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.[1] 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.[2] It has been used to minimize complaints about trivial issues and shame the complainer, to generate humour at the expense of first world culture,[3] and as good-humored self-deprecation.[4]
History
[edit]The term First World problem first appeared in 1979 in G. K. Payne's work Built Environment,[4] but gained recognition as an Internet meme beginning in 2005, particularly on social networking sites like Twitter (where it became a popular hashtag).[5][6] In 2012, UNICEF NZ conducted a survey of First World problems in New Zealand, finding "slow web access" to be the most common.[7] The phrase was added to the Oxford Dictionary Online in November 2012,[8] and to the online Macquarie Dictionary in December 2012.[9]
Examples
[edit]Things that have been cited as being First World problems include:
- Slow Internet access[7]
- Poor mobile-phone coverage[7]
- Phone battery dying (low battery anxiety)[10]
- Television remote not working[7]
- Misplacing AirPods (the most frequent complaint about AirPods). Apple Inc. attempted to alleviate this problem by introducing a "Find My AirPods" application in 2017.[11]
- Not being able to find items in a shop[7]
- Getting a bad haircut[7]
- Bad-tasting fruit[7]
- Self-checkout in stores[12]
- Forgetting headphones[13]
- Feeling like there's nothing to eat even though there is plenty of food available.[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Hardy, Quentin (18 May 2012). "Eduardo Saverin's Billionaire Blues". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ^ Turkel, Bruce (6 September 2016). All about Them: Grow Your Business by Focusing on Others. Da Capo Press. ISBN 9780738219202 – via Google Books.
- ^ Glover, Richard (24 November 2012). "As the First World turns". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ^ a b "First World (Special uses)". Oxford English Dictionary Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
- ^ López, Tracy (11 July 2012). "How acknowledging your "First World problems" can make you happier". Voxxi. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ^ Steinmetz, Katy (20 November 2012). "Oxford Dictionaries adds 'deets', '4G' and 'First World problems'". Time. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Paul (8 October 2012). "Kiwis complain about 'First World problems'". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
- ^ "First World problem definition". Oxford Dictionaries Online. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
- ^ "Word of the Year 2012". Macquarie Dictionary Online. Macquarie Dictionary. 23 October 2023.
- ^ Sum, Eliza (28 July 2016). ""Battery anxiety" making smartphone users miss meetings, dates and jeopardize relationships". Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ Stampher, Jillian (January 24, 2017). "Solving First World Problems: Apple To Release 'Find My AirPods' Feature With Latest iOS Update". GeekWire.
- ^ https://www.npr.org/2010/12/06/131565694/impatient-nation-i-can-t-wait-for-you-to-read-this [bare URL]
- ^ "First world problems: ISU Edition". 20 February 2017.
- ^ Smith, Kristy (March 7, 2021). "Different Drum Humor First world fridge problems loom large in life". Hillsdale Daily News.
External links
[edit]
The dictionary definition of first world problem at Wiktionary- First World Problems Anthem
