A new McCann study surveyed a group of 7,000 young individuals ages 16 to 30 across several countries to gauge their interests in different categories (friends, celebrity culture, etc. etc.) to see what actually motivates them to, you know, do things.
One of the more interesting tidbits–if you couldn’t tell from the extra grabby headline–is that over half (53%) of the study’s 16 to 22 year olds would sooner lose their sense of smell than lose their laptop or cell phone.
Here’s the actual excerpt:
Given a list of things (including cosmetics, their car, their passport, their phone and their sense of smell) and told they could only save two, 53% of those aged 16-22 and 48% of those aged 23-30 would give up their own sense of smell if it meant they could keep an item of technology (most often their phone or laptop). We all know how important technology is to young people, but a willingness to sacrifice one of their human senses to keep it shows just how intrinsic it has become.
Um…
YOU GUYS!! YOU NEED YOUR SENSE OF SMELL IN ORDER TO TASTE THINGS!!! YOU’RE LOSING TWO OF YOUR SENSES IN ONE!! THAT’S A FREAKIN’ AWFUL DEAL!!!!
(Sits back down, removes old man hat.)
No, but seriously, this study testifies to technology’s weird necessity in our everyday lives here in 2011, and quite honestly, if I were presented with the same question, I’m not quite sure what I would answer.
I’d like to think I would’ve said something like, “Take my vision instead!” while twisting my mustache ends until sonar-thermal goggles go on sale on Amazon in 2014. I’d even use my iThoughts to “Buy it Now.”
But man, kids these days.
More on TIME.com:
Study: 60% of Viewers Can’t Watch TV Without Their Cell Phones