33 Things Society Has Made Us Believe Are “Necessities” But People In This Online Group Argue They Are Addictions
What is considered normal highly depends on society’s view on it. Once high heels were a shoe that only wealthy men wore and now traditionally only women wear them. In some cultures, more fat on one’s body is associated with being wealthy as it means the person has money to feed themselves, but in other cultures, a lean body is the ideal of beauty.
This is the case with most aspects of our lives. But that means that people sometimes start to normalize things that are not the most healthy for their mind or body. Feeling like you have to be on your phone and always available, buying the newest technology or just craving sugar all the time have become necessities, but they are actually addictions, according to some people on Reddit who joined a thread started by Morticiar who asked “What is an addiction society pretends is a necessity?”
This thread got almost 45k upvotes in just a day and over 24k people wanted to join the conversation. They made some good points and challenged each other to think about what things people are addicted to that they don’t even realize are bad as they see them as necessities. We would like to know what you have to say on the topic, so we are looking forward to reading your comments!
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Obsessing over celebrities’ personal lives….
I don’t give a f**k who’s dating who, who had a baby, who got divorced, etc., and I don’t understand why anyone else does.
And expensive weddings! That s**t is not normal.
We are invited to a wedding in a few months(wife's cousin), and we have to spend on at least, new clothes for her, me and our kid, transportation, as it is out of state, hotel room for at least two nights, gift of course. But yeah, thanks for the invite....
Mom culture. The idea that "mommy needs wine" all the time. Dragging down moms that don't agree with you. And as someone who is childless currently, the idea that we are NOT allowed to speak to you and offer any kind of advice because "you don't have children". I literally gave a new mom ideas on how to help her baby with gas (after dealing with it with my niece for a while) and she told me she didn't WANT my input because I don't have kids.
But the mommy needs wine culture really bothers me.
Alcohol! I’m so tired of people telling me I’m not living my life cause I don’t drink.
Alcoholism is actually an addiction. Everything else I've seen so far is just habitual behavior. People don't have seizures or heart failure when deprived of access to social media.
Filtered photos have become the norm. It needs to stop
This kind of filter is cute and adorable and there's nothing wrong with it. But I do agree on body enhancing ones that make you look not even real. That's why it's a hard thing to live up to
Working overtime and doing more work than the job description entails
Buying presents for each other all the time. Valentines, christmas, birthday, anniversary, new job etc etc.
Stop buying people s**t that they wouldnt buy themself.
Women beauty trends. Regularly getting nails done, eyelashes done, hair dyed and cut, and all the makeup and skin care products you need for your 12 step skincare routine. Yeah, it’s nice to take care of yourself or treat yourself. And hygiene is for sure important. But you shouldn’t have to go every few weeks and drop tons of money to feel pretty cause that’s what society says. And you don’t need endless products either.
Some people do it because they like to and that's fine, whats not is doing it because you feel ugly without it.
Cell phones. Constantly having it nearby, checking it all the time, having to be available 24/7 in case someone tries to contact you.
As someone who has this addiction, it's really not healthy and adds a lot of unnecessary stress to my life.
I make sure I have my phone with me when I go out of the house, in case of accident or emergency, but I can't stand the thought of being tied to it. Most of the time it's sitting on the kitchen counter or my nightstand!
I take my phone everywhere with me for two main reasons. I work a very boring job at a factory. My podcasts have saved my sanity. I also really like being able to search for any question that occurs to me when on the go. It's true I'm addicted to my podcasts, but hey what's wrong with being addicted to lifelong learning ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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I hate it when people try to reach you multiple times for non important reasons and you wait a couple hours to respond. Then when you call/text/email them back they are offended for how long it took to get back to them. I don't have to be available 24/7 just because I could.
My stepmom constantly does that to my dad - even if he's told her that he and I are going somewhere for however long, she still has to text/call him repeatedly anyway, and she tends to get pissed off when he doesn't reply right away. She literally can't spend any amount of time without him, and it's absolutely ridiculous.
