To Teach a Plain Person Simple Living

[Soloist]

I used to be some people we were somewhat somewhat envious of and wanted to even consider living like them. They sort of looked down on others who didn’t live like them.
Most of them lived in RVs or tents, but the amount of camping gear and equipment they had designed for that lifestyle would’ve cost us too much money and they had skills to actually modify buses that probably ended up with illegal alterations for road use. The point though it’s only simple living if you have the money to make it simple.
Most people are not able to live this lifestyle due to lack of personal skills or situations that they can’t change.

[ken_sylvania]

I think you missed the point of the article and the disclaimers in the article.

I think that the article weakens it's argument by using someone like AH as an example of simple living. The author treats AH's claims about simple living as reliable when in fact by AH's own admission his "simple" lifestyle was not sustainable. For instance, in the same substack where AH claims that he and his wife do not have an automobile and do not want one because they use public transport, he also talks about making a video while driving his minivan. Now, where I come from a minivan is considered an automobile. AH also states that this lifestyle that he was experimenting is not suitable for a family with children. Atnip proceeds to tell us that AH and his wife live on less than $1,000/mo, and tells us how AH is doing that - well, except that he perhaps missed the part where AH says this is hypothetical, as well as the rather obvious "holes" in the budget where there is no budget for heat, no budget for repairs, no budget for the actual phone itself (assuming one is going to use the $8 monthly option), and so forth.

The point about how we tend to live too "high" of a lifestyle is a good point, but Atnip would have done well to illustrate his point with genuine examples of simple living and accurate descriptions instead of fakes. At some point disclaimers in connection with fake illustrations feel like the health advertisements that promise all kinds of miraculous cures from a certain herbal potion, coupled with a disclaimer "Individual results may vary. This product is not intended to treat, prevent or cure any disease."

[barnhart]

Maybe I should encourage Ernie and bro. Atnip by saying I appreciate the article for what I learn from it. I learn many things from people I don't completely agree with and that seems to me to be the spirit in which it was written. In retrospect I probably should have shared my critique privately. Keep it up Ernie, you are doing valuable work.

[mike]

The point though it’s only simple living if you have the money to make it simple.

A valid point. For example, the Amish lifestyle is actually in many cases quite expensive.

[barnhart]

The point though it’s only simple living if you have the money to make it simple.

A valid point. For example, the Amish lifestyle is actually in many cases quite expensive.

The JetBlue heiress at one time ran a homesteading/simplicity social media entertainment company where she baked photogenic bread in an expensive reproduction antique wood stove. Simplicity and self reliance looks hygienic and attractive if you have enough money to film it right. It's an old idea, according to some sources Marie Antoinette built and stocked a folk village near her estate so she could put on peasant dresses and cosplay poverty with the villagers she hired to run it. But I don't think that characterized the spirit of Ernie's article.

[ken_sylvania]

The point though it’s only simple living if you have the money to make it simple.

A valid point. For example, the Amish lifestyle is actually in many cases quite expensive.

The JetBlue heiress at one time ran a homesteading/simplicity social media entertainment company where she baked photogenic bread in an expensive reproduction antique wood stove. Simplicity and self reliance looks hygienic and attractive if you have enough money to film it right. It's an old idea, according to some sources Marie Antoinette built and stocked a folk village near her estate so she could put on peasant dresses and cosplay poverty with the villagers she hired to run it. But I don't think that characterized the spirit of Ernie's article.

No, I'm confident that isn't Mike Atnip's desire. I just think he could have made his point more effectively by showcasing examples of what true simple living really looks like.

People like A.H. and that Titus guy that somebody else shared a month ago fall more in the category of the JetBlue heiress and Marie Antoinette (in my opinion).

[IC XC]

Thank you for sharing this article. I find it interesting how it reflects some observations I make from my conservative menno friends and family. Alot folks from these churches have plain dress and tech restrictions. But tend to have the largest houses and newest cars in our township. It’s also not uncommon for them to follow design and some fashion trends; and they tend not to shop at thrift stores.

In contrast some of the progressive mennos in my conference emphasis "simple" living more than the conservative churches. They are into gardening, thrifting, public transit, small town homes. However, the motivation tends to be climate justice and anti capitalism; not so much humility or plainness.

It’s not my place to offer corrections but I thought it was an interesting dichotomy.

[ohio jones]

The point though it’s only simple living if you have the money to make it simple.

A valid point. For example, the Amish lifestyle is actually in many cases quite expensive.

Simple living can also be very time consuming. It might not always be the best use of time, which is a limited resource that everyone receives equally.

[Ernie]

I think you missed the point of the article and the disclaimers in the article.

I think that the article weakens it's argument by using someone like AH as an example of simple living. The author treats AH's claims about simple living as reliable when in fact by AH's own admission his "simple" lifestyle was not sustainable. For instance, in the same substack where AH claims that he and his wife do not have an automobile and do not want one because they use public transport, he also talks about making a video while driving his minivan. Now, where I come from a minivan is considered an automobile. AH also states that this lifestyle that he was experimenting is not suitable for a family with children. Atnip proceeds to tell us that AH and his wife live on less than $1,000/mo, and tells us how AH is doing that - well, except that he perhaps missed the part where AH says this is hypothetical, as well as the rather obvious "holes" in the budget where there is no budget for heat, no budget for repairs, no budget for the actual phone itself (assuming one is going to use the $8 monthly option), and so forth.

The point about how we tend to live too "high" of a lifestyle is a good point, but Atnip would have done well to illustrate his point with genuine examples of simple living and accurate descriptions instead of fakes. At some point disclaimers in connection with fake illustrations feel like the health advertisements that promise all kinds of miraculous cures from a certain herbal potion, coupled with a disclaimer "Individual results may vary. This product is not intended to treat, prevent or cure any disease."

Maybe I should encourage Ernie and bro. Atnip by saying I appreciate the article for what I learn from it. I learn many things from people I don't completely agree with and that seems to me to be the spirit in which it was written. In retrospect I probably should have shared my critique privately. Keep it up Ernie, you are doing valuable work.

I appreciated both critiques. I want this kind of feedback on the things we publish.

[Ernie]

I appreciate the feedback. Particularly anything that makes these individuals' stories and claims, suspect. and I agree we could have dug a bit deeper and found better stories.

But the question could be asked,
Did Jesus choose exemplary upright characters in his stories? For example, do we want to know about the Good Samaritan's life outside of helping the wounded man or would we rather not know?
Perhaps that wasn't the point of Jesus' story?