Yeah, not so much. 'First world problems' is more used to push back at/diffuse folks in the OMG SOCIAL JUSTICE world who actually say things like "How DARE you complain that your Wii is broken when there are people starving in Africa/dying in Afghanistan/etc." It's a way of admitting that yes, there are way worse things in the world, but you're still bitching about this particular one, which may be insignificant in the grand scheme but is ruining your life in the now.
Seriously? Maybe I'm just whinier (okay, I know I'm whinier...) but I've gotten the "Seriously, you're worried about THAT, when there is [bad thing] happening in [place]" response over and over and over.
I used the wii example specifically because it actually happened -- Rhys fed pennies to the wii and broke the laser three weeks before Christmas and I was whining because we couldn't afford to fix the wii, but had gotten E and Nathan wii-dependent presents, so we kind of had to. First it was "Well... you know, some kids don't have any Christmas presents so you should count your blessings" Then it was literal starving kids in Africa. I kid you not.
So now when I write stuff like that, I do preface it with "first world problem"; not because people in the third world don't have wii consoles, but because I don't want to be lectured by a bunch of over privileged assholes about it.
Ugh, that person just needs to STFU. Like you're not aware that there aren't kids out there without Christmas presents, of course you still want to give your own kids the best Christmas possible. That isn't privilege (unless you're totally OTT and excessive, maybe), that's just being a good and loving mom.
Although I must ask - are you against the phrase entirely or just the way it's applied? Because things like "oh noes, my walk-in closet isn't big enough for all my gala dresses" I would classify as a first world problem. A 'my diamond shoes are too tight' kind of thing. Thoughts?
I remember when I first came back to America from Bulgaria, watching this show called Ace of Cakes. I don't know if you've ever seen it, but that was the first time I'd ever seen it. It's a reality show about this upscale bakery where they make like, a football-shaped cake for the Super Bowl or some shit. I remember watching it in complete horror, that people would spend thousands of dollars on ONE CAKE, and thinking that America is so fucked up.
ughhhh now I'm rambling and will I ever get to a point? I don't know.
Um. Yeah, maybe that would qualify. Maybe I'll come back in a bit with a really brilliant insight, but don't bet on it.
Not arguing that the phrase is awesome and should be used, and the exampled you used bother me as well (as a first worlder) but I DO see where it's coming from in certain cases. Like, someone angsting for a long time whether they should choose iphone or android system, or whether to buy a mansion on a hill or in a valley. It could help putting it into perspective, ie, that maybe they're making it into a bigger problem than it needs to be. But I guess these should thrn be characterized as rich people's problems, not first world...
Yeah, maybe rich person? IDK I have family in Mexico, which is usually classified as a middle income nation, and they are WAYYYY richer than my own family. (My mom's sister married a wealthy Mexican guy.) My Mexican cousins have massive trust funds and can do all kinds of stuff I could only dream of.
I bake cakes and aspire to make things like that. :D I mostly watch some other shows that never gave prices though, so the first I saw of AoC's $5000 pricetags I was astounded. (And contemplating dropping out of grad school to bake. Clearly that's where the money is.)
i think i've only used it online once. but when i use it it's to express how ridiculous a dilemma is when both options are awesome. like should i go on vacation to x or y destination? to me it's mentally tongue-in-cheek as no self-respecting sociologist uses that term anymore anyway.
i do know that some people do use it as some kind of self-awareness statement. like, i know there are other problems in the world, but i am worried about x today in my own life. like your mom saying 'finish your dinner, there are starving children in the world!'
but everyone in the world all faces similar problems. what am i going to eat today can range from "nothing" to "should i have insert expensive food here" in just about every country.
Comments 23
Reply
Reply
I used the wii example specifically because it actually happened -- Rhys fed pennies to the wii and broke the laser three weeks before Christmas and I was whining because we couldn't afford to fix the wii, but had gotten E and Nathan wii-dependent presents, so we kind of had to. First it was "Well... you know, some kids don't have any Christmas presents so you should count your blessings" Then it was literal starving kids in Africa. I kid you not.
So now when I write stuff like that, I do preface it with "first world problem"; not because people in the third world don't have wii consoles, but because I don't want to be lectured by a bunch of over privileged assholes about it.
Reply
Ugh, that person just needs to STFU. Like you're not aware that there aren't kids out there without Christmas presents, of course you still want to give your own kids the best Christmas possible. That isn't privilege (unless you're totally OTT and excessive, maybe), that's just being a good and loving mom.
Have you ever read Nick Hornby's How To Be Good?
Reply
Although I must ask - are you against the phrase entirely or just the way it's applied? Because things like "oh noes, my walk-in closet isn't big enough for all my gala dresses" I would classify as a first world problem. A 'my diamond shoes are too tight' kind of thing. Thoughts?
Reply
I remember when I first came back to America from Bulgaria, watching this show called Ace of Cakes. I don't know if you've ever seen it, but that was the first time I'd ever seen it. It's a reality show about this upscale bakery where they make like, a football-shaped cake for the Super Bowl or some shit. I remember watching it in complete horror, that people would spend thousands of dollars on ONE CAKE, and thinking that America is so fucked up.
ughhhh now I'm rambling and will I ever get to a point? I don't know.
Um. Yeah, maybe that would qualify. Maybe I'll come back in a bit with a really brilliant insight, but don't bet on it.
Reply
Reply
Reply
I don't like the phrase either, to be honest, not least because it also implies equality across all people in first world situations. Which, no.
Reply
Also: point.
Reply
Yeah, I see it usually as an attempt to recognize privilege. Idk, I guess I feel like the sentiment is a good one, but I can see how it's problematic.
Reply
Also I love Ace of Cakes. :P
Reply
Reply
I bake cakes and aspire to make things like that. :D I mostly watch some other shows that never gave prices though, so the first I saw of AoC's $5000 pricetags I was astounded. (And contemplating dropping out of grad school to bake. Clearly that's where the money is.)
Reply
i do know that some people do use it as some kind of self-awareness statement. like, i know there are other problems in the world, but i am worried about x today in my own life. like your mom saying 'finish your dinner, there are starving children in the world!'
but everyone in the world all faces similar problems. what am i going to eat today can range from "nothing" to "should i have insert expensive food here" in just about every country.
Reply
Leave a comment