The illusion of choice.

[u/Impressive-Corner219]

My supermarket had a twofer on shower gel, so I got 4 bottles, then the next time I was in I got another 4, then I was in another supermarket & they had other scents, so I bought 2 more. This is where it gets crazy: I then went out of my way to go to other shops searching for new scents! I'm hoping that by posting this here I can finally break my shower gel habit.

[u/Roq86]

Does the UK not have water softeners? Water hardness is different all over the US but it’s common to use a water softener if you have hard water in your area.

[u/Impressive-Corner219 → u/Roq86]

I think they're seen as a luxury item in most english homes. At least the one's that I know.

[u/Roq86 → u/Impressive-Corner219]

That’s wild, I wouldn’t be able to live with hard water without one.

[u/Impressive-Corner219 → u/Roq86]

I mean, the folk I know rent, & their landlords haven't installed them. It's been a while since I had an upper class, la-di-dah, shower in old London town.

[u/Roq86 → u/Impressive-Corner219]

I grew up in a poorer family, times where my Mom had to get food from the food pantry, our home had a water softener. I currently rent and work as an Amazon delivery driver, my place also has a water softener. I’ve just never heard it considered a luxury item here. Is it the same thing with air conditioning over there?

[u/Impressive-Corner219 → u/Roq86]

A lot of houses have thick outer walls that trap heat/help cool so air conditioning isn't really a thing here. Also historically our climate has been mild. But that's been changing, we're having heatwaves more & more these days, so air conditioning is now becoming more of a thing.

[u/Lvb2 → u/Impressive-Corner219]

I genuinely just want a response to this, I may invoke emotions that I did not intend to, so I’m just going to apologize now, I’m sorry.

Do people in the UK believe the US is built with cardboard? In a lot of our northern states we also have well insulated houses with thick outer walls to trap heat in. A lot of places in the Midwest get extremely cold. Most of these houses are also typically not outfitted with robust central air conditioning units either as the seasons are a lot like how you’ve described yours.

In the southern US, we actually do have thinner walls that don’t retain heat, but that’s because most of the southern states have months longs periods of summer where it never drops below 90F with 80% humidity, my state (Louisiana) being one of those. That’s 32.2C, 80% humidity.

That was a lot of rambling all to say, is it a general belief that we don’t have infrastructure like that in the states? I do hope your country can figure out infrastructure for AC soon, not even in a snide way, that seems to be a genuine issue is power grid demands would be unsustainable if all of you decided to install central AC into your homes.

[u/Roq86 → u/Impressive-Corner219]

I’ve just heard the stat that more people in the UK die from heat each year than people die from gun deaths in the US. And I’ve seen a lot of Brit’s say 26°C is hot, and it’s regularly 35°C here in the summer, and I’m in the Midwest, some areas here get hotter and for much longer. I always just assumed it was the average age of homes in the UK vs the US.

[u/Impressive-Corner219 → u/Roq86]

LOL! Aye whatever!

[u/Admirable_Hat504 → u/Roq86]

Brits say 26C is hot bc of the humidity!! Seriously, I used to laugh when they would say that as someone who grew up in California but then I moved there and completely understood how miserable 26C in 60% humidity can be 😭 far more difficult to withstand that temp when you are dripping sweat constantly and feel smothered by the air. I can handle 40C in California any day, but it’s dry and easier to manage.

[u/BidMediocre6892 → u/Roq86]

I want very much to have a water softener. But, I do not have that kind of adult "fun money" it is most definitely a luxury item.