'What's a necessity in modern living?' poll discussion

jeanmd

bulletproof_1979 wrote: »

I'm not sure why you've bundled the computer with internet access in with the TV/ satalite "luxury" category. Access to to computers/ the internet really is essential for a childs learning these days and those without the access are at massive disadvantage to those with.

Why? My granddaugher has just done well in her gcse's and is going to the college that she wanted to go to. Even though she is dyslexic and had to have a yellow filter on the pc's at school. She manages fine without the internet and still finds all the information she needs.
I really disagree with the government giving out the free internet to children under ten and don't see why they need one. Yes it's good to be computer literate. Owning a computer is not essential to life.

Can I just point out that my grandchildren do not live in poverty. Both their parent work full time and this was a lifestyle choice.

Jacks_xxx

My daughter's school assumes that pupils will have internet access at home. Homework is posted on the schools website rather than written on the blackboard and pupils are expected to do two - three hours a night.

The library closes well before this even if I would be happy for her to be in the town centre at night, and even if it was possible to get a spot every night.

Social development is just as important and "necessary" as education and a computer with internet access is a big part of the way teenagers socialise.

I think everything on that list is probably a necessity for children growing up in poverty to be considered "normal". (Even though I personally don't think mobile phones are necessary for anyone they are the way of the world these days and a teenager will be left out socially without one.)

I would hate to think of children being socially excluded and educationally disadvantaged on top of having to survive in poverty.

JimmyTheWig

jeanmd wrote: »

I really disagree with the government giving out the free internet to children under ten and don't see why they need one. Yes it's good to be computer literate. Owning a computer is not essential to life.

I believe that this was a move more to kick-start the economy than anything else.
Other countries in the past have done similar schemes in times of economic trouble with things like kitchen white goods.

danlightbulb

It is possible to live without many of these things. But the key point is that how do you compare to everyone else. Children who grow up 'feeling' disadvantaged are surely much more likely to turn out to be angry resentful and problematic adults, not just outwardly but also inwardly.

And lol at the person somewhere above who things a family don't need a cooker!

Martin_EdneyI wanted an option for "None of these", but this wasn't possible.

If you think about what's REALLY necessary, none of these things are absolutely necessary, although many of them are nice to have. I think a family can live quite successfully and happily without all of them.

And on the point of internet access - Ive just moved into a new house and am waiting to get BT line connected, so I'm without internet. And its not until you are without it that you realise how much you rely on it. Obviously i'm talking as an adult, with online bills, email, etc. My 3 year old son can use the touch pad on my laptop and he plays on the cbeebies online games. I have yet to decide if this is a good or bad thing in the grand scheme of things.

Maybe the solution is for everyone else to reduce their materialistic natures rather than trying to bring poor people UP to the level of everyone else. But thats never going to happen.

Terry_D

I'm retired so no school age children living here (phew!) However, I know it would be nigh on impossible for us to be without internet access.

I do 99% of my non-food shopping on-line and have saved hundreds of pounds over the years (which is after all what this web site is all about isn't it?).

That aside, as the poll does include school age kids, I know much of their homework requires them to use the net and computer skills are a virtual must in the job market so it is a definite MUST HAVE in my view. Incidentally, I did not tick TV as essential.

Jacks_xxx

MSE_Martin wrote: »

I must admit I'm surprised by "washing machine" appearing so highly - after all many people use launderettes

"Many"? Have you got any numbers on how exactly "many" families rely on launderettes Martin? Or was this an Eastenders based assumption? :D

I feel very sad for any families that have to rely on launderettes.

Launderettes are expensive and time consuming, and a family with school age children will generate a lot of washing.

A family living in relative poverty cannot afford the money for a launderette, and their time would be better spent earning money - no?

I have a launderette with half a mile of my home but most people will not have one within 20 miles. They are not very common outside of densely populated urban areas.

And a poorer family is less likely to have their own transport.

pollypenny

I was amazed by the assumption in the school from which i recently retired that pupils would have internet access.

It is an excellent school, with a very wide social mix, in fact a true comprehensive. But I am very aware that there are pockets of real hardship in the town.

wildthing01

i'm amazed that some people have chosen games console as a basic necessity!

i did vote for mobile phone, but only as emergency contact, e.g. if one of the kids had an accident, or needed collecting from school due to sickness.

as for computers with web access, you can use the internet in libraries/internet cafes etc if absolutely necessary, so i wouldn't call it a basic household necessity.

what you need is the means to feed and clothe your kids and keep them clean and warm. that plus a barrel load of love and some imagination re keeping them stimulated and entertained is really all they actually 'need' from their parents/carers. not games consoles, computers and tvs.

wildthing01

danlightbulb wrote: »

It is possible to live without many of these things. But the key point is that how do you compare to everyone else. Children who grow up 'feeling' disadvantaged are surely much more likely to turn out to be angry resentful and problematic adults, not just outwardly but also inwardly.

QUOTE]

sorry, but i have to disagree here. i grew up feeling quite disadvantaged as we were poor compared to many of my friends and as a child i lived for many years without, at various times, tv, phone, car, central heating, washing machine or proper cooker (no such thing as internet back then, but if there had been, we would not have had it!!!).

yet, rather than making me resentful, angry and problematic as an adult, it made me all the more determined to do well in life, try harder at school so i could pass my exams and go to uni, get a good job and to make my own children's lives as comfortable as possible. i achieved all this and now feel very happy as a result. so please don't make sweeping judgements.

macavity

i was in two minds whether to tick the mobile phone and the computer options, i feel they are not essential but do make life very much easier - the phone box in my village doesnt work except for free phone numbers and i rent, so dont have a land line, and people cant ask to use their neighbours phones like in the 'olden' days. having an internet enabled pc saves time and money on other purchases and saves the environment (i feel) in that you dont have to drive here and there to fetch what you need, and as a single mum it makes life much easier. my pc setup cost me a fiver on ebay so it neednt cost that much either.

when my washing machine broke down the nearest i could find was twenty minutes drive away and it was really really expensive. i have lived without central heating before but it was a cold and miserable existence and i got carbon monoxide poisoning from the calor gas heaters i was using. ive also lived without hot water and just boiled a kettle, but that is not very nice either. so you can do it, but at a personal discomfort that is uneccesary these days.