How did I ever live with one of these?
By relundad
@relundad (2310)
United States
November 1, 2008 8:59pm CST
I was thinking earlier that there are a few things that we consider vital in life that once before were unheard of. Now I am only 42 years old but some of these things that I thought of, for at least half of my life I didn't have them and somehow I lived!
For me some of the things that come to my mind are:
1. Computers and Internet
2. Cell phone
3. Cable/Satellite
4. Microwave oven
This is just a partial list of things that I could come up with, that I clearly think I would die if I didn't have them. Are there any things that you use often that you can't imagine yourself without nowadays?
8 people like this
16 responses
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
2 Nov 08
How funny. I was just telling my kids that they were not going to die just because the power went out and there was no computer or tv.
Since my cell phone is the only phone I have, I would say that is the one thing I would least like to be without. The microwave, ehhhh, I don't use mine anyway. Cable. don't watch that much tv, and if I didn't have it, I would probably find something else to entertain myself. The computer, same as the tv. Although, it does have more practical uses than the tv, and makes things a little more convenient at times, but I have done without it before, I am sure I wouldn't curl up and die without it.*L*
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
2 Nov 08
Oh, yeah, I forgot the dishwasher. I used to think that it made doing dishes easier. When mine went out, I discovered it was faster to do them by hand. I still haven't gotten the dishwasher fixed or replaced. Then there is the washer and dryer. I grew up washing clothes by hand and hanging them out to dry. I could do that again. It might not be as convenient as it is now, but I really think I could live through it.
Wow, we have really gotten spoiled with all this stuff, haven't we?
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
2 Nov 08
*LOL* I had the ice maker taken out of the fridge when they came to repair it. It had to be removed to get to the part that needed to be fixed. I asked the guy if it had to be put back in, he said no, so, I made him leave it out. I need the room it was taking up.
And, my tv doesn't have anything but a power button on it, so if the remote were to disappear, they would be in trouble,for sure. *L*
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
5 Nov 08
Yes a few things I would never want to be without. 1.) Electricity 2.)a car 3.)a phone(not cell) 4.)running water 5.)a working bathroom(instead of a outhouse)6.)Books to read 7.)washer and dryer 8.) electric skillet 9.)Microwave 10.)computer/internet 11.)cable television 12.)already prepared or easy to prepare foods that doesn't have to be made from scratch. 13.)digital camera and not having to wait for photos or pay for them. 14.)electric heaters 15.)toaster ovens.,This is the list I have complied that I wouldn't want to be without and glad I have them.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
6 Nov 08
Me too! that is why I had to get a digital camera if I wanted to get my pictures having them developed seemed to costly. Now I can view them anytime because I can put them on CD or DVD I have a fish bowl full of undeveloped film still ten years later.
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
2 Nov 08
Water is critical for human life. That is becoming scarcer. Food is another critical requirement for Human life, and it too is becoming harder to obtain for some people. It is dependent on water as well as other things.
*
Electricity is pretty vital for most people. Your list states items that require electricity or otherwise, they make heavy paperweights.
@YoungInLove (1254)
• Canada
2 Nov 08
Thats the difference. You've already had these things, so losing them would make you feel like you dont evne know what to do with yourself. Before these existed, none of the people had a chance to know what this kind of technology was like, so they didnt know what they were missing out on. Reading the list, I think although it would be hard, its possibly to give a few of those up. Think of camping for a few weeks, you could live without the computer right? But thats only temporarily. It wouldnt be possible to give up a computer or internet unless you cut out every job that required the use of one. But I think as much as it would suck to lose any of those, the microwave would bug me the most. We use it many times a day without thinking of it. I dont know what we could ever do without it. Sure theres the oven, but what about quickly warming up your coffee, or heating up leftovers, you dont want to wait for the oven to take forever to do that.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
2 Nov 08
Hey...you guys really need to toughen yourselves up. years ago when I was going thru a divorce I lived in a tent with 3 kids ages 1, 2 and 11. Yes...a tent in the woods. It was a campground and there were showers and hot water but we had to walk a bit to get to them and throw in quarters. I had no other home so I did learn some very good survival skills. It rained a lot that summer and our only means of cooking was the grill...I managed...we managed. I babysat all summer for extra money to save for an apt. the kids all thought I was running a daycamp. In all reality...the kids had the time of their lives. Me? not so much but it humbled me more than any experience ever. It also did the 11 year old a world of good. I can't even begin to describe to you how much we appreciated simple running water to wash dishes or us with! We didn't even notice the holes in the ceiling when we finally got an apt...we were too busy checking out the shower and the toilet that flushed. Never ever want to go back to those times but don't regret them for a minute.
