Last week, we asked you to choose one item from a list of three – your car, smartphone or TV – which you could do without for the rest of your life. Our modern lives are now underpinned by a range of different technologies considered indispensable. But are they? We bring you the results of our non-scientific study and share some of your excellent responses. Thank you to everyone who took part.
“You have to choose one item to give up forever. Which would it be?”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, John Logie Baird’s revolutionary invention was the item most of you decided you can live without, with 52.3% of you choosing the TV. This window on the world has been surpassed by other means of accessing information and entertainment. But let’s hope the days of TV and radio are not consigned to history just yet.
In second place is the smartphone, with 26.7% of respondents deciding it’s not such an integral part of their life after all. While 20.9% of you have very good reasons for dispensing with your car, it was the least favourite item to wave off.
- TV 52.3%
- Smartphone 26.7%
- Car 20.9%
A sample of your responses
The TV
I would probably be just as happy reading books, and with my car and my smart phone I can coordinate to go and see other people, possibly even watch their TV!
Because my car and smartphone allow me to keep in touch with people. Watching TV is a passive activity.
I’ve done it before; did not die.
Most news is biased. Much comedy is childishly unfunny. Reality programmes are not real. And the compulsory licence is exorbitant.
Everything I use the TV for I can do on my phone! I never watch live TV, only streaming services.
Because TV is a distraction from life.
If I gave up my TV I can still watch things on my smartphone and I can still keep my car.
I only use the TV at the New Year’s, when the fireworks go off, and I assume that much the same can be seen online.
Without any hesitation because of one reason; almost every programme on every channel has elected to play constant, intrusive music in the background. So very often I have to work hard to try and guess at what is being said, or what is happening, and it is tiring, maddening and dispiriting.
I don’t own any of these, prefer public transport and have better things to do than watch TV. Though smartphones seem to be almost essential, many organisations won’t accept landline numbers on registration forms. It seems that I have to vote for one, and only one, of the above so I’ve chosen TV but I’m not ‘giving them up’, I’ve never had any of them.
I am disabled, so my car and my smartphone are essential to my being able to live a semblance of a normal life, and interact with others. The TV is nonessential, and in fact is switched off for the majority of the time, so I really wouldn’t miss it if it went.
Can access news and entertainment by other means.
I don’t watch much TV. I’d like my phone to keep in touch with friends and my car in order to meet up with them. Friends are much more important than the current drivel on television!
I live in the countryside so a car is essential, as is a smartphone today. Giving up my TV would be not much of a problem as I don’t watch broadcast TV anyway and could still watch movies etc on my phone, tablet & computers.
The smartphone
TV is my main source of entertainment. I live rurally and couldn’t manage without a car. I would be very reluctant to give up any one of the three but the smartphone would be the one I depend upon least.
When I use the other two is a choice in my control largely. The Smartphone demands attention through phone calls, emails and messaging. Aim: Peace of mind
I need a car to get around, and TV gives me entertaining and educational programmes, but a smartphone makes me lazy. As long as I can have a computer at home, I won’t need a smartphone.
The most recent and most invasive of inventions. I managed the first half of my life without one and believe I could do the same with the second!
Because it is driven by military technology and remorseless data mining by commercial interests, leading to the dreary echo chambers of “like-minded people” and the end of constructive debate.
They are a menace to society in that they prevent actual dialogue between people, cause motoring accidents and are very rude when used in a group. I have thrown mine away and will not be getting another. Ever!
The car
I can manage without my car, I can use public transport or taxis but my smartphone keeps me in touch with my family and friends and I use it for reading books (Kindle app), keeping up with the news, puzzles to keep my brain active, looking up things on the internet and so much more. My TV helps me relax and provides entertainment.
I’ve already given up (gave away) my car – and I don’t have a smartphone!
I have no problems taking public transport.
Fewer cars mean cleaner air, people would probably walk cycle more, and there should be more investment in public transport.
Old age…. these days I do very little driving but do use the trains a lot. There again, I hardly watch my TV so maybe it should be that.
I had to give up my car last year as I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I honestly can’t say I have missed it (and I got a concessionary bus pass).
I haven’t got a car and haven’t had one for some years. I rarely miss it, but love travelling by bus, as I can see lots of things which I wouldn’t see if concentrating on the road. Plus, there is a big bonus in meeting other bus travellers – we often have quite a laugh together! It’s often fun and almost always friendly – and cheaper in the long run, as I don’t have to pay for fuel, insurance, MOT, tax, parking and maintenance. And it’s a lot less stressful.
Bad for the environment, roads take up too much space, makes people angry – too much road rage. Travelling by public transport is much more pleasant – you get to see more of where you are travelling to and you can read!
I have optic atrophy and can’t drive. I only use my smartphone for phoning taxis so I could manage fairly well with a dumb phone. I also don’t use a TV because it is easier to watch on a tablet. Therefore, it wouldn’t bother me much to give up all three but the car is the most useless.
