• used a cash dispenser - Just the once, 23 years ago. I hate them and don't trust them • sent a text message - Occasionally to contact my son when he's in Cyprus, it costs too much to phone him. • used text speak - Never, I think using it should be a capital offence. • downloaded a ringtone - Whatever for, my phone has a built in ring! • communicated by videophone - Never, I've never even SEEN a videophone. • cooked with a microwave - If heating up a frozen meal is 'cooking', I confess. • listened to music on an iPod - I don't have an iPod (over-priced crap) but I do have an MP3 player that I use in the car. • played with an Xbox, Wii or PS3 - Nope. • voted in a reality TV show - (vomits) • used an emoticon - Many punctuation marks are emoticons in reality, aren't they? • posted a video to Youtube - What's Youtube? • sung karaoke - you gotta be joking. I did however perform in folk clubs over a period of 25years. • gone rollerblading - Never. • been a driver or passenger in a 4x4 - No, but I DID build a shed using 4x2 • read the Da Vinci Code - No, I prefer well-written books. • seen any of the Bridget Jones films - No • played Sudoku - No • bought an Oyster card - No • ordered café latte - no • drunk a smoothie - Nope, but I DO drink 'lumpys', you know, that orange with pulp included. • eaten anything themed to a movie - Every day, I always eat breakfast, not at Tiffany's but I do eat it. I also eat (Clockwork) Oranges, (Brighton) rock, Chocolat, (Hard) Candy, Mars (Attack), and occasionally have a Picnic (At Hanging Rock). • watched ITV3 - Most likely, I watch programmes as opposed to stations. • downloaded a Lily Allen track - Who's Lily Allen? • bought a book by a celebrity chef - Thirty Five years ago I bought 'The Galloping Gourmet' for the terrorist as a requested birthday gift. • asked for ‘cash back’ - I always insist on having my change. • uttered the words ‘bling’ or ‘chav’ - No, and I don't really understand what either word is supposed to mean. • used terms like ‘cognitive’ or ‘societal’ - Look, I have enough trouble with 'hello' and 'goodbye' • sent anyone an ecard - Yes I have done that, it was one of those rather clever Christmas cards devised by that American woman..umm can't remember her name but she's very clever. • gone for a ride in a stretch limo. - Yes, just the once, as a VIP guest I was ferried from the site of the Beach Boys monument at the address of their family home to Anaheim for a concert. I have to say it was the most uncomfortable car I've ever had the misfortune to ride in. I also, Don't talk to answer machines Don't wear suits or ties except to funerals Have never eaten sushi Have never seen a Vinnie Jones movie, I think the guy's a scumbag Have never watched Big Brother, I'm a Celebrity, Emmerdale, Popstar or any of those other crap 'talent' shows ' ... my near-Amish lifestyle? ... ' Brooosh, haven't you heard that old saying, ' Amish is as good as a mile'?

archergirl said: 'Oh, I prefer eCards to paper cards. I always feel guilty about the amount of paper that's consumed during Xmas/birthdays, making all those cards, which most people just throw away.' I've been looking for a good excuse for not sending cards for a few years, ag. Thanks! :)) Missi said: ' sung karaoke - you gotta be joking. I did however perform in folk clubs over a period of 25years.' Yep! At chucking-out time. brooooosh said: 'In many cases people use terms like cognitive and cognition to impress or to fudge. Either way that's an abuse of language' EH? There's nothing more mind-teasing than the incomprehensible eagerly avowed - Dennett

I've had Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as a treatment for clinical depression. It involves: "recognizing unhelpful or destructive patterns of thinking and reacting, then modifying or replacing these with more realistic or helpful ones." 'Postive' or 'reordered thinking' would be too simplistic a way of describing it, because it's about much more than that. 'Cognitive Behavioural Therapy' seems, to me, to put it as succinctly as it can be put. Except I usually just say CBT. I've a feeling we've been down this road before, Brooosh! Mississippi: "What's YouTube?" Well, here's a YouTube link, especially for you, Missi. Enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrKMo9rh_uo

