# What normal things do you feel no need for? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 17, 2010, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069 "2010-07-17T23:50:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/41 "2010-07-18T23:10:33Z")
They’re actually pretty useful - also for herbs. I can live without mine, but I do like it. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/42 "2010-07-18T23:13:24Z")
I make salads for lunch every work date. Five big salads - that’s a lot of lettuce to dry with papertowels. I hate hate hate soggy drippy lettuce so I like my salad spinner. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/43 "2010-07-18T23:50:39Z")
Trash compactor. We bought two houses with them; I still don’t get them. Ice makers. It _takes less time_ to grab them out of the ice tray. OTOH, I’ve been wireless for years, and we plan to go hot-spot cell phone for internet access soon. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/44 "2010-07-19T00:39:20Z")
I don’t have a TV, a toaster or a microwave. I heat my coffee water in a saucepan, the CD player in my car failed months ago and I haven’t gotten around to fixing it yet. I’d have to dig deeper into my closet than I’m willing before I could tell you if I have a tie. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/45 "2010-07-19T00:47:52Z")
Sports tickets. I occasionally take in a game because my wife is a rabid fan, but all pro sports could disappear overnight and I wouldn’t even notice. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/46 "2010-07-19T00:54:14Z")
Okay, I’ll admit these are above and beyond “normal” things, but I also have no need for manicures, pedicures, or any spa stuff. I have never had any desire to own a hot tub, although it’s nice when we’re on vacation and the hotel has one. I would probably never use it and it would turn into an algae swamp. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/47 "2010-07-19T01:31:29Z")
I’d really like a range hood, but can’t get one in my apartment. A toaster oven. I grew up without one, have never owned one, and don’t know what I would do with it if someone gave it to me. ---
**Author:** ![MoodIndigo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@MoodIndigo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoodIndigo1)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/48 "2010-07-19T01:45:30Z")
Manicures. I do my hands/nails myself, keep everything short and neat. Most of my friends/female relatives have those artificial “French” manicures and even the same style pedicures, but I hate the way they look, and it’s an awful lot of money for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/49 "2010-07-19T01:53:50Z")
Oh, I thought of another one. Professional haircuts. I cut everyone’s hair in the household, including my own (with spouse/motherinlaw help at the back). Started doing this about 20 years ago as a money saving measure while a poor student, and never got out of the habit. This was amusing a few years ago when a local tax agent started running advertisements for their services which went - “You don’t cut your own hair - so why do your own tax?” (no, I don’t use a tax agent either) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/50 "2010-07-19T02:07:42Z")
Ice - that’s a good one. I don’t care for ice; I have no ice cube trays in the freezer and no ice-maker on the fridge. Guests in my house get beverages from the fridge at fridge temperature or nothing. I’ve had a manicure and a pedicure, and it was nice and all, but I may have another one once or twice in my life, and that will be plenty. They just don’t do much for me. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/51 "2010-07-19T02:14:19Z")
Smart phone. Agree with the ice. An oven. (My apartment just didn’t come with one, and I pretty much don’t cook/bake.) ---
**Author:** ![sinusoidal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@sinusoidal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinusoidal)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/52 "2010-07-19T05:05:28Z")
Shaving cream. I shave my legs in the shower, and as long as I use soap beforehand and the water’s nice and hot, I can’t tell the difference in the shave. ---
**Author:** ![valleyofthedolls](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a4c791/32.png) [@valleyofthedolls](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/valleyofthedolls)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/53 "2010-07-19T05:57:33Z")
A kitchen. I’d need a refrigerator but everything else is pretty much unnecessary. If I don’t eat out or get take out/order in, the most I’m willing to do food prep-wise is open a container of yogurt. Photographs. It’s odd because I really like the work of professional photographers (Irving Penn, Robert Mapplethorpe etc.) but photographs of vacations, family gatherings, birthdays, pets etc? Don’t take them, don’t have them and don’t want them. Too much clutter. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/54 "2010-07-19T06:08:48Z")
