What are the items you refuse to own on principle?

[Dave2002]

Electric toothbrush
Battery-operated vacuum cleaner or hedge trimmer

Time to revisit some of the overlooked ones from up-thread.

I think electric toothbrushes are good, and personally I think they may be helping to stop my teeth falling out. I recommend them.

We have a small battery operated vacuum cleaner which we use for picking up crumbs. We had one before which was hopeless, but this one seems OK. Are you referring to larger vacuum cleaners by any chance? Many tools these days are battery powered and seem to work quite well, judging from the heavy duty kit which workmen sometimes bring round to do various jobs, and they seem much more convenient than devices connected directly to the mains. We still have some wired vacuum cleaners which we use if the mains lead permits.

Perhaps you use a brush, or have a man to clean for you?

Re hedges - we employ a gardener, or sometimes I trim the hedges with shears.

[Demetrius]

What makes it worse these days is the penchant for 'skinny' jeans.

It's not just that they are skinny. "In Europe, skinny jeans for boys and men have a loose waist to appear "baggy" at the top but skinny on the legs."

So if I find one that fits me at the waist, my leg wont fit into the damn thing below the knee. I dispensed with jeans entirely about two months ago. might as well add it to the list. :)

[Richard Barrett]

if I find one that fits me at the waist, my leg wont fit into the damn thing below the knee.

Thanks, I thought it was only me that had such seemingly odd-shaped legs.

I don't own any "property" in the sense of accommodation and never have done. After all my years spent living abroad it seems like a strange British affectation.

[teamsaint]

Cordless hedge trimmer is completely invaluable in our garden,( which has lots of hedges large shrubs, etc) it must reduce the work I have to do by at least 50%.Best invention since the last great one.
And electric toothbrushes are also fantastic, you just can't do the job nearly as well with a regular brush .

Unless you take about an hour, which is rather tedious, I imagine.

[teamsaint]

Thanks, I thought it was only me that had such seemingly odd-shaped legs.

I don't own any "property" in the sense of accommodation and never have done. After all my years spent living abroad it seems like a strange British affectation.

You seen British rental costs recently, RB ?

Yes, I expect you have.

I read an interesting article recently about German pensions, which seemed to say that most Germans rely mostly on a very generous state pension , and not that much in the way of private provision ( presumably based on significant payroll deductions). No doubt renting makes sense if rents are sensible, and excellent state pensions are " guaranteed".

[Richard Barrett]

You seen British rental costs recently, RB ?

Yes, I expect you have.

Indeed. I was even paying one in 2008-09 which I could only just afford on a university professor's salary, hence my living-back-in-the-UK experiment came to a rapid end. But that's a whole other story.

My dentist tells me there's no particular advantage to having an electric toothbrush as long as the brushing is done properly. I used to have one but I don't any more, and haven't noticed any difference. Not that I abandoned it "on principle", I'm just looking to cut down on weight when travelling these days, now that most airlines "offer the choice" of paying for hold luggage or not taking any.

[gradus]

Thanks, I thought it was only me that had such seemingly odd-shaped legs.

I don't own any "property" in the sense of accommodation and never have done. After all my years spent living abroad it seems like a strange British affectation.

Strange? I disagree. Not if you'd lived in an overcrowded rented slum and by dint of hard work had the opportunity to 'better yourself'. Why would you choose to rent from anyone again?

[Richard Barrett]

'better yourself'

I can't say that I'd regard membership of the property-owning classes "bettering oneself" - capitulating to the system that makes overcrowded slums possible would be a more realistic way to view it!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I don't own any "property" in the sense of accommodation and never have done. After all my years spent living abroad it seems like a strange British affectation.

Well, someone has to own the property, and if where you live isn't publicly owned, the chances are that someone is trying to exploit you. Also, the owning of second homes, except in exceptional circumstances, should be banned imo.

[Richard Barrett]

the chances are that someone is trying to exploit you

You don't say!

[ahinton]

Well, someone has to own the property, and if where you live isn't publicly owned, the chances are that someone is trying to exploit you.

Someone does indeed have to own it - and even if it's a local authority, that's no guarantee against the risk of being exploited! Owning one's own home doesn't entirely remove that risk either but it usually does at least reduce it substantially, although home ownership doesn't suit everyone's circumstances, even those who can afford to own their own homes.

[LeMartinPecheur]

My dentist tells me there's no particular advantage to having an electric toothbrush as long as the brushing is done properly.

Whether 'the brushing is done properly' without an electric brush may depend on one's particular physiognomy. I find my e-brush makes it far easier to clean the very back molars thoroughly, and also the backs of my lower incisors where a normal hand brush-head is too long to really get round the tight curve. My dentist tells me that my plaque levels and gum health are now vastly improved.

[oddoneout]

To what extent are the sartorial views voiced the result of preference rather than principle? Ties I understand, but pseudo-ripped jeans? Is that to do with not following fashion diktats?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Whether 'the brushing is done properly' without an electric brush may depend on one's particular physiognomy. I find my e-brush makes it far easier to clean the very back molars thoroughly, and also the backs of my lower incisors where a normal hand brush-head is too long to really get round the tight curve. My dentist tells me that my plaque levels and gum health are now vastly improved.

I'm lucky in that, when I asked my dentist if she recommended e-toothbrushes, she said it wasn't necessary in my case,

[oddoneout]

I'm lucky in that, when I asked my dentist if she recommended e-toothbrushes, she said it wasn't necessary in my case,

Gosh, virtual dental hygiene, what will they think of next....
Your dentist isn't getting commission from OralB then? The electric version can be useful for those with compromised manual dexterity such as arthritis sufferers, and children will often cooperate better with a gadget.