• used a cash dispenser - yes • sent a text message - yes • used text speak - unless things like ffs count no • downloaded a ringtone - no • communicated by videophone - no • cooked with a microwave - yes • listened to music on an iPod - no • played with an Xbox, Wii or PS3 - no but have ps2 • voted in a reality TV show - no • used an emoticon - might have • posted a video to Youtube - no • sung karaoke - no • gone rollerblading - no • been a driver or passenger in a 4x4 - yes, but not cruising round towns • read the Da Vinci Code - no • seen any of the Bridget Jones films - no • played Sudoku - no • bought an Oyster card - no, but would if I used the tube daily • ordered café latte - no • drunk a smoothie - no • eaten anything themed to a movie - no • watched ITV3 - no • downloaded a Lily Allen track - no • bought a book by a celebrity chef - no • asked for ‘cash back’ - yes • uttered the words ‘bling’ or ‘chav’ - not as a derogatory term • used terms like ‘cognitive’ or ‘societal’ - no • sent anyone an ecard - no • gone for a ride in a stretch limo. - no Missi, whereabouts did you used to play, my old man was a folk singer, Irish and Scotish stuff mostly. nobody

When I was a small boy I was the only witness to a murder and a tough big city cop was assigned as my bodyguard and he had to millk cows and help build a barn. That was pretty Amish.

The Mighty Broosh… May I suggest that your anti-jargonism is somewhat contradictory to your anti-emoticonism? To whit, that the humble emoticon seeks to increase what jargon (by your reckoning) seeks to decrease – i.e. understanding. Emoticons elucidate, while jargon confuses. For example, I may say to you… Bruce, you are an idiot. … which could be taken a number of ways. Whereas if I said… Bruce, you are an idiot :-) … I would hope that you understand that I meant it playfully and with no intention to cause offence. Emoticons have become part of our language, and while they are indeed a modern phenomenon, which has materialised due to the increased utilisation of keyboards as a tool of communication, I would say there is nothing “un-Amish” about their use. I could write you a letter in the fourteenth century and punctuate it with pictures of smiling faces, which would have exactly the same effect as colon-dash-close bracket. I therefore put it to you, Mr B, that you are not quite so Amish as you think! :-) pe ps oid ... What is "The Art of Tea"? ... (www.pepsoid.wordpress.com)

As for text messages, I have always found it easier to communicate in writing than verbally, so such things as these and emails are, to me, a godsend. pe ps oid ... What is "The Art of Tea"? ... (www.pepsoid.wordpress.com)

Just to be Devil's Advocate... why did you say "That kind of terminology," rather than, "those kinds of words"...? pe ps oid ... What is "The Art of Tea"? ... (www.pepsoid.wordpress.com)

Sort of an argument for text-speak there, Brooosh - shortening long words. I share your dislike of psycho-babble, legalese, socio-babble, etc - but I don't find Cognitive Behavioural Therapy intimidating (Lord knows, the last thing a depressive wants is intimidation!!) largely because I understand what it says. Not 'cos I'm schooled in psychology, but 'cos I know what the words mean. But if you can make it simpler, then I'm right behind you with it. I gave a general definition. You ought to be able to work something from that. Maddan: Harrison Ford did some carpentry work for me once...

Briefly looked at the thesaurus and I can't see one word for 'cognitive' that would be as aplicable or as accurate in the phrase "cognitive behaviour therapy," you would have a hard time changing that phrase without muddying it's meaning. When you venture into new disciplines and subcultures, new vistas of subtle meanings open up and new words (jargon) are required for accurate and efficient communication. In scientific disciplines these words tend to be of latin of greek route and so sound long and intimidating to the rest of us. from the few bits of jargon I know anything about: cognitive does not mean the same as mental genoa does not mean the same as jib kernel does not mean the same as operating system yaoi does not mean the same as shonnen-ai

'cognitive' is a perfectly good word with a useful meaning it would take a whole sentence to replace. Just because you've never used it (until this thread), doesn't mean other people don't need it.

