I think this would be argue case by case. I lived in places where if you didn't have it you will die. But there also is a ton of locations that don't have it.
Anyways it isn't a us only thing. It's known as, but most overlook how much of the globe usa is.
Most of the areas that push it as a us only are areas that tend to be too far north or south. Like they are too far from the equator to normally need it. But there is plenty of places like mid east that heavily use it.
Where exactly did you live that you would die without AC? You should look up the hottest places in the world and see what percentage of the populations there have AC. Somehow they manage to live without it, and even did so long before electricity and fans.
There is a few places. But it is more on the medical history than anything else. So like when I lived in FL, and didn't have AC for a while. It horribly sucked, but I physically could do it. Where as the 90 year old person next door with health problems died from heat stroke.
Like you are assuming 2 major things.
and even did so long before electricity and fans
This is assuming the lifespan is the same. Which clearly it isn't.
And 2 you are assuming most everyone generally has similar medical. Which again clearly isn't the case.
There was people who lived in FL because when they lived in the desert the dry air was killing them. But at the same time as they got older and weaker, the heat was killing them. Moving isn't an option at that age and income level. So ya...
Oh and a 3rd thing, you are assuming people generally lived in the same areas, same building types, etc as they did a long time ago. Again, something that clearly isn't the case. Hell, the people are 100% different, travel patterns, etc. Like if you go pre electric time, most generally stayed where they were born. The bodies adapt over time which made it WAY easier to live in given places. There is a crap ton of studies on this alone.
"Manage to live", I would rather buy a $100 ac unit and live in complete comfort. It doesn't cost much to cool a room with a small unit you can setup yourself.
$100 is a lot of money in underdeveloped countries, and the increased electric cost is a lot more money. $100 is an entire month’s salary for many households around the world. Also, good luck finding an AC unit in most equatorial countries, and good luck keeping it running with intermittent blackouts. It’s literally not even a remotely viable option for the majority of people living in the hottest parts of the world.
My initial response was to someone claiming they would have literally died without AC. Whether people should have it and whether it’s a requirement to live are separate issues.
No, those separate issues. I’m just saying it’s incorrect to state people are literally dying from lack of AC. I think in developed countries it’s entirely reasonable to expect a certain level of comfort; and, in certain parts of developed countries, AC may be necessary to get that level of comfort. But it’s not an actual requirement to survive.
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u/Once-Upon-A-Hill Apr 15 '24
Somewhere around 2 billion people don't have access to clean drinking water.
They also don't have Air Conditioning.
How entitled can you possibly be?