Are "first world problems" still problems? Do they matter?

I reserve “first world problems” for things that are truly trivial – that is, the fact that this is what you consider a “problem” shows your privilege.

“I missed hot yoga class because the guys building my new marble countertop were ten minutes late”. That’s a first world problem.

Not being able to find gluten free, dairy free, nonfat, organic carob cake on a grocery store shelf is a first world problem.

A pediatrician firing you as a patient because you are afraid to vaccinate your kids against preventable illness is a first world problem.

I struggle with this often, because I find myself being miserable over things that don’t truly matter at times, and then I berate myself for it. This is especially weird for me because I used to have very “real” problems in my life, back when my health was really bad. Back then I wouldn’t have cared at all about some of the small things that happen now, so it makes me feel like I’m getting weaker.

The thing is that our feelings are all relative. We always think “oh if I just had ____ I’d be so happy” and then later on we have that thing, and yet we still have reasons to be upset, and we are still upset at times.

The fact that I’m not a starving child in a third world country does not remove my right to ever be upset about things, and it’s not healthy to berate yourself over your own feelings. You feel the way you feel about things, and that’s OK. Doesn’t mean that your first-world problems are objectively really dire problems, but they are problems for that person, and that’s OK.

“The fact that I’m not a starving child in a third world country does not remove my right to ever be upset about things, and it’s not healthy to berate yourself over your own feelings. You feel the way you feel about things, and that’s OK. Doesn’t mean that your first-world problems are objectively really dire problems, but they are problems for that person, and that’s OK.”

Thank you for that, @Mariah. I think it is very true. Context is everything. Complaining as a method to brag about privilege is despicable, but honest distress about something is not. The trick is to have the wisdom to know when to comment, and when to appreciate that it doesn’t really matter. I do get a little sick of the self-righteous judgement so many express about how others perceive their own lives.

The term in general is way too varied. There is such a wide stratification in society that our problems matter to us because we are in our own bubbles.

Misery is misery.

“First world problems” are indeed problems, a headache to deal with for whomever they apply to.

“No charging station at the mall for my Tesla” – truly a first world problem for someone who paid 100 grand for a car. But it really is a concern if that car needs a charge!

That being said: as with many things, it is downright rude to call someone else’s difficulty a first world problem, but it is a reminder to ourselves to be grateful for our circumstance.

@zenvelo Nailed it again!

It almost seems as if some people use the “first world problems” as a way to ignore every grievance, every complaint. It is a way for people to justify not question the status que, a misconduct of treatment or unsatisfactory customer service. People who use this phrase relentlessly expect us all to sit back and take it. These problems are not as serious as homelessness or starvation, but they are still not invalid.

@NerdyKeith I think you are absolutely correct in stating that the term “first world problem” is often used to discount a valid issue. For example, if my home internet connection goes down, so that I am unable to use my home security camera to check on the welfare of my elderly 17-year-old dog, it’s truly a valid concern, but it is also a situation one would only expect to see in a first-world society.

They sound like personal or individual problems. And “problems” is surely too severe. Irritations is probably more appropriate, although theft of an expensive or cherished horse would be a severe irritation indeed Everyone knows that milk is deliberately placed as far from the entrance of a store as possible to force the consumer through the store and promote impulse buying. Little scams like that irritate the hell put of me, and they are endless in number.

Well if it’s a problem for someone then it’s a problem. I think the term ‘first world problem’ is just a suggestion to step back and reevaluate your problem. Put it in perspective. It works for me.

I go with poet John Donne…

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

These famous words were not originally written as a poem – the passage is taken from the 1624 Meditation 17, from Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions and is prose.

A first world problem would be when the pool sweep gets stuck, causing a build up of algae, and the kids can’t use the pool for several days until it clears up.

I struck a blow for my first world bill problem. We’re on the road and i need to pay bills today…i did so using the voice automation and not the keypad so hubs could hear every word and AMOUNT!!! He gets mad sometimes wondering where all the money goes. He doesnt even glance at the bills and avoids even knowing about them if he can. I’m a genius if i say so myself.

Problems are problems. Some have higher priority depending on many variables.

@Dutchess_III: You husband and my wife are the same in that regard.

Frustrating sometimes! But it gives me a lot of power. Lucky for him I’m trustworthy and frugal.

It depends. If your horse dies in the wilderness, you take off the saddle and carry it to town. If your car dies in the wilderness, you don’t have enough muscle to carry your suitcases. Oh, and you are legally liable for the car!

I think killing someone over a parking space dispute at the mall would qualify.

@YARNLADY Yeah I agree with you there. Getting all uptight over trivial issues is such a first world problem. Like going ape crazy because a certain item is out of stock in a store.