First World problem
{{Short description|Term for issues in the First World}}
{{Other uses}}
__NOTOC__
First World problem is an informal term for the issues in First World nations that are complained about in response to the perceived absence of more pressing concerns.{{cite web|url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/eduardo-saverins-billionaire-blues/|title=Eduardo Saverin's Billionaire Blues|author=Hardy, Quentin|date=18 May 2012|work=The New York Times|access-date=25 January 2013}} It has been called a subset of the fallacy of relative privation and is also used to acknowledge gratefulness for not having worse problems, such as those in the Second or Third Worlds.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XZXSDQAAQBAJ&q=%22first+world%22+%22relative+privation%22&pg=PA31|title=All about Them: Grow Your Business by Focusing on Others|first=Bruce|last=Turkel|date=6 September 2016|publisher=Da Capo Press|isbn=9780738219202|via=Google Books}} It has been used to minimize complaints about trivial issues and shame the complainer, to generate humour at the expense of first world culture,{{cite news|author=Glover, Richard|date=24 November 2012|title=As the First World turns|work=Sydney Morning Herald|url=http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/as-the-first-world-turns-20121122-29qzq.html|access-date=25 January 2013}} and as good-humored self-deprecation.
History
The term First World problem first appeared in 1979 in G. K. Payne's work Built Environment,{{cite web|title=First World (Special uses)|url=http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/249401#eid329946467|website=Oxford English Dictionary Online|publisher=Oxford University Press|access-date=18 November 2014}} but gained recognition as an Internet meme beginning in 2005, particularly on social networking sites like Twitter (where it became a popular hashtag).{{cite web|url=http://www.voxxi.com/how-acknowledging-your-first-world-problems-can-make-you-happier/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217004233/http://www.voxxi.com/how-acknowledging-your-first-world-problems-can-make-you-happier/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 February 2013 |access-date=25 January 2013 |title=How acknowledging your "First World problems" can make you happier |author=López, Tracy |date=11 July 2012 |publisher=Voxxi }}{{cite magazine|url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2012/11/20/oxford-dictionaries-adds-deets-4g-and-first-world-problems/|access-date=25 January 2013|magazine=Time|date=20 November 2012|author=Steinmetz, Katy|title=Oxford Dictionaries adds 'deets', '4G' and 'First World problems'}} In 2012, UNICEF NZ conducted a survey of First World problems in New Zealand, finding "slow web access" to be the most common. The phrase was added to the Oxford Dictionary Online in November 2012,{{cite web|title=First World problem definition|url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/First-World-problem?q=first+world+problem|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129103805/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/First-World-problem?q=first+world+problem|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 29, 2014|access-date=18 November 2014|website=Oxford Dictionaries Online|publisher=Oxford University Press}} and to the online Macquarie Dictionary in December 2012.{{cite web|title=Word of the Year 2012|url=http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/resources/view/word/of/the/year/2012|website=Macquarie Dictionary Online|date=23 October 2023 |publisher=Macquarie Dictionary}}
Examples
Things that have been cited as being First World problems include:
- Slow Internet access{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10839171|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222231329/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10839171|url-status=live|archive-date=22 February 2013|work=New Zealand Herald|title=Kiwis complain about 'First World problems'|author=Harper, Paul|date=8 October 2012|access-date=25 January 2013}}
- Poor mobile-phone coverage
- Phone battery dying (low battery anxiety){{cite news|url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/battery-anxiety-making-smartphone-users-miss-meetings-dates-and-jeopardise-relationships/news-story/c75ef67d6b95721c1f6d9cf789990993|work=Geelong Advertiser|title="Battery anxiety" making smartphone users miss meetings, dates and jeopardize relationships|author=Sum, Eliza|date=28 July 2016|access-date=3 October 2016}}
- Television remote not working
- Misplacing AirPods (the most frequent complaint about AirPods). Apple Inc. attempted to alleviate this problem by introducing a "Find My AirPods" application in 2017.{{cite web|last=Stampher|first=Jillian|date=January 24, 2017|title=Solving First World Problems: Apple To Release 'Find My AirPods' Feature With Latest iOS Update|url=http://www.geekwire.com/2017/solving-first-world-problems-apple-release-find-airpods-feature-latest-ios-update/|publisher=GeekWire}}
- Not being able to find items in a shop
- Getting a bad haircut
- Bad-tasting fruit
- Self-checkout in stores{{Cite web |last=Weeks |first=Linton |date=6 December 2010 |title=Impatient Nation: I Can't Wait For You To Read This |url=https://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131565694/impatient-nation-i-can-t-wait-for-you-to-read-this |access-date=18 November 2024 |publisher=NPR}}
- Forgetting headphones{{cite web | url=https://www.videtteonline.com/blogs/first-world-problems-isu-edition/article_8ca8c0d4-f7af-11e6-a669-57fad103b2e6.html | title=First world problems: ISU Edition | date=20 February 2017 }}
- Feeling like there's nothing to eat even though there is plenty of food available.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Kristy |date=March 7, 2021 |title=Different Drum Humor First world fridge problems loom large in life |url=https://www.hillsdale.net/story/news/2021/03/07/opinion/4622669001/ |website=Hillsdale Daily News}}
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{wiktionary}}
- {{wiktionary inline|first world problem}}
- [http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/23/tech/ad-campaign-twist First World Problems Anthem]
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