From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids
A convenience is a luxury that is intended to save a consumer time or frustration. A convenience store at a petrol station, for example, sells items that have nothing to do with gasoline/petrol, but it saves the consumer from having to go to a grocery store. "Convenience" is a very relative term and its meaning tends to change over time. What was once a convenience (eg. an automobile) is today regarded as a normal part of life. Likewise today's luxuries will be perceived in the same way in the future.
Common conveniences include:
- automatic door-openers at a store
- motorised windows in an automobile
- telephone banking and internet banking
- credit cards, debit cards, and gift cards
- home delivery
- public convenience
- frozen food
- virtual robot dogs
- digital pornography
- forks
- spoons
- sporks
- ...
Some have criticised Western culture, particularly American culture, for its reliance on such conveniences. The Dead Kennedys released an album called Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death, a pun on Patrick Henry's famous quote and speech "Give me liberty or give me death", referring to this. The Amish (such as the Pennsylvania Dutch) shun all modern conveniences, including electricity.
Supposed "conveniences" also sometimes turn out to be a nuisance, including personal computers (can be difficult to use, though this is improving gradually) and mobile phones (with annoying rings and conversations in what would or should be a quiet place). Conveniences also cost money to fix when they break down, and may cause much greater costs if something else that depends on them cannot take place. On the other hand, conveniences such as direct deposit can save everyone money, though this may or may not be passed along to the consumer.
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