need vs. want
I found this through the cognitive daily which linked to a different blog that had it, but I thought it was really neat, so I'd go ahead and post it here.
Pew Research Center did a recent study on what people consider to be necessities vs. luxuries. http://pewresearch.org/social/pack.php?PackID=23
The trend is that over time, more things we used to consider luxuries are now necessities. I think this partially reflects the fact that people can basically never be satisfied and that money/possessions NEVER buys happiness (whereas relationships are actually what you need) but I think it's also related to the fact that as something becomes more common in society, you do end up actually needing it more. (For example, as washing machines become more prevalent, laundromats become less so, so you're less likely to find one remotely nearby, and you need a machine more than you used to.)
Here's my personal list in the following format: item, % of people thinking it's necessary, whether or not I think it's necessary, whether or not I own it
Car -- 91%, possibly not necessary if I can borrow, I own it
Clothes washer -- 90%, necessary (there are no laundromats nearby and no way will I handwash everything or pay to drop it off), I own it
Dryer -- 83%, necessary (we don't live somewhere with decent hang-drying capability for a large quantity of clothing), I own
Air conditioning -- 70%, not necessary, I sort of have it (a few units but no central air)
Microwave -- 68%, really need at work but not as much at home, I own it
TV set -- 64%, not necessary, don't own
Car air con -- 59%, not necessary, I own
Home computer -- 51%, mostly necessary (unless I want to be at work ALL DAY), I own
Cell phone -- 49%, not necessary esp if I can borrow, I own
Dishwasher -- 35%, not necessary though extraordinarily convenient given our constant cooking, I own
Cable -- 33%, not necessary, I think I might have it free but I don't even have a TV so basically I don't have it
High speed internet -- 29%, not necessary (I could schedule my high-speed needs for work only, but I would need at least dial-up), I sort of own it. We're paying for it but it cuts out a LOT.
Flat screen TV -- 5%, obviously I don't think this is important
iPod -- 3%, ditto
I think one missing item is a disposal in the sink. We have one, but it's admittedly a luxury (right now ours is broken and we're getting by just fine with the "shit catcher".)
I guess I'll use this opportunity to say how thankful I am to be in a situation where if I need something, I can have it, period. I'm also glad that I enjoy a number of luxuries that make my life easier, and finally I'm glad that I don't think I confuse "want" and "need", so I'm not too much one of those people who is in a constant state of dissatisfaction because no matter what she has she think she needs more. Actually I might be that way academically but not with possessions/money.
Pew Research Center did a recent study on what people consider to be necessities vs. luxuries. http://pewresearch.org/social/pack.php?PackID=23
The trend is that over time, more things we used to consider luxuries are now necessities. I think this partially reflects the fact that people can basically never be satisfied and that money/possessions NEVER buys happiness (whereas relationships are actually what you need) but I think it's also related to the fact that as something becomes more common in society, you do end up actually needing it more. (For example, as washing machines become more prevalent, laundromats become less so, so you're less likely to find one remotely nearby, and you need a machine more than you used to.)
Here's my personal list in the following format: item, % of people thinking it's necessary, whether or not I think it's necessary, whether or not I own it
Car -- 91%, possibly not necessary if I can borrow, I own it
Clothes washer -- 90%, necessary (there are no laundromats nearby and no way will I handwash everything or pay to drop it off), I own it
Dryer -- 83%, necessary (we don't live somewhere with decent hang-drying capability for a large quantity of clothing), I own
Air conditioning -- 70%, not necessary, I sort of have it (a few units but no central air)
Microwave -- 68%, really need at work but not as much at home, I own it
TV set -- 64%, not necessary, don't own
Car air con -- 59%, not necessary, I own
Home computer -- 51%, mostly necessary (unless I want to be at work ALL DAY), I own
Cell phone -- 49%, not necessary esp if I can borrow, I own
Dishwasher -- 35%, not necessary though extraordinarily convenient given our constant cooking, I own
Cable -- 33%, not necessary, I think I might have it free but I don't even have a TV so basically I don't have it
High speed internet -- 29%, not necessary (I could schedule my high-speed needs for work only, but I would need at least dial-up), I sort of own it. We're paying for it but it cuts out a LOT.
Flat screen TV -- 5%, obviously I don't think this is important
iPod -- 3%, ditto
I think one missing item is a disposal in the sink. We have one, but it's admittedly a luxury (right now ours is broken and we're getting by just fine with the "shit catcher".)
I guess I'll use this opportunity to say how thankful I am to be in a situation where if I need something, I can have it, period. I'm also glad that I enjoy a number of luxuries that make my life easier, and finally I'm glad that I don't think I confuse "want" and "need", so I'm not too much one of those people who is in a constant state of dissatisfaction because no matter what she has she think she needs more. Actually I might be that way academically but not with possessions/money.