Comments on: iPods are necessities

By: Minimum Wage

Minimum Wage — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 01:26:33 +0000

It’s a lot easier to accumulate money if you don’t think that cars, air conditioning, washer & dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, cell phones, computers (+ internet), TVs (+ cable), and iPods are necessities.
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The only things on that list I have are a microwave (provided by my landlord; I don’t own it), a used 500MHz PC with 256K of RAM, and a dialup internet connection.

By: Bas

Bas — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:03:26 +0000

I have all but a flatscreen TV on that list (I refuse to pay more than $300.- for a TV, are they insane?) However, I consider very few things a necessity. If I can go on vacation without access to a TV, Computer, dishwasher, or washer/dryer, I really won’t care.
The fact that some of these weren’t asked in 1996, because they were not even available back then, makes me wonder why they should be considered a necessity. In fact, go back another 10 or 20 years, and more of these will drop off the list. And were people able to live, and be content? Of course.

By: Tread Softly

Tread Softly — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:39:09 +0000

Darling and I try not to live without a television. People keep giving them to us. Seriously. Someone even gave us one with DVD player when we told them that’s all we would use it for (we gave it back when we moved).

I think “need,” in this case, could be defined as something one’s lifestyle, rather than life, depends on. Many people get very defensive, even angry, when I suggest they don’t “need” a car (or credit, a cell phone, etc). It seems to be human nature to define ourselves by what we own.
Examples:
“I am a mother who cares about her children’s safety, so I need an SUV.”
“I listen to alternative music not available on the radio, therefore I need an IPOD.”
“I am an environmentalist who puts Earth first, therefore I need a diva cup.”

By: plonkee

plonkee — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:41:25 +0000

I agree that the difference between immigrant and native populations is generally one of expectation. But I think it’s ok to reap the rewards of living in a developed country to a certain extent. I could have saved a lot more money and bought a house sooner, but I couldn’t have done that and all the other things I’ve done. It’s all about making a choice.

By: CT

CT — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:21:11 +0000

A problem with this survey is that “necessity” is not very well defined. You’re defining it as something that you could never do without (like air, water, food, etc.). I might define it as something that I would always make sure I have, as long as I can afford it (like a phone, a house, a car, etc.).

I think its much more interesting to think of how likely you would be to give up the different items on the list. Only 64% of the people said that they “need” a TV set, but 98% of the people surveyed own one. If TVs are so “unnecessary”, why does everyone own at least one?

By: thisisbeth

thisisbeth — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:57:09 +0000

It always amazes me what people list as needs–I don’t own a television, and people wonder how I survive without it. Well, I have a computer and internet–I’m a million steps ahead of my great-grandmother, who couldn’t afford a radio…