Comments on: Chart of the day: Necessities http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/ A slice of lime in the soda Sun, 19 May 2013 20:32:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Allen http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-1280 Allen Tue, 05 May 2009 20:37:22 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-1280 Actually, none of these items are "necessities." In fact, my great grandparents lived quite happy lives not even being aware of many or most of these things until well into their adulthoods. They all fit into the "nice to have" category. A fairer test would have ranked these "nice to have" things against each other, e.g., given the choice, would you rather be without a car or a telephone? Actually, none of these items are “necessities.” In fact, my great grandparents lived quite happy lives not even being aware of many or most of these things until well into their adulthoods. They all fit into the “nice to have” category. A fairer test would have ranked these “nice to have” things against each other, e.g., given the choice, would you rather be without a car or a telephone?

]]> By: Marcos El Malo http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-995 Marcos El Malo Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:38:23 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-995 Computer w/ internet access is my #1. My motorcycle is #2. Computer w/ internet access is my #1. My motorcycle is #2.

]]> By: Sheila http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-988 Sheila Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:21:28 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-988 Necessity has everything to do with where you live. I live in a place with horrible public transit and hellacious hot weather, so a car and AC are needed. Age also plays a factor. Old people know how to prepare meals w/o a microwave and young people mostly eat carry out, so who needs a waver? Also- I need A phone and don't care which type- that should have been an either/ or question. Would love to see some demographic breakdown on this data... Necessity has everything to do with where you live. I live in a place with horrible public transit and hellacious hot weather, so a car and AC are needed. Age also plays a factor. Old people know how to prepare meals w/o a microwave and young people mostly eat carry out, so who needs a waver? Also- I need A phone and don’t care which type- that should have been an either/ or question.

Would love to see some demographic breakdown on this data…

]]> By: RK Wright http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-985 RK Wright Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:45:41 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-985 The high percentage of landlines is not a surprise to me. I have lived in many rural areas where there is little to no cell service, or VERY limited cell service that it would be almost negligent to NOT have a landline. Also, emergency calls like 911 are more difficult to make and many rural people would prefer to have that service available especially when cell service is not reliable everywhere. (I lived in a small mountain community where the cell service was out of whack if you stepped off the main road by a foot, and that was the strongest carrier.) The high percentage of landlines is not a surprise to me. I have lived in many rural areas where there is little to no cell service, or VERY limited cell service that it would be almost negligent to NOT have a landline. Also, emergency calls like 911 are more difficult to make and many rural people would prefer to have that service available especially when cell service is not reliable everywhere. (I lived in a small mountain community where the cell service was out of whack if you stepped off the main road by a foot, and that was the strongest carrier.)

]]> By: John http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-973 John Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:25:59 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-973 <b>datacine</b> wins the thread so far. Old-fashioned, indeed... datacine wins the thread so far.

Old-fashioned, indeed…

]]> By: Christopher http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-972 Christopher Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:21:23 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-972 I suspect the drops in the clothes-dryer, A/C, and dishwasher responses come from increased environmental consciousness. People are sheepish about treating these things as near-necessities, because they know they shouldn't. It's conspicuous anti-consumption. I suspect the drops in the clothes-dryer, A/C, and dishwasher responses come from increased environmental consciousness. People are sheepish about treating these things as near-necessities, because they know they shouldn’t. It’s conspicuous anti-consumption.

]]> By: Paul http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-966 Paul Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:09:56 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-966 My microwave broke a couple of years ago. I haven't missed it yet. The stove and oven work just fine and reduce the clutter. My microwave broke a couple of years ago. I haven’t missed it yet. The stove and oven work just fine and reduce the clutter.

]]> By: HarrietJ http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-963 HarrietJ Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:54:55 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-963 Of the 13, I count 5 that we do own in our household (not counting TV set, since we have decided not to digitize because we never watch it): car, landline, computer, microwave, and high-speed internet. Of these, the computer and internet connection (and the landline that allows the internet connection) are far more important to our lives than the car! since my spouse rides his bike 90% of the time and I walk most of the time. (We live in a small-town neighborhood that isn't mapped as "walkable" but find it quite walkable because there are sidewalks, shade trees, and nearby services (within a mile). As for dishes, we wash them by hand and reuse the water outside; and as for the clothes dryer, it's the sun. Heavy shade eliminates the need for air conditioning, and who needs cable without a TV? (We may keep the -- tiny black and white -- TV, but only because it is also a radio, and we do listen to public radio. Offered as just a sample of a satisfying way to live... Of the 13, I count 5 that we do own in our household (not counting TV set, since we have decided not to digitize because we never watch it): car, landline, computer, microwave, and high-speed internet.

Of these, the computer and internet connection (and the landline that allows the internet connection) are far more important to our lives than the car! since my spouse rides his bike 90% of the time and I walk most of the time. (We live in a small-town neighborhood that isn’t mapped as “walkable” but find it quite walkable because there are sidewalks, shade trees, and nearby services (within a mile).

As for dishes, we wash them by hand and reuse the water outside; and as for the clothes dryer, it’s the sun. Heavy shade eliminates the need for air conditioning, and who needs cable without a TV? (We may keep the — tiny black and white — TV, but only because it is also a radio, and we do listen to public radio.

Offered as just a sample of a satisfying way to live…

]]> By: Frank Dean http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-961 Frank Dean Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:45:16 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-961 The landline and cell phone questions really should be combined. I would think an overwhelming majority would agree that having some sort of phone is a necessity. The landline and cell phone questions really should be combined. I would think an overwhelming majority would agree that having some sort of phone is a necessity.

]]> By: kablamo http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-960 kablamo Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:05:17 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-960 Speaking as someone who has to have his computer, but doesn't pay for internet. Who uses a TV all the time, but neither watches Cable or Antenna in real time (download it then, watch it later). Who doesn't have a dryer because of energy waste and who sees the microwave as an unhealthy trap of junk food... I actually see my lifestyle mirrored in many of my friends. Young 20-somethings with college degrees and grew up on the internet. I wonder how much of the live-local, eat less processed foods, pirate internet/TV, and go green energy savers contributed to some of these trends. Speaking as someone who has to have his computer, but doesn’t pay for internet. Who uses a TV all the time, but neither watches Cable or Antenna in real time (download it then, watch it later). Who doesn’t have a dryer because of energy waste and who sees the microwave as an unhealthy trap of junk food… I actually see my lifestyle mirrored in many of my friends. Young 20-somethings with college degrees and grew up on the internet. I wonder how much of the live-local, eat less processed foods, pirate internet/TV, and go green energy savers contributed to some of these trends.

]]> By: datacine http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-959 datacine Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:00:45 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-959 "Yes, there’s something about microwaves which just feels old-fashioned and unnecessary — but the microwave hasn’t really been replaced by anything. " Old fashioned? Get off my lawn! “Yes, there’s something about microwaves which just feels old-fashioned and unnecessary — but the microwave hasn’t really been replaced by anything. ”
Old fashioned?
Get off my lawn!

]]> By: chloe http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-958 chloe Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:59:12 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-958 "I’m also surprised that 52% of people consider a TV set to be a necessity, while only 23% of people consider cable or satellite TV to be a necessity: subtract the second number from the first, and you get a good indication of the sheer power of network TV. I’m sure that, too, will erode quickly." Actually, that says more about DVD/etc players and console games than network TV. What with Netflix and the game industry making more money than film, people don't much need cable. Their favorite shows come out on DVD anyway. “I’m also surprised that 52% of people consider a TV set to be a necessity, while only 23% of people consider cable or satellite TV to be a necessity: subtract the second number from the first, and you get a good indication of the sheer power of network TV. I’m sure that, too, will erode quickly.”

Actually, that says more about DVD/etc players and console games than network TV. What with Netflix and the game industry making more money than film, people don’t much need cable. Their favorite shows come out on DVD anyway.

]]> By: Andy http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-957 Andy Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:50:40 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-957 There are plenty of McDonalds that are hiring in cities with public transit. Sure the rents are higher for that poor rural family, but think of all the money they save by not owning 5 cars. If we want to end our endless wars in the Middle East, a gas tax is the only answer. There are plenty of McDonalds that are hiring in cities with public transit.

Sure the rents are higher for that poor rural family, but think of all the money they save by not owning 5 cars.

If we want to end our endless wars in the Middle East, a gas tax is the only answer.

]]> By: Eli Baker http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-931 Eli Baker Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:33:29 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-931 You've never owned a car??? Where do you get off pontificating about a 'needed' gas tax! I know poor rural families with 5 cars: one for each member of the family so that they can go to their jobs at McDonald's and similar. I can think of no other action that can separate the classes and lead to a class war than taxing gas so that you all will have a rosy future. WOW! such self-sacrifice the chattering classes are willing suffer! You’ve never owned a car??? Where do you get off pontificating about a ‘needed’ gas tax! I know poor rural families with 5 cars: one for each member of the family so that they can go to their jobs at McDonald’s and similar. I can think of no other action that can separate the classes and lead to a class war than taxing gas so that you all will have a rosy future.

WOW! such self-sacrifice the chattering classes are willing suffer!

]]> By: Ginger Yellow http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/comment-page-1/#comment-930 Ginger Yellow Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:17:09 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/04/28/chart-of-the-day-necessities/#comment-930 You don't need a laundromat if you don't have a dryer. You just hang things up. You don’t need a laundromat if you don’t have a dryer. You just hang things up.

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