Broosh: "We're all guilty of using needlessly long words and I am as inclined to do it as anyone else, pepsoid... etc" Well retorted, Broosh! ;-) I must just clarify at this point that I am, broadly speaking, in agreeance with you on the Anti-Jargon point. Your point about patients not understanding the meaning of CBT is a good one, and highlights the fact that, as with so many things, context is paramount. One should, where possible, tailor one’s language to whoever one is speaking to. Doctors, psychiatrists, etc, can speak however they like when speaking to each other, but should be vary wary of making sure they are understood by their patients. Perhaps they should be sent on “Clear Speaking” courses! However, then of course there is the danger of “dumbing down” to the point where one’s words become virtually meaningless, and a doctor is saying, for example, “There’s something wrong with your brain,” where it would certainly be more appropriate to give a little more detail, even if it meant including a little bit of potentially confusing medi-speak. Always best, perhaps, to err on the side of over-simplifying, then they can always be asked to explain a point in more detail… Anyway, what say you on the emoticon thing? pe ps oid ... What is "The Art of Tea"? ... (www.pepsoid.wordpress.com)

Brooosh - it does tell the patient what it's about. If you were a patient, you'd know. I can assure you I have no specialist knowledge of any kind - except on the best way to make porridge. As for my genius... I have nothing to declare!

'Cognitive Behavioural Therapy' = how your head works. There's nothing more mind-teasing than the incomprehensible eagerly avowed - Dennett

' Missi, whereabouts did you used to play, my old man was a folk singer, Irish and Scotish stuff mostly. ' nobody I started singing sea songs and ballads in my early 20's I guess, and performed at clubs in Essex and occasionally, London, Hertfordshire and at the Cambridge Folk Festival (albeit in club tents),where I also played fiddle as part of a 'Grand Fiddle-in' on the main stage Friday evening concert 1971. I also was a part of the South Petherton Folk Festival ,(near Yeovil, Somerset), for a few years where I would help run singarounds and MC concerts. I went on to specialise in Irish 'sean nos' singing and became quite adept at it, if I say so myself. The greatest compliment I ever received for performance was from an Irish scholar who told me my version of 'Green Fields Of Canada' was the best he'd ever heard from anyone including the Irish singers in his homeland. I haven't played the fiddle for many years now, though I still have a couple, along with a melodeon and three guitars. I gave up singing a few years back when I stopped going to folk clubs regularly. It's necessary to sing at least once or twice a week on average to keep up to whatever passes for scratch for the singer. My voice has deepened and I've lost the higher registers mostly. What was your dad's name? I may have bumped into him at some point.

Missi, his name was Derek, but everyone knew him as Moe Morrison, he was in the Navy and spent a long time on the South coast, mid seventies around Yeovil as it happens and the eighties round Weymouth area, though he also did the same as you with the festivals. Since he left the navy and went back to Scotland he does the circuit round Ayreshire. "'Cognitive Behavioural Therapy' = how your head works." That simplifies it too much, it should at least have been 'knowing how your head works', though that doesn't even explain it properly. In the defence of doctors and other professionals, I've always found they do generally explain things in layman terms when it's something complicated. nobody

'Cognitive Behavioural Therapy' = how your head works. More like 'How your head doesn't work.' Did you enjoy the vid, Missi?

The name isn't familiar to me, but as it happens the weekend after next I'm staying with a folk friend in Dorchester. He has run clubs in the Weymouth, Dorset area for many years. I'll ask him if he knows of your dad.

I imagine he will if he ran them back in the early to mid eighties. He was a sort of minor celebrity on the circuit back then, vocals and guitar, and was quite involved in the folk scene, Morris dancing the works. In fact I spent much of my childhood in traditional pubs and the smell is still nostalgic to me now. nobody

Yes thanks Alan, you little rascal, I've not heard of that guy but do have the Paul Robeson version.

In which case, you may find this interesting - if you haven't seen it before, and I'll wager you probably have: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hIolPMM2aE What an astonishing man Robeson was. Run a YouTube search on his name - there're loads of videos on there of him talking and singing.

Brooosh: “It should be possible to convey any idea or shade of meaning through words, rather than having to resort to symbols.” Oh I’m sure it is, but emoticons can be fun! :-))) Brooosh: “I would fight to the death (and even beyond) to protect your right to use them.” Please don’t, Brooosh! I’d rather never user a “:-)” again than have that on my conscience! pe ps oid ... What is "The Art of Tea"? ... (www.pepsoid.wordpress.com)