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When you're out to eat, take a look at other tables. If that doesn't get you to take a break from your phone then nothing will. So sad to see a family together at a meal and all on phones. What is the point?!
I use my phone as a TV, or radio, a book and sometimes to read BP... basically it
As a diabetic with a CGM... I literally have to keep it within 20 feet of me at all times or I could go low and die. So don't judge me for always having my phone or looking at it, and it's not cool to judge folks for having it on them or looking at it. You don't know what's going on.
True, but when you walk into a family holiday dinner & all your siblings & their spouses & kids are all sitting around staring at their phones, not talking to each other, your sister is alone in the kitchen prepping a big meal for all their lazy asses- I can definitely judge them!
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I got mildly castigated by a 20-something coworker for not responding to his text. I informed him that my phone is for MY convenience, not his. But if he would pay my phone bill each month, I will answer him 24/7.
I have a snapshot of my car’s registration on mine, since I have no access to a photocopier, so I have to be certain to bring it with me whenever I drive.
They recommend if you have a vaccine card that you have a picture of that so you can always prove You've had your shot.
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I don't get cell reception where I live, so I don't own one, and don't miss it. THat's, oh, 18 years now...
I need my cell phone because of music, audiobooks and searching inspo for my art.
Yes, I don't check mine to see who's contacting me. I love to read and I'm constantly reading anything and everything on my phone. No wonder my eyes are so bad!
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when i go to sleep, my cell & line line & internet are all switched off!
Cell phones aren't the problem, it's the overuse that's the issue. I love being able to easily get a hold of my friends and family on the other side of the country, take pictures of my dogs being cute or funny at a moment's notice, and especially with my ADHD I love being able to look up the answer to any question that pops into my head (so that question will go away instead of bother me all day).
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Hanging out with someone and having them texting someone else while you're talking is a big slap in the face. I don't understand what's so important that can't wait a little while for a response. If it's an emergency that's one thing, but texting or answering a call when you're with another person and then having a conversation with the person on the phone is just rude.
Often these compulsions are driven by social media, running on the phone, rather than the phone itself.
I use my cellphone to check the weather going to work and at home. I will let it go to voicemail when I don't recognize the number. As for social media and YouTube, I usually go online in the evenings to check the news, etc.
I recently gave out my number to someone for the first time (besides to family) And it IS very stressful...cause I find myself constantly waiting for or expecting a text... And that's just one number I have... I can't imagine having more than that
There are people who check their phones occasionally through the day just in case they missed something and then there are people how to have the phone out all day. This does not make the phone bad but the person who is checking every second needs to stop
I'm a caregiver for my 88 year old Mom. If I go somewhere I need to keep my phone handy in case something happens.
But are you constantly on your phone, ignoring everything around you, even holding the phone up while driving? That's when it's a problem.
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Makes me happy to be too dam old to even WANT to understand a lot of new tech. Frequently don’t know where this thing is. We just didn’t grow up with this stuff, I’m fine with not being plugged in 24/7.
Some people are addicted to comparing their lives to others when they should really strive to be the best they can be. Trying to outperform others leads to endless frustration, but trying to outperform yourself leads to true improvement.
Working oneself to death
MrGlen456 said:
Sugar
noblechimp84 added:
Completely unnoticed. So much sugar in things people just don't expect or check. Thinking of sugar as a drug has helped me enjoy it more responsibly.
The entire (side) hustle culture. I understand the need/desire and do it myself too. But I find it insane that we need to monetize almost every waking moment.
Sometimes a side hack is a good thing, I'm currently trying to turn my side hack into a full-time job. In a world where sensible people hesitate to quit one job before lining up another, or to change careers without doing a hell of a lot of groundwork, the side hack can be more than an attempt to monetize every waking moment, it can be a way to transition into a great big life change.
trying to look the best on social media. I dont get it and never will
The ultimate flex is having an awesome life and no social media presence. You're not meant to spend your life living vicariously through others!
