A Few New (Pseudo) Necessities

I was told about a news story where it was claimed that on hot days we should spend some time in airconditioning because our bodies don’t get a chance to rest if they stay hot. Air conditionors are convenient, but they are hardly a necessity. We have gotten along without them for ages and many of us (me for example) still don’t own one. Well, this made me think about all the other pseudo necessities that modern technology has given us. Here’s the list in no particular order:

• Air conditioners – making sure to stay hydrated on a hot day will keep you safe from heat related health issues.
• Cell phone – I know this must not be a necessity because I didn’t have one for most of my life and I stil survived somehow. I just can’t figure out how survival was achieved without a cell phone.
• Washing machines and driers – we all either own washing machines or take our dirty clothes to places where we basically rent washing machines. Once upon a time people washed clothes by hand. I’ve heard that it still works for those who care to try.
• Cable – obviously this doesn’t apply to every, but it seems that many people consider cable to be one of the basic and necessary utilities, right up there with water, heat and electricity.
• Microwave – Similar to the cell phone, I know that there has to be someway to exist without a microwave, I just can’t figure out what it is. I’m sure it must somehow involve stoves and ovens.

There are some technologies that weren’t necessities in the past that are now because of the way that society has changed.

• Computer – Our society creates it’s own need for computers. If we, as a society, decided that we didn’t want computers anymore, we could simply turn them off, but if the rest of society is typing away, it’s hard for one individual to get by without some sort of computer and internet access.
• Car (depending on where you live) – The availability of cars has made us design societal infrastructure for cars. Things are further apart now because distance isn’t as much of an inconveniance as it used to be – as long as you have a car.
• Credit/Debit Card – It’s not safe to keep a bunch of cash around, it’s not always possible to get to the bank, and the personal check is dead. The only people that accept checks are landlords and people you pay by mail (utility companies, magazine, etc.)

Did I miss anything?