"First world problems"

[Sacman]

I unno... but the subject makes one hell of a nerdcore rap song...<.<

 

[Myndnix]

What's with all the mayo hate in this thread? I'll have you know it's my favourite thing to have with chips.
Tell you what though, I feel sort of out of the loop here because outside of the occasional image macro, I've never encountered this 'first world problems' thing. Though if someone did say that to me I'd thank them for stating the bleeding obvious. I live in the first world? I'm so glad you noticed. Unfortunately, I still have a problem, and you don't seem to be helping me with it.

 

[SonicWaffle]

I notice whenever anyone complains about something they might be reminded how truly good they have it.

"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.

Do you think this actually works? Do you feel better about something when you think about all the people who have it worse off or does it make you actually feel worse?

I loathe people who use it most of the time, and would quite happily throw shoes at them. This is because, as others have pointed out, most people are using it wrong.

"I hate my job" is not "first world problems", neither is "my sandwich wasn't supposed to have mayo". People will treat people who complain about this as if they're being whiny little bitches compared to, say, starving people or the jobless, but those people are dumb.

Complaining about totally trivial things as if they were comparable to the problems of someone living in the third world, ie "my sandwich has mayo when I asked for no mayo, this is a travesty comparable to the holocaust and I might as well just kill myself".

 

[axlryder]

I've never liked people who ***** about petty, minor things. What's more, I'd go so far as to say people don't like people who ***** (especially regarding petty, minor things). A sense of perspective is not only practical, but it makes you tolerable. Obviously you're going to be inconvenienced if you lose your phone, or if your parents turned down your thermostat to a frosty 68 degrees. People who ***** about that sort of thing though. Urgh. It's true that people starving in third world countries don't make your problems any worse or better. That said, the phrase isn't meant to make your little problems any better. Its usage in that context is meant to make you realize how trivial your issue is so you shut up. I mean sure, you have every right to be miserable over not having an Iphone 5 instead of an Iphone 4, but I'm sure as fuck not going to let you ruin my day by constantly bemoaning that fact. That said, I don't use the phrase "First world problems". I usually just tell people to stop being babies and shut up.

A large chunk of it is the degree of bitching though, as I've mentioned before and I'm sure others have in this very thread. If you say "it's pretty cold in my house". Okay, fine, sorry you're cold. If you say "oh my god, it's like the fucking arctic in here, I'm gonna get frost bite I hope I don't die!!!". Yeah, unless it is literally below freezing in that house, you can fuck right off. I hope a real Eskimo teleports to your fucking house and then puts his bare hand on your tepid back so you can be reminded what real cold feels like.

 

[Fluffythepoo]

Any problem taken in the context of not being in the 3rd world stops being a problem

 

[Relish in Chaos]

It could be worse, but it could be better.

 

[Genocidicles]

If you go by that logic then only one person in the entire world is allowed to complain.

"I'm starving and have to drink dirty water."

"So what?! there are quadriplegic, blind, death and dumb people who were born with inside out skin who have to subsist on a diet of raw sewage! Quit complaining, it could be worse!"

 

[Ieyke]

I have a carefully balanced "give a fuck" meter.
If someone fucks up my sandwich and it's an easy fix, I'll ask and get them to fix it. If getting them to fix it means standing in a long line or holding up a ton of other people, I won't bother. It's just a damn sandwich.

Sure, people have the right to be annoyed about "first world problems", but you have to know when to let slide that which does not ultimately matter, and just move on dealing with more important things.

 

[gigastar]

"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.

Id say those retorts would have the highest impact coming from a malnourished African teenager.

 

[sky14kemea]

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

"Oh gee thanks, now I can add guilt to my list of 'shit things that have happened today'!".

 

[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? Just curious as to where you were going with that.

OT: While it is nice to have perspective sometimes it is the equivalent of bringing up Nazis or Hitler in an internet debate.

 

[aba1]

"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.

Exactly there is a difference between noticing a inconvience and going "ohh poop" and freaking out about it.

 

[Harley Q]

Ha my cousin once told me he life was OVER, because she dropped her hair straighteners were broken and she couldn't curl her hair for school.

 

[IamLEAM1983]

I kinda doubt that First World Problems were ever made to sermon someone for. If you mention that something you've just said qualifies as a First World Problem; to me, that counts as sarcasm or an attempt at humour.

If I say "Oh, fuck, I lost an hour's worth of progress in Skyrim because of a power outage! My day is RUINED!" I don't actually mean it. Telling me "Yeah, well, there's children starving in Africa" doesn't change the fact that at my age, I'm well aware of what is and isn't a serious problem.

Being in debt is a problem. Being forced to shop for groceries at the dollar store is a problem. Depending on a food bank is a problem. Being sick and unable to seek health care is a problem. All these things pale in comparison to kids starving in Africa, but they're still serious.

 

[Blood Brain Barrier]

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"

 

[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.