Kind of an extreme position. How many Amish do you know? Ever had an Amish family as next-door neighbors? I grew up in an area that now has a lot of Amish. My in-laws had them as neighbors.
You can’t paint all Amish groups with the same brush. Different communities can have highly different rules and norms. And, Amish are like any other community of sufficient size - there are a percentage of honorable folk and a percentage of scoundrels and a vast middle just trying to get along.
And it isn’t impossible to leave. I know several Amish that have “gone English”. Not an easy decision, but it is not a trap.
I did indeed grow up around the Amish. They would go to our school until their parents pulled them out.
You are correct that they will allow people to leave. But with a limited education, no friends or support network outside of their community, no funds, and everyone that they know will refuse to even acknowledge their existence, it’s not really a choice.
In my experience those that go English seek out siblings or cousins that have already gone English and find a support network that way. I am not saying it is easy, though.
I spent the last week in Amish country driving essentially Amish roads and neighborhoods all hours of the day.
Friday evening I encountered Amish James Dean. Young single guy in a cart powered by a single horse. He was swanging all over the road, popping in and out of the ditch on purpose with a scowl on his face.
It was crazy. They are usually all smiles and waves.
https://www.amishbaskets.com/blogs/blog/amish-technology
https://www.ohiosamishcountry.com/articles/amish-technology
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