Modern advancements in areas such as transportation, technology, healthcare, and education have improved the quality of life for a considerable portion of the global population.
However, we humans are pretty egoistic by nature, and the biggest trouble to us is usually the one we're in ourselves. So when Reddit user Jennimackenzie made a post on the platform, asking its users "What's the most ridiculous 'first world problem' you've seen people get worked up over?", many had memories to share.
From having to wait a little while to enjoy a freebie to misbehaving smartphone apps, the question has received over 3.6K answers. Continue scrolling to read those that climbed to the top, garnering plenty of upvotes.
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Vaccination. Nothing screams "I'm oblivious to my own privilege" like an ignorant antivaxxer.
Like 90% of cultural appropriation discourse. Cultural appropriation is supposed to be for when things which have significant, deep, special cultural significance are taken and commodified to a point it disrespects or undermines the original purpose or meaning of said significant thing. Not “omg this white girl has a dream catcher in her room” or “omg this white person went to Japan and wore a Kimono” Like people are dying Kim, and you’re p***ed because Becky got braids done when she went abroad? Also more often than not the people getting mad about that s**t aren’t even from that culture they’re just random white people virtue signalling. And a lot of the time, when you ask the people of said culture, they either don’t really give a s**t or are actually happy at people taking an interest in and participating in their culture. Just screams “I’m so privileged that I have nothing in my life actually worth complaining about so I’m going to get offended on other peoples behalf over things that aren’t actually that much of a problem.”
Most cultures are actually flattered if you wear their traditional garb. It really is white person virtue signalling. You don't speak for that nation, becky.
We managed to get in touch with Jennimackenzie, and the Redditor was kind enough to share some background about their post.
"I got the idea for it when I was in the kitchen at work, scrolling through Reddit and waiting for the Keurig," they told Bored Panda.
"I saw a post where the author was absolutely indignant about his fast-food experience (he was asked to pull out of line and wait in a parking spot when going through the drive-thru)."
When I was about 19 years old, I was at my boyfriends family BBQ. I was wearing this pretty floral sundress. His cousins girlfriend showed up in the same dress and she was SO mad that she went and changed. I will never understand being upset when someone is wearing the same thing as you. Did you really think that your shirt you bought off the rack is going to be unique to you? No.
I would have shouted "twinsies" and embraced their great taste in clothes.
HOAs. These people have been waiting their whole lives to stir some s**t up over something minuscule.
I work in a public library. People will get so so mad if they have to be put on a wait list for a book. A popular book that just came out. Ok our services are not only free but so are the books. You’re welcome, a******s.
The library delivers books to me. It's a huge lifeline.
After going through the replies they've received, Jennimackenzie noticed some recurring themes, most notably food.
That's understandable. While many of us don't have to worry about our next meal, up to 783 million people worldwide are hungry. That means one in ten people goes to bed on an empty stomach every night.
Furthermore, of those 783 million people, 333 million are facing severe hunger.
My own. We have a bidet toilet seat (Fabulous! Everyone should have one!) and not only does it wash your bum and blow dry it, but the seat's heated! It's shocking how much a heated toilet seat makes the whole process more agreeable. Except: We had a power outage and I went to use the toilet and the seat was cold! Unacceptable! This shall not stand! I was really upset because it didn't feel good. Then I stopped and thought: This is the most first-world problem anyone's ever had. I was really pissed because my heiny was tepid. I got over it.
When iPhone users get annoyed when they’re texting someone using Android and their messages appear green instead of blue
It's a big problem even in the developed world. For example, in the United States, over 44 million people, including 13 million children, experience food insecurity annually.
It is a systemic issue that can happen to anyone, not a personal failure. People facing hunger often struggle with high living costs, expensive housing, unemployment, and low-wage jobs.
Weddings are a gold mine for this question. People get so hyped up over their "most important day of their life," they'll destroy friendships, go into debt, and have crazy expectations. It's not always the couple who go crazy, either. Sometimes, it's the parents or another family member who feels entitled to control the wedding.
It's just a party. Be considerate of guests, have plenty of food and drinks, and enjoy it.
Not wanting to wear masks, some people equating wearing a mask with going to a concentration camp really was eye opening about the entitlement of some people.
Many of the people equating wearing a mask with going to a concentration camp belong to the same political element that built those camps.
My boss from about a decade ago was this insanely rich dude who always went to the bank to get fresh and crisp currency. He'd call the bank in advnace to make sure they had some on hand. I think he was a germaphobe.
He had a trash can that he'd throw $1 and $5 bills in that he thought was "dirty" and regularly just donated it vs spending it.
