Question #5: If an English person makes an effort to learn more about the Amish culture, does this make a difference in how you

If an English person makes an effort to learn more about the Amish culture, does this make a difference in how you would view them?

1. I don't believe so. Most Amish enjoy talking about themselves and their own lifestyle, so asking questions is okay.
2. Maybe, but I believe what it really comes down to is establishing trust and relationships.
3. No, it wouldn't because we were used to lots of people asking questions and wanting to learn about our culture.
4. Yes, but in a negative way. I would have thought they were trying to get information, so they could be more successful at misleading us.
5. No, it would make most Amish consider the English person to be nosy.
6. If an English person does not threaten Amish beliefs, then the Amish enjoy sharing their life and beliefs with the English person; most people respond to people who take an interest in them.
7. Yes, the Amish might think that the English person is wanting to learn more in order to become Amish, and that would be a win for the church.
8. Yes, we believed we were being a light to the English when they asked questions.
9. It would depend on whether he/she appeared to be nosy. Relationships, getting to know an Amish person, and expressing an interest in their work (whether it's gardening for women, or hunting/fishing for men) are key before asking too many questions about culture.
10. I always enjoyed answering questions even while still Amish. That is not always the case though; some Amish are hesitant to share much about the culture.
11. Nah, overly interested English people were mostly just a nuisance to me when I was Amish.
12. It didn't make a difference to me when I was Amish, but I was told many times that I was more open minded :) Some people told me they didn't dare to ask me as they knew I would give them an answer if I could.
13. My Amish culture didn’t feel comfortable sharing about their beliefs. They felt that their beliefs involved what happened and went on in their church, and they felt that information needed to stay in the church rather than be shared with an English Person. 
14. As long as an English person has a genuine desire to learn without coming across as knowing more than the person they're trying to learn from, then it's okay. English people can "very humbly" question Amish views to find out more about why they do what they do.
15. If an English person were to get to know the Amish well and their curiosity was felt to be out of a caring spirit, then yes, an Amish person would view them favorably.
16. The questioning English person would be viewed as the good heathen.
17. Almost every English person that I had contact with was interested in my Amish culture mostly out of curiosity. However, many are hesitant to share their culture with outsiders.
18. If it is for spiritual reasons, then no; it wouldn't be received well. 
19. An English person is always considered an outsider. In most cases, they have very little influence on their lives on a spiritual level. Most of the Amish are taught to be proud that they are Amish.
20. Not really although it might cause the Amish to back away in some instances because they’d be uncomfortable if they don’t have answers for spiritual questions. But it is good to question the Amish to get them thinking.
21. In my opinion, it would leave a positive effect.
22. No - Amish people are used to being asked questions A man asked me what Amish means, and it caused me to do some thinking. I said it is a culture or tradition. Then I said that sometimes I wonder if it's a cult. 
23. I’d say that questioning definitely forms more of a connection between an Amish and an Englisher.
24. I believe many of the Old Order or Swartzentruber (stricter sects) Amish would be threatened by too many questions.
25. We liked that people asked questions because it made us feel like they appreciated us.
26. Probably not as long as the questions are about the culture. The Amish are warned against disclosing information about what they believe to outsiders.
27. The English person would still appear as worldly, but it might give the Amish a sense of pride, which might result in a different response.
28. Asking questions shows an interest in Amish lives, which might, in turn, make them more receptive to what the English person has to say. On the other hand, the English person could also be taken as nosy.
29. It is very common to be questioned by Englishers about the Amish way of life, and it usually didn't change the way we viewed them, unless we we're bombarded with questions.
30. The only way for an English person to be able to help the plain people is to make a dedicated effort to learn more about the culture. Never assume that your own perceptions of the culture are correct until you have spent much time with them and asked them many questions with an open mind.  If my Christian counselor had not been knowledgeable about the plain people, his efforts to help would mostly have been in vain.  The last thing we would have wanted as plain people, though, would have been for someone to simply be curious without seeking to truly understand our views.  Then again, even someone truly seeking to understand could be viewed suspiciously.  The main thing is to be sensitive and to ask authentic, thoughtful questions.
31. To me, it never did. Mostly because when they would ask me questions about our culture it made me uncomfortable because I didn't know how to answer them.
32. Yes, an interest in what others are doing shows a caring spirit and can be drawing to an Amish person; it makes them feel like they can have an influence in sharing what a great lifestyle the Amish have.
33. Usually it would put me off when someone wanted to know about my Amish life. Probably because I was uncomfortable because of where the conversation might be heading.
34. It certainly would as long as the English person comes across as truly caring and respectful in true humility. Also, being genuinely cared about as a person would grow a relationship involving more trust.
35. As an Amish person, we thought the English to be a bit nosy depending on the attitude and how the person was presenting questions.