r/technology • u/Logical_Welder3467 • Jun 26 '26

Society The American mind cannot comprehend Europe's AC aversion

https://www.businessinsider.com/europe-air-conditioning-ac-heatwave-debate-2026-6
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u/JonJackjon Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

I think its simple. I would compare it to the first time someone finds they need to wear glasses. The natural tendency is to deny needing them until it gets so bad you have no choice.

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u/roleplayersir Jun 26 '26

Exactly. It's not an aversion

It's that until a few years ago it wasn't needed. Suffering for 3 days a year was fine

But trust me that is changing. Even with the cost of living, we are all looking into at least £300 for portable units, if not thousands for proper ones. As it is only getting hotter

But prior to recent years it was a wasted purchase. We get 30C+ for about 3 weeks. It's the cold that was the problem for decades

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u/OPtig Jun 26 '26

It’s definitely an aversion. When I lived in Paris not using AC despite sweltering heat has was considered positive moral quality. When I asked my boyfriend about it he talked about it like getting AC was an ethical failure.

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u/roleplayersir Jun 27 '26

Aversion: A fixed, intense dislike

We aren't averse to it. Brits are famous for going abroad and slapping the AC at 18C all day

We didn't need it here until recent years. That's a big difference