Music. Yeah, it’s fun to listen to, sometimes, but if all music were to disappear, I wouldn’t really mind. …God, my dad is spinning in his grave right now, even though he’s not even dead. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/55 "2010-07-19T11:00:51Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Ice - that’s a good one. I don’t care for ice; I have no ice cube trays in the freezer and no ice-maker on the fridge. Guests in my house get beverages from the fridge at fridge temperature or nothing. OK, I generally enjoy your posts and all, but if I ever come to visit you, I’m bringing a bag of ice! My 10YO almost _never_ uses ice (she _might_ put one in a cup of water, but that’s it). But between me and my sister, we have to empty and re-fill five trays of ice, twice a day. On weekends, when hubby’s home, I usually end up _buying_ ice to supplement, because those ten trays a day aren’t enough! :eek: > [@](#): > > I’ve had a manicure and a pedicure, and it was nice and all, but I may have another one once or twice in my life, and that will be plenty. They just don’t do much for me. I do really enjoy a pedicure, and last time I was pregnant, I treated myself to one every month following my OB/GYN appointment. But mostly, I do my own nails (fingers _and_ toes). However, if we ever get around to actually going on a cruise (we keep talking about it), I’ll probably get at least a professional pedicure, so I can walk all around the ship barefoot or in Birks without being embarrassed by the condition of my feet/toenails! To the list, I’ll second toaster oven! We had one for years, but I can’t really think of anything you can do with it that can’t be handled by a toaster (which we have right on the counter; a toaster oven makes crappy toast!) and our regular oven or microwave. I mean, yeah, a toaster oven is good for cooking a _small_ quantity of something that’s much better off oven-cooked than nuked. But seriously, how often does that situation come up? Not much. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/56 "2010-07-19T11:20:36Z")
I’m another one who really doesn’t use ice. I dutifully kept some ice trays around after my divorce, filling them up on occasion when the ice would sublimate away, but never actually using the ice. Eventually, the trays got tossed. I don’t use my toasters. Then again, I don’t really keep toastable bread around, either. My everyday bread is the far more versatile tortilla, and when I need fluffy bread for sandwiches, I’ll get or make Italian or French bread loaves. Like **valleyofthedolls** , I don’t really photograph friends/girlfriends/pets/vacations/myself, nor do I have photographs around. I have pictures on Facebook only because of friends tagging me within their own albums. I haven’t had a lamp in my living room for the last few years, and find I don’t miss having one. There’s usually enough ambient light to do whatever I need, and light-intensive activities like reading tend to be done in other rooms. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/57 "2010-07-19T13:31:27Z")
A lot of birthday and Christmas presents. For many years I went without; there were some years when I would get a present or two from a friend, some years the office Christmas gift swap presents were all I got, and there were a couple of years there when I got no Christmas presents at all. My friends would send cards for my birthday but I had no one close enough to me to give me presents. When I met my boyfriend who later became my husband, it seemed significant to me that he cared enough about me to put thought into things I might like and to make my life easier. Having a lot of things to open made me feel good and secure. But I don’t need a lot of things anymore. A couple of CDs is good, and a cookbook because he knows I like them. We give each other things like going to a concert together or remodeling the bathroom. It’s nice to have something to open, but I never wanted diamond earrings. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/58 "2010-07-19T13:44:14Z")
I’ll admit I like and/or have lots of things that are mentioned in this thread, but not all (I always thought a salad spinner was something of a joke, for instance). But plenty of people on this board have raved about their rice cooker, and I just can’t see the point. My rice cooks just fine in a pot I’m also able to use for countless other things; why would I need a dedicated device for something so mundane as rice? Ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/59 "2010-07-19T15:07:06Z")
> [@tygre](#): > > Massages, manicures, and pedicures – any spa treatment with the exception of hair coloring/salon cuts. I don’t like being touched by people I don’t have a relationship with, and am very fussy about my feet being touched, so… > I do love makeup and am a bit of a girly girl, but I like to do my own treatments. I am the same way. I get why someoene would want said services, for some they’re relaxing and it’s easier to get someone else to do them. But I get bored during manicures when I’ve had them, and I’m so ticklish pedicures are the furthest thing from relaxing. Plus it takes less time for me to do them from home, I don’t have to go anywhere. I find it more relaxing to stay home for this stuff. Also, the microwave. Ours broke about 2 months ago, and since we’re moving we didn’t bother replacing it. I haven’t missed it at all. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069/60 "2010-07-19T15:14:07Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > I’ll admit I like and/or have lots of things that are mentioned in this thread, but not all (I always thought a salad spinner was something of a joke, for instance). But plenty of people on this board have raved about their rice cooker, and I just can’t see the point. My rice cooks just fine in a pot I’m also able to use for countless other things; why would I need a dedicated device for something so mundane as rice? Ridiculous. Because my rice cooker also has hot fresh steel cut oatmeal waiting for me when I wake up in the morning. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-normal-things-do-you-feel-no-need-for/547069.md?page=4)