My Amish Guy-Gone-Wild post led e-mailers Wyatt and Joshua to tell me about the rite of “rumspringa,” which may explain the lad’s momentary low-speed deviation from the simple ways of his clan. From wikipedia:

“The Amish do not believe that a child can be meaningfully baptized. Amish children are expected to follow the will of their parents in all issues, but at the age of sixteen they come of age and may lead a lifestyle of their own choice. In fact, in some communities they are permitted to try out the “English” lifestyle of the outside world for a few years (the period of rumspringa (running-around), as shown in the film The Devil’s Playground), so that they can make an informed choice to be baptized and join the church for life. Some 10% choose not to join the church but live the rest of their lives in the society at large.”

So, ninety percent go back to being Amish?! After seeing Paris Hilton?

The documentary mentioned above, The Devil’s Playground, looks fantastic. Seems like a Netflix must-add-to-queue, something I say only because others do. I don’t use Netflix. I don’t like to give things back.