評論
打印
To phone or not to phone?
打電話還是不打電話
In the USA, the Amish--a Christian group--are famous because they drive carriages instead of cars, do not use TVs or refrigerators, and do not have personal telephones.
在美國，阿曼門諾派，一個基督教組織，由于他們驅車而不用汽車，不使用電視或者冰箱，同時也沒有個人電話而很出名。
Many people assume the Amish must have religious reasons for their many rules, but this is not true.
許多人認為阿曼門諾派教徒一定遵循著許多宗教規則，但事實不是這樣的。
In truth, whenever a new technology is introduced, the Amish meet and discuss its advantages and disadvantges.
事實上，無論何時一項新技術的發明，阿曼門諾派教徒將聚集并討論這項技術的利弊。
They then vote on whether they will accept it.
然后他們投票決定是否接受它。
The Amish reject cars because they like having tight communities where everyone lives close together.
阿曼門諾派教徒拒絕汽車因為他們喜歡緊密的居住在一起。
They have no TVs or refrigerators because their homes do not have electricity,
由于沒有電，他們沒有電視和冰箱，
they do not think it is necessary and dislike dealing with strangers, such as the people who work at the electric company.
他們并不認為這些東西是必需的，也不喜歡面對陌生事物，如在電力公司工作的人。
Since the Amish value seeing each other face to face, they oppose having telephones in their houses.
因為阿曼門諾派教徒重視彼此面對面交流，所以他們反對在住宅里裝電話。
However, in each community there is often a small building that has a telephone for emergencies.
但是，在每個社區都有一個小建筑，里面有緊急情況用的電話。
The telephone is very convenient for communication, and most people in the world today cannot live without it.
電話對于交流很方百年，而且世界上大多數人離了電話無法生活。
However, maybe the Amish have a valid point.
但是，也許阿曼門諾派教徒有一個有效的觀點。
Which is more of a friend, someone you often talk to over the phone or someone you often talk to face to face?
你經常聊電話和經常面對面聊天的人，那個更像是一個朋友？
And, if you need help, who can help you better, someone far away or some in the room with you?
而且，加入你需要幫助，誰能更好的幫你，是遠在他處的朋友還是和你在一個房間的人？
There is something important about being together and sharing life that cannot be found over a telephone wire.
在一起并分享生活，其中蘊藏著某種重要的東西，而這種東西是無法通過電話線獲得的。
There are other disadvantages to the telephone, as well. For example, no matter what the circumstances, when the phone rings, everything stops so that the call can be answered.
電話同時也有一些其他的缺點。例如，無論在什么情況下，當電話鈴聲響起時，為了接電話，一切都得停下來。
Your family cound be eating dinner or chatting together, yet this will be interrupted.
你的家人可能正在吃晚餐或一起聊天，但必須被打斷。
However, most phone calls are not really that important; certainly, they could not be more important than family time.
但是，許多電話并不是真的那么中喲啊；當然，他們不比家庭時間重要。
Then, when you are absorbed in a book or simply trying to rest, the phone always seems to be ringing, destroying whatever peace you might have.
此外，電話總是在你專心讀書或要休息的時候響起，打破你本該有的寧靜。
However, the person calling is often merely a salesman or someone who has dialled the wrong number.
但是，個人電話經常是來自于撥錯號碼的銷售人員或其他人。
