"First world problems"

[5ilver]

I think it's all about perception. If you perceive something as a big deal- it becomes a big deal and vice-versa. As such, I would say that "first worlders" have it just as bad as everybody else.

For the record, this is coming from a freezing, starving, poor Eastern European where the average salary is about 200euros per month.

 

[RejjeN]

Me and my friend tend to make "Ding! First world problem." jokes whenever one of us complain about anything "generally irrelevant"

 

[soren7550]

Just because it's a problem that's in a first world country doesn't mean that it isn't bad. For example, due to the fact that I can't get a job, I face homelessness and the loss of my boyfriend come the end of the month. Just because it's a problem that's occurring in the first world doesn't mean that it isn't bad.

 

[klown]

"I hate my job" - At least you have a job and aren't homeless and starving in the streets.
"My sandwich was not supposed to have mayo" - At least you have a sandwich.

The proper retort is "Aren't you supposed to be helping out starving African children? Why do you deal with me?"

But there are also the people who actually go "My sandwich was not supposed to have mayo, so my day is ruined now!" which really does deserve a slap in the face.

Well, actually, I say that every time I bite into a sandwich that I ordered with no mayo specifically, because I trusted the person who made it, and didn't look first. It does in fact ruin my day because I then have to go home and spend the rest of the day with a swollen throat =C.

On topic: I have no problem with people complaining about something, as long as the reason for complaining is valid. IF you are complaining about your job because they make you do work, you can shut up. If you are complaining about your job because your boss is making you stay late for the 4th time this week on the night you had planned to work on a school project, go ahead and complain.

 

[capper42]

Complaining about so called "first world problems" would be inconsiderate if I was complaining to someone in poverty.

Otherwise what, I order a sandwich without mayo, and it comes lathered in the stuff, am I supposed to just ACCEPT this!?

It's in our nature to complain if something isn't perfect. It makes us and those around of what is wrong so it can be corrected, and is a social tool to allow progress.

...either that or we just love to ***** about stuff.

 

[verdant monkai]

At the end of the day they are not as bad as the stuff poorer people deal with but they can still be pretty bad, like when my cat died, or someone gets run over, or when someone's spouse cheats on them.
Try telling those people their problems mean nothing because they live in a rich country. Also just try and fucking dare telling me my Cat's death was a minutiae, I loved that cat with every fibre of my being.

Yes ok sometimes there are annoying people who complain about not having the latest ishit. And they are annoying but if our situations were reversed the third world people would be just as shallow and petty as we can be. It is just in human nature to do this sort of thing.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Well there's the fact male sperm count decreased by 32% in France over the last two decades

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20593467

Yeah, the research was in France but I don't see any reason to think the same we wouldn't get the same result in any other 1st world country.

Of course, the researchers and medical professionals will see this as a 'health problem' but I see it as a blessing. We're overpopulated. As much as economists, governments and corporations like to think, infinite growth is not possible, at least without destroying ourselves in the process or compromising our life to the point it's not worth living.

Unfortunately this won't affect population levels due to artificial insemination unless fertility gets REALLY low. But I personally wouldn't want an adopted child especially if that kid was from the 1% of males in my country that could have kids. If that happens genetics will become hugely important - when half the people in your city will be from your own family tree that cuts down your choice of reproductive mate quite a bit.

I could even picture the emergence of the occupation of sperm donor as a well-paid full-time job and a new class of superstars alongside today's sportspersons and CEOs.

Wait what? That's quite interesting and all but what does that have to do with the First World problems meme?

Not much, in hindsight. But it's curious to see you bring up the Nazis and Hitler when you seem to be advocating a strict obedience to the rule "you must not deviate from the OP", not entirely different from fascist policy. I'd prefer a forum where I have some freedom to veer away from the original post, wouldn't you?

OT: "Quiet you! Most people in Africa don't even have a computer! Forum Nazis are the least of their problems"

All I was asking was what was your view in the relation of sperm count in France to the First World Problem meme. Then my on topic(OT) part was just saying to the OP not to think too hard about a meme by referencing Godwin's Law about Nazis which you then managed to be unaware of and then prove by comparing my post to a fascist policy.

 

[axlryder]

At the end of the day they are not as bad as the stuff poorer people deal with but they can still be pretty bad, like when my cat died, or someone gets run over, or when someone's spouse cheats on them.
Try telling those people their problems mean nothing because they live in a rich country. Also just try and fucking dare telling me my Cat's death was a minutiae, I loved that cat with every fibre of my being.

No, you're really missing the point of the phrase. It's not meant to say "your problems aren't a big deal because they can occur in the first world". It's meant to say "the problem you're currently complaining about would likely not even be acknowledged or perceivable as a problem in an under-privileged nation". In 3rd world countries, I'm sure people would also complain about getting run over, or infidelity, or having their beloved pet die.

As to the second part of your response: I don't care if some of them might be just as petty and whiny as some of us if put in a similar financial situation, it wouldn't stop me from finding them incredibly annoying. I don't like to chalk up shitty personality traits to "human nature". That's just me though.

