Could you maintain a daily routine without one or several of these items: a computer, a cell phone, a television, clothes dryer, hair dryer, or a car? What would it mean for you to not have these things? Would you suffer greatly or would this simply be an inconvenience to you?
I tried to go without my cell phone for three days. I have to admit, it was truly an inconvenience. I'm so used to grabbing my phone in the morning to check my schedule, read emails and messages. It's become my little assistant. I rely on my cell phone daily. Especially when out on the road, I'd like to know that if anything happens or if I need help, I can pull out my handy dandy phone and make a call.
During my hiatus from my phone, I began to really think about what I did before the cell phone really became a useful tool rather than a luxury item. Same goes for my computer. I know I'm about to put my age out here a bit, but I remember when I was in school just learning how to use the computer, which by the way only had two colors -- black and white (and maybe some shades of grey) and the only game I could play on there was the Atari Tennis. You know the one with the two little vertical white lines that only moved up and down the sides of the screen and the tiny square ball that made the "boop" sound when you hit it. Then when the "boop" sound got quicker, the ball moved quicker and then you really thought you were doing something! Now, in this day and age, you can basically run the world with one of these things.
I never realized how much I depended upon my phone or my computer (I'm not a pro at using the computer, but I have one). I'm not so sure that's good thing. Depending too much on anything is not good for you. What if a really bad virus got into the computers? We see it in movies all the time now. I can't speak for other countries, but the majority of this country would just go haywire. Teens and young adults who grew up only knowing the computer and how it has become an essential necessity, rather than a convenience would really be confused. Computers basically run our lives. They're in just about everything and run just about everything. It seems as if they're in all of the items that I named above. Could we survive without the great computer? I know some people who could. I know some people who dare not touch a computer, a cell phone or anything that is computer operated -- yes, that means electricity as well.
Look, I don't want to be sitting on a island by myself, unless I had all of my luxury items and The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, but if I had to, I'd want to have several things with me, my Bible, a good book, a really sharp knife, matches, drinking water, clean underwear (Mom says always have them), a toothbrush and my lip gloss! What, I have to look presentable even for the ocean!