The phrase "first world problems" rankles me every time. The arrogant presumption that people in the developing world somehow experience completely different problems. The irony: people say it to remind us that we have it so much better than the third world, when in reality the only people who would be deluded enough to say it have probably never been to these countries....
@stereoplex I'm not sure I understand your point. someone complaining that their google fiber is down and therefore they can't order grubhub has demonstrably different problems than someone who has to walk 5 miles to get semi-clean drinking water. One is a matter of convenience whereas the other is a matter of survival. Moreover, the person in this image is using the phrase 'first world' literally. they're on a new planet so earth was their first world.
@NickSeam Ok, I'll admit that I'm stupid and missed the joke in the image.
But you illustrated my point perfectly. People think of the "third world" as this dry, dusty hell-hole where survival is a day to day challenge. Yes, you could say this about tens of millions, even hundreds of millions, and it's horrible. But to draw some kind of class distinction that puts us on heaven and billions in hell is offensive to me.
No, they don't have Google fiber, or grubhub, but neither do the majority of Americans. A slight majority of the planet live in urban environments now. They have internet connectivity issues. Two billion people have smartphones now. Almost the entire population of Earth have cell phones. People in lesser developed countries have feet that hurt when they buy new shoes. They get annoyed when the train is late. They sometimes don't have the extra quarter they need to do laundry. They watch youtube. They use ATMs. They get tired of eating the same food.
I know people think this is about privilege, and I get it. We need to be reminded that life could be a whole lot worse. But that reminder doesn't need to come from the disparagement and condescension that comes with the perception that the rest of the planet are somehow incapable of having the same experiences as Americans, Europeans, and other wealthy nations.
I don't mean to sound this aggressive, especially because I very much doubt you would think that way, NickSeam. I just feel angry for all the wonderful people I met on my travels to think that a bunch of people could think this way without ever even considering what it would be like to visit these places.
@stereoplex I think the crux of the issue is that the terms First, Second and Third world are a relic of the cold war and should have probably stayed there. The global socioeconomic landscape has changed a lot since then and those terms are rather dated.
@NickSeam Do you think the issue would be any different if people said "developed country problems?" I fear that "first world problems" is just a less obvious version of Louis CK's "white people problems." Which at least would make it easier for me to explain why I hate it so much.
@stereoplex possibly, I don't know. I generally assume that if there is an opportunity to be horrible, people will be lined up waiting for their chance.
But you illustrated my point perfectly. People think of the "third world" as this dry, dusty hell-hole where survival is a day to day challenge. Yes, you could say this about tens of millions, even hundreds of millions, and it's horrible. But to draw some kind of class distinction that puts us on heaven and billions in hell is offensive to me.
No, they don't have Google fiber, or grubhub, but neither do the majority of Americans. A slight majority of the planet live in urban environments now. They have internet connectivity issues. Two billion people have smartphones now. Almost the entire population of Earth have cell phones. People in lesser developed countries have feet that hurt when they buy new shoes. They get annoyed when the train is late. They sometimes don't have the extra quarter they need to do laundry. They watch youtube. They use ATMs. They get tired of eating the same food.
I know people think this is about privilege, and I get it. We need to be reminded that life could be a whole lot worse. But that reminder doesn't need to come from the disparagement and condescension that comes with the perception that the rest of the planet are somehow incapable of having the same experiences as Americans, Europeans, and other wealthy nations.
I don't mean to sound this aggressive, especially because I very much doubt you would think that way, NickSeam. I just feel angry for all the wonderful people I met on my travels to think that a bunch of people could think this way without ever even considering what it would be like to visit these places.