@relundad (2310)
• United States
2 Nov 08
Are you kidding me? Camping for a few weeks is definitely out and I might consider a day or two but it sure as heck would not be without my cellphone and laptop! I could probally do without the cable as I could watch something on my laptop or cellphone. The microwave I could do without for a day or two as long as leftovers weren't on the menu.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
5 Nov 08
Digital cameras, blow dryers, vcrs, calculators, many things including the ones you mentioned!
@crazydaisy (3896)
• Canada
2 Nov 08
I agree with you about that the way everything is going it makes me wonder what's
next is it going be I just love the computer microwave oven cell phones what is
Tv next it really makes you wonder? We might be going to mars for a hollidays or
they might been us to one place to another.
cd
@crazydaisy (3896)
• Canada
2 Nov 08
Yes I agree with you about that but give them time they will have something for us
that we should like in shopping up there which be allot of fun most likely your mall coffee tea.
cd
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
2 Nov 08
What about color tv and air conditioning? I could live without both of them as I never had either until about 14 years ago when my husband and I got married. However, I know several people who could not imagine life without those things. I think that it is a good lesson when the power is off for the kids to learn to do other things other than just play video games and watch tv. They could play a game,read by candlelight or oil lamp,etc.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
2 Nov 08
Yes, I do think about that sort of think quite often, whenever I use some incredible device like my infrared countertop oven or as you say the microwave, cell phone, computer, etc.
Another example would be the robocut machine I use instead of going to a "beauty parlor" to get my haircut. I do it at home in 5 minutes with no mess. To me that is vital.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
2 Nov 08
I am 52 and have lived a good part of my life just fine without all of those things as well and now i have them all with the exception of a cell phone. I have very little desire for one of those handy dandy gadgets as I just don't like phones period. I am thinking of getting one just for emergencies tho. I know I'd live fine without the other things but I would not really want to. The cable would be the very easiest for me to get rid of. The internet would be a tough one. I use it for banking and paying bills and it's just made my life so much easier. Mylot is what I do when I get out of work to unwind....what did I do before? Can't remember. Heck, I remmember when we did not have electric can openers and crock pots or disposable razors. Our lives just keep getting easier and easier and yet in so many ways things are so much more complicated and stressfull.
@relundad (2310)
• United States
2 Nov 08
OMG I would be completely lost without my 2 cellphones. That is my link to the world! You will rarely catch me more than 20 feet from both my cell phone or laptop. Well except when I am in church, and I will then expand by degree's of seperation to about 100 feet....lol But before I even start the car to leave I check my messages.....can't live without it...
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
2 Nov 08
I like my conveniences, I like my computer and the internet but I could live very well without them. I certainly wouldn't want to have NO conveniences but I would make do very well if I didn't have them. I think that it would really improve the world if people didn't rely on their cell phones so much and we destroyed all those annoying little headsets everyone is wearing.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
2 Nov 08
Well I use a lot of things that I people might not think I could live without but in all honesty I would not mind if we didn't have the internet, didn't have t.v., and didn't have a microwave oven. I dream of simpler times and often like to read or watch programs that feature some of the older things people used to cook, clean, and entertain themselves with.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
2 Nov 08
Many people still live just fine without the majority of those. Yes I have 2 computers and the internet, but I don't have a cell phone, or cable. I have a microwave but have and could live without it if needed. I hardly use it anyways, only to reheat things now and then.
I think life would be simpler without all the fancy technology of today. We'd spend more time with friends and family, like we used to in the old days. The only thing I don't think I could live without is my regular home phone, because without anything else, it's my only link to people.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
2 Nov 08
What you need to do is go backpacking for a few days, It will give you more confidence that you can get along just fine without all our day to day Tech.
stuff. Of course it won't make you want to give it up, I don't
@shine55555 (213)
• China
2 Nov 08
I do not think I would die without any of these or more other things. Only food and water keep my alife, not these things.
But without these things, there will be a lot of troubles really. We have to deal with many things by hand, or evev can not do only by hand.
So these kind of things makes our life easier and more convenient, and on the other hand spoil us a lot.
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
2 Nov 08
I could live without mircrowave oven. On the other hand, there are so many things that you can use instead. But the cell phone and the computers are really very very important
@pinkfloyd007 (375)
• India
2 Nov 08
Sometimes back when i was still in college,i never cared for anything.Only thing i did was to play soccer.I thought this is one thing i will give up for anything.But i had an accident and had to give up.I was so crestfallen.Something i wanted to do the most in my life something which made me happy,i felt as if i have lost it.Then my friends introduced to computer.At first i was not enjoying.Then they installed some games.I started enjoying.Then i got a cell phone.I got fascinated by these o so much that i cant live without them.I will have my cell phone wherever i go and the first thing i do when i come home is switch on my computer and do some browsing.
