Girish Mahajan (Editor)

First World problem

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit

First World problem is a slang term used to refer to issues in First World nations that are complained about only because of the absence of more pressing concerns. The term was added to the Oxford Dictionary Online in November 2012, and to the Macquarie Dictionary Online in December 2012.

Contents

The term "First World problem" first appeared in 1979 in G. K. Payne's work Built Environment, but gained recognition as an internet meme beginning in 2005, particularly on social networking sites like Twitter (where it became a popular hashtag). The term is used to minimize complaints about trivial issues by shaming the complainer, or as good-humored self-deprecation. UNICEF NZ conducted a survey of First World problems in New Zealand, finding slow web access to be the most common.

Relative privation

It can be an example of a red herring fallacy that of the fallacy of relative privation.

Examples

  • Slow Internet access.
  • Not being able to find items in a shop
  • Bad-tasting fruit
  • Getting a bad haircut
  • Television remote not working
  • Poor mobile-phone coverage
  • Phone battery dying (low-battery anxiety)
  • Apple Inc. attempted to alleviate the most frequent complaint about its wireless AirPods, by introducing a "Find My AirPods" application in 2017.

    • References

    First World problem Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA