Things I don't own

[glittertigger]

I just tried to upgrade to a paid account and as I don't have a credit card this appears to be almost impossible. I was trying to upgrade to post a poll about things I don't own! I'll just ask the question in rambling text format instead.

I own minimal technology for reasons including lack of interest, lack of space, the amount things cost to buy / maintain and environmental concerns. Do you think any of the following (none of which I own) really count as necessities? I do have a mobile phone.

Landline phone
Television
Dishwasher
Tumble dryer
Computer (OK, so I use other people's a lot)
MP3 player or any other electronic gadget

I don't have central heating either, although I do have double-glazing, properly lined curtains and storage heaters. I've often read discussions on poverty which cite the lack of some of these items as a form of deprivation, but I think I live very comfortably.

Comments

[i-ludicrous.livejournal.com]

Didn't take you long to want a paid account after all those years of being against livejournal, did it?

[i-ludicrous.livejournal.com]

None of those things are really necessary, are they? I have a landline, which I need in order to have broadband, which I need in order to work from home (ok - I am also quite addicted to having the internet on tap...) I also have a computer, and would miss it alot if I didn't. I have a feeling our washing machine is also a tumble dryer, but we don't really need one. You certainly don't need one, as all your clothes are velvet and dry-clean only. Goth! My phone is on mp3 player, which I quite like (on long train journeys, mostly). It is certainly not a necessity though!

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

From that list, I own:

Landline
Television
Tumble dryer
Computer
MP3 player

I regard as a necessity:

Computer

And that's only a 'necessity' because it's the only way I can jobhunt. Not that I need to at the moment, but when you've just lost your source of income would not be a great time to go out and buy a computer :)

[hatmandu.livejournal.com]

I have to confess I own all of these. Oops. I share Duncan's work-from-home needs, which of course include a computer. I used not to have a TV and would still gladly not have one. We do love the dishwasher - and there are some arguments that they use less water than washing by hand. But, er, they cost a lot of carbon to manufacture, so, um. Tumble dryer is built in to washing machine and very useful, though we're trying to use it less. I guess none of these are necessities (except within the context of life as we've constructed it for ourselves). I freely confess to being a technophile, though.

[abi]

I've forgotten how to exist without the internet (my mother once had to remind me that I could get phone numbers out of the Yellow Pages rather than Google), so a computer and landline phone are necessities. I don't like having a credit card but life seems to be intent on making it impossible not to own one. Other than that I am largely gadget-free.

[triskellian]

I have all of those except the dishwasher, but I don't consider any of them necessities. The computer is the closest thing to a necessity, but I'd cope (barely!) without it. It would necessitate some lifestyle changes, though. I like my MP3 player, but don't use it often and wouldn't miss it much if I didn't have it. The only reason we have a landline phone is because it comes with the internet and the TV package. I would miss the TV, but almost-entirely for watching DVDs, which I could do on the puter instead - there's not much I watch on broadcast TV (we didn't have one at all the whole time we were in the flat). We use the tumble dryer too much, and I keep meaning to put up a washing line so we can cut down.

My similar item is a microwave - we don't have one of those, and don't miss it.

There's a notice on the back of a toilet door at work which puts you in the "top" x% of the world according to possession of various items like this, as if entire quality of life is measured by such things, and it makes me angry every time I use that loo.

[al-fruitbat.livejournal.com]

The dishwasher has made probably the most difference to our quality of life, largely because I hate washing up. Apparently it's quite energy / water efficient, too.

[igniscience.livejournal.com]

the computer's a necessity for me (though i could probably manage without if i worked and had work acess to one) and the landline for interwebs and because i don't have a mobile. other than that, none of them. i've not owned a TV since i was about 18, and don't miss it in the least. i actually find doing washing-up strangely soothing !

[brightybot.livejournal.com]

When you say you don't have a credit card, does that include a debit card too? I don't have a credit card, and I did have a paid for account a while back - just used the debit card instead.

I do have all the things you mention apart from the credit card. The dish wahser is lovely, although I don't think we can possibly say it's environmentally friendly. It's only efficient compared to the washing up method where you run the tap continually. I could live without a computer, but I'd be worse at keeping up with friends, as work time is usually too busy. Could happily live without a TV, but not without some method of watching dvds - so the computer would become essential in that case. I like my ipod but don't use it that much and could certainly live without it.

[chaosdeathfish.livejournal.com]

I have:

Landline phone (for broadband)
Television (otherwise known as the dust gatherer - I never use it)
Dishwasher (not mine, it's part of the flat. I never use it)
Tumble dryer (part of the washing machine. I never use it)
Computer (YES! Computer! Neeeed internets!)
MP3 player or any other electronic gadget (although it was horribly cheap and now I never use it).

I can't live without a computer with internet access. When I first moved into my flat I had to last three weeks with internet at work only, and I hope never to have to do that again..

[secretrebel.livejournal.com]

I think the landline phone is a necessity. Or rather, having a non-electrically powered one is. If all the power goes out it's nice to be able to phone someone and you can't rely on the mobile not being out of battery.
I like having a television and wouldn't enjoy living without one but that's me. I don't think it's a necessity.
Again, I use computers for lots and lots of things. For me that's a necessity but YMMV.
I'd like a dishwasher but can live without one.
I'm not sure what I'd do without a tumble dryer - that one for me is a necessity.
MP3 player - meh. Not bothered. Perhaps if one could play audio files of my French language course...

[waistcoatmark.livejournal.com]

Landline phone - only needed for broadband. Would happily use my mobile for all phone calls if I didn't have to have the phoneline

Television - in the days of bit-torrent etc. I could happliy do without a TV, and use my computer for videos, if I was on my own. But snuggling up to watch TV on a sofa is a lot nicer than two of you sitting on chairs near a computer monitor

Dishwasher - have survived my entire adult life without one until a few months ago. So I don't _need_ one but they are very, very nice.

Tumble dryer - again, in my single days I rarely used mine. Now there's twice as many clothes to dry, it gets used a lot more...

Computer - vital. Keeping in contact with folks, looking stuff up, accessing work from home (handy if you need to check a long-running task worked that you kicked off at 5pm). The couple of weeks we spent without broadband were a pain.

MP3 player - have one, but rarely use it. Although I often use my handheld console for videos/games when commuting

[kauket.livejournal.com]

Landline phone - I use this quite a lot as I never have any credit on my phone, but I could live without
Television - whilst I could live without, I do really enjoy relaxing in front of a programme or a film. Given how much I need to relax, I'd prefer to have a television
Dishwasher - had one a couple of years ago, was useful, but in no way essential. Especially if there is only one or two of you, unless it's a tiny one like we had, it just takes ages to fill it by which point you are out of plates and cups anyway so have to wash up.
Tumble dryer - i haven't had one for a while and I wish I did just for the convenience. I also suspect that drying clothes on radiators whacks up our bills more than a tumbledryer would. But I've lived without one for a long time, so I'll just carry on.
Computer (OK, so I use other people's a lot) - I use my puter a lot and haven't got net access at work. I'd miss it if I didn't have it and I'd never speak to anyone again I suspect. i do also work from home on it, so it's necessary in that sense, but I could stay longer at work and avoid that.
MP3 player or any other electronic gadget - I love my MP3 player, it gets me through the nightmare travel around london and I do love my music so much that it would be hard to live without it.