Shopping
This addiction is actually a medically recognized addiction with it’s own name – Oniomania.
Constant profit. Its called greed, and not only unnecessary but is extremely dangerous. It is not sustainable.
The lotto. It’s really fun to imagine what you would do if you won. If you’re not blowing tons of money on it. That could be worth it right there. But it’s so expensive, and your chances are like .00001 of winning something you can retire with.
Being too connected to friends or social media, you don't need to be constantly on your phone and stopping what you are doing every 5 minutes to look at your phone.
Fast/unhealthy food.
It used to be all you could afford. Now it's the same price as a restaurant!
Cars. At least American society.
Most countries in the developed world don't use them nearly as much, and are considered some of the best places to live in the world.
Americans are unhealthily obsessed with car culture.
Problem is our entire infrastructure is revolved around cars. The streets, the gas stations, the highways, and the parking lot. All for cars. To put in effective public transportation would be cost prohibitive. Plus, we complain when they have road work to put in another lane(don't get me started on how this doesn't help) can you imagine the uproar of all the roadwork to put in a light rail?
"You gotta be a doctor!!" - Lots more jobs and fields that make more than doctors..
Plus unless you’re a specialist, you’re not making great money in the grand scheme of traditionally profitable careers. Never mind malpractice insurance.
GDP. Everyone act as if GDP must goes up every year. And everyone act as like an ever increasing GDP benefits them when they need to work harder to afford the same standard of living.
Getting stuff delivered ASAP!
well if its delivered later, ill realize i dont even really want it, we cant have that now can we???
Diet
Well, I would say not eating a healthy, well balanced diet, but fad diets
Positivity. Like, all the time, about anything and everything - you MUST always try to see the positive side about things. I mean, of course it's good to try and see things on a brighter side, but some things are just plain shitty, no more and no less, and they can be treated as such. I'm not gonna try and look on the bright side of people getting seriously ill or stuff like that.
Exactly. I will admit that I try to stay positive as much as possible, but it really isn't possible all the time, and sometimes that's okay.
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I hardly believe there are people who find even quarter of these things necessity. A couple, maybe several, if they are teenagers (i do remember myself pretending I'm not indifferent to smth to feel part of some subculture)
the social media ones really are accurate. in my county (Montgomery county, Maryland, USA) , someone shot someone n in the bathroom (at Macgruder high school) and there were multiple witnesses and none of them called 911 but they posted on social media and they might be charged for it too. there were also multiple gun threats near my school recently so that has not been fun (I'm in middle school)
I up voted everything except one. Caffeine. Just can't bring myself to do that. Usually the only ones, with a few exceptions, that I up vote this much are about animals.
None of these are necessities unless you're a moron. Pathetic that anyone should think these have any kudos at all. If you do... step back and reevaluate your priorities
Positivity. Like, all the time, about anything and everything - you MUST always try to see the positive side about things. I mean, of course it's good to try and see things on a brighter side, but some things are just plain shitty, no more and no less, and they can be treated as such. I'm not gonna try and look on the bright side of people getting seriously ill or stuff like that.
Exactly. I will admit that I try to stay positive as much as possible, but it really isn't possible all the time, and sometimes that's okay.
Load More Replies... I hardly believe there are people who find even quarter of these things necessity. A couple, maybe several, if they are teenagers (i do remember myself pretending I'm not indifferent to smth to feel part of some subculture)
the social media ones really are accurate. in my county (Montgomery county, Maryland, USA) , someone shot someone n in the bathroom (at Macgruder high school) and there were multiple witnesses and none of them called 911 but they posted on social media and they might be charged for it too. there were also multiple gun threats near my school recently so that has not been fun (I'm in middle school)
I up voted everything except one. Caffeine. Just can't bring myself to do that. Usually the only ones, with a few exceptions, that I up vote this much are about animals.
None of these are necessities unless you're a moron. Pathetic that anyone should think these have any kudos at all. If you do... step back and reevaluate your priorities
