A desert island is a small, isolated portion of land surrounded by a large body of water (typically an ocean), with wilderness conditions on the island.
Desert island in hypothetical questions[]
A popular hypothetical question is "what would you prefer to have with you if stranded on a desert island?" It's a popular question, perhaps because how a person would answer would indicate their priorities. The question is often asked with the implication that a person would not be leaving the island for a long time.
Items typically chosen to have on a desert island include:
- The Bible
- A knife
- A water desalination system
- Rope
- Alcoholic beverages
- Hunting/fishing supplies
- Bedding
- Tools (such as hammers, etc.)
Men often indicate that they would prefer to have someone of the opposite gender with them for companionship. Often there is variation in the answers, depending on factors such as the size of the island, typical weather, resources on the island (such as food), etc. It is typically assumed that the island would have palm trees and tropical fruits as a food source, often coconuts. Some would prefer to have entertainment options, with the assumption that adequate electricity would be somehow provided for electronics such as television sets, video game systems, DVD players, etc.
Survival scenarios[]
Many people entertain the idea of being stranded on a desert island, a scenario popular among survivalists. The idea is often entertained as a mental exercise for survival scenarios. The desert island scenario is interesting considering the extreme conditions that a desert island would present to one stranded on it. However, very few people have ever been stranded on a desert island, and if such a thing were to occur today, it's likely that the person stranded would be rescued in just a few hours.