 

[Loonyyy]

When I'm too lazy to get off the couch to change the channel, some perspective is good.

When work sucks, or the education I'm putting myself in debt for sucks, or when I get sick, perspective is stupid. What I have here is bad, and fixing it would be good. And the idea of complacency espoused in the "Be grateful for what you have" through some of it is entirely counterproductive. If I'm unhappy about work, being pissed off about it is my first step to talking to the boss or changing job. If I'm unhappy with my education, that's the first step to organising a student body complaint to the school. If I'm sick, yes things could be worse. But it's still bad. It can always be worse.

So FWP is funny, but the demarcation between what's a serious problem and what's pointless whining about irrelevant bullshit is ignored by some.

And if I've got the flu and a migraine, if you remind me that I could be a quadraplegic eating mosquitos, I'm going to flatten you when I get better. And then tell you it could be worse.

 

[verdant monkai]

No, you're really missing the point of the phrase. It's not meant to say "your problems aren't a big deal because they can occur in the first world". It's meant to say "the problem you're currently complaining about would likely not even be acknowledged or perceivable as a problem in an under-privileged nation". In 3rd world countries, I'm sure people would also complain about getting run over, or infidelity, or having their beloved pet die.

As to the second part of your response: I don't care if some of them might be just as petty and whiny as some of us if put in a similar financial situation, it wouldn't stop me from finding them incredibly annoying. I don't like to chalk up shitty personality traits to "human nature". That's just me though.

I think I get the point, it means our problems are nothing compared to what people like, Vietnamese prostitutes and HIV afflicted Africans go through every day. Because the next day for us will be ok but for them it will be awful again. Am I right?

The point had already been discussed I just tried to provide some further thoughts on the matter. Moaning about stuff isn't really a personality trait though it is just what happens when shit goes wrong, it is generally in perspective though. A lot of protesting for something like compulsory military enlistment, a bit of moaning for dropping your ice cream. Only when the complaining is OTT is it annoying.

If I steal your brand new bike and you complain about it that is not you having a shitty personality trait, that is just the human reaction to it. Yes you can still go inside and eat warm food and sleep in a bed, but your new bike is gone for good, and it is human nature to complain about something like that.

 

[Spade Lead]

It's true that there's a lot of people way worse off than me, but when I'm in a grumpy mood, I'm gonna complain whether they like it or not!

So no, when someone says that to me, it doesn't make me feel better. It makes me feel like punching them. xD

Someone said this to me here when we were talking about sex, and I mentioned that I couldn't enjoy my favorite position due to my girlfriend having comfort issues. All I wanted to do was take away their favorite thing in the world and then say, "but hey, not having it is a first world problem, you can cope, right?"

If all you want is something that it is reasonable for you to have because you are used to it and have earned it, it is not a first world problem. If I have a car, and I have paid for said car, it is not reasonable to expect me to be fine with someone taking that car away just because there are African kids who walk ten miles to school.

 

[axlryder]

I think I get the point, it means our problems are nothing compared to what people like, Vietnamese prostitutes and HIV afflicted Africans go through every day. Because the next day for us will be ok but for them it will be awful again. Am I right?

No, it's not saying "our problems are nothing compared to x person". Again, our problems constitute dead cats. dead cats would be acknowledged as problems there. Thus it's not a FWP. Thus many of our problems here in the first world aren't FWP. The first part of your initial comment isn't even applicable here. Hell, getting your bike stolen isn't even a FWP. You just got your shit stolen. I don't care what part of the world you live in, that sucks. The genesis of the phrase was specifically referring to overreactions to petty problems that just couldn't be related to in the third world. I feel we're not on the same page here.

The point had already been discussed I just tried to provide some further thoughts on the matter. Moaning about stuff isn't really a personality trait though it is just what happens when shit goes wrong, it is generally in perspective though. A lot of protesting for something like compulsory military enlistment, a bit of moaning for dropping your ice cream. Only when the complaining is OTT is it annoying.

If I steal your brand new bike and you complain about it that is not you having a shitty personality trait, that is just the human reaction to it. Yes you can still go inside and eat warm food and sleep in a bed, but your new bike is gone for good, and it is human nature to complain about something like that.

Excessive whining about stupid shit is a personality trait. It's no less a trait than being naturally reticent is a trait. I'm not saying that just complaining in general really constitutes a personality trait though. Obviously if something bad happens to you it's reflexive to go through a mourning period. It's the extent of the problem and the extent to which you verbalize said problem and its effects that really start to define a part of one's personality (based on my own perceptions of personality anyway). Not that I'm saying complaining in general is necessarily a bad thing, nor did I say "people should never complain about things that aren't AIDS". I was specifically talking about people who whine excessively about inconsequential things.

 

[DonTsetsi]

A good example for a First World Problem is vilifying piracy, especially when we consider that file sharing is completely legal in a lot of countries and a lot of people don't have the money to buy music/films on a regular basis.