I asked him why he did this and he said it was too much trouble and asked if I wanted it. I said f**k yeah dumped it into my bag and when I got home it was close to $400 in singles and fives.
//edit: Whoa didn't expect such a response. Another time, he wanted to upgrade all the computers in his studio, so we went to a store and bought 10 PCs. They all had $150 mail in rebates and he wasn't bothered to go through the trouble of mailing them in. 3 weeks later I received $1500 after spending a whole afternoon filling out all those goddamn forms.
Jennimackenzie said that the discussion was really interesting to read, but they think the prevalence of first-world problems also tells us something about contemporary society.
"People are generally blissfully unaware of what each and every one of us is going through in life. There's a distinct lack of understanding when it comes to 'the big picture' or 'us.'"
"Frustration is hardwired; no matter how easy we might have it, we will find a way to be frustrated with something and lose our cool," the Redditor added.
I've survived everything from chemotherapy to two decades of immunotherapy, have undergone a dozen surgeries, spent a year of my teens paralyzed (had to re-learn how to walk), gone into cardiac arrest on several occasions, my mother is a diagnosed narcissist, and I recently left my abusive soon-to-be-ex-husband. Not a whole lot phases me, and it takes a LOT to anger or upset me. I am a genuinely patient, kind, and understanding person.
Recently took some vacation, which included renting a car. The guy in line ahead of me completely and totally lost his marbles about the type of car they gave him.
He ***demanded*** a Tesla. They told him they didn't have any available. Bickering ensued. The lone staff member, a gal who couldn't have been older than 22/23, was the only person on staff that night. She went above and beyond by contacting another local rental company (in the same large airport garage), and asked if they had any Tesla's available. They did, but it was only 60% charged. Customer threw a s**t-fit about it only being 60% charged.
Dude....... they *specifically* told you they didn't have any Tesla's available, then went above and beyond to acquire one for you through a different company, but you still throw a tantrum about the charge level it's at!? 🤨😐🤦♀️
Talk about entitlement.
A lady in our neighborhood was renovating her 5-bedroom home while building a similarly sized vacation home in Arizona.
She said “oh you have NO IDEA how stressful it is to decorate two homes at once!”
Stressful is cleaning 15 houses a week to keep your family from starving...
Not being able to get haircuts during lockdown. I will never forget the people with those posters
Crying over their favourite celebrity breaking up with a partner.
I think that most of the celebrity interest is crazy. "Hey, this guy who portrayed a fictional wizard in a movie wore black pants and beige top at [random party]" ok, who cares? Tell me if this guy will be in another movie or if he died, that is all I want to know (and it is probably all he wants me to know about him).
Anything Starbucks related. Holiday cups, star rewards points reset, pay it forward etiquette, whatever.
Haha so last week, I ended up changing a train ticket last minute and when I went to sit in the seat (there was assigned seating on this one), the guy I’d be sitting next to had all his stuff sprawled out on it and was using my tray table to hold his food, with his laptop on the other. So I politely told him that was my seat and he was like “ugh did you just book this last minute? The app said it was empty and that I would have this row to myself”. He huffed and puffed for the entire 2 hour ride into NYC lol. It was kind of comical tbh.
I’ll never understand why people get so worked up over having seat mates on public transport.
Same, like I understand that you're suddenly in close proximity to a stranger, but you're also in public transport so it comes with the deal, get over it.
I was working the return desk at a Target next to a military base so I have so many stories. One of my favorites was a lady who had her baby shower before revealing the gender and was livid that she had received floral newborn diapers when she’s having a boy. It was a huge box of super expensive, all organic diapers, that we didn’t carry and therefore could not return. I cannot accurately express her fury and disgust. How dare either suggest her boy could wear feminine diapers 🙄 I suggested she donate them if she didn’t want to use them and she instead threw away the entire box. When she left we pulled it out and threw it in our donate bin.
There have also been multiple times where mom’s order massive toys and when we bring them out to the car they get furious that they aren’t wrapped. We don’t offer wrapping services. Here’s the thing, if you don’t want your kids to see the toys you got them for Christmas or their bit to day DONT BRING THE CHILD WHEN YOU PICK IT UP. I’ve had multiple women scream and curse me out that I had ruined their kids Christmas by bringing the toys they ordered out to the car like they requested.
Not being able to park right outside your house in an area of terraced houses built in the 1850’s when the motor car was a distant dream.
Being upset about disney movies and diversity in video games
Diversity is good! But changing tales so there’s diversity is not. The are plenty of stories to tell. A girl in Denmark s XVIII wouldn’t have black skin. That is why I like the new movie.
Agreed. This is "fake" diversity. True diversity is not achieved or reflected by having a few non-white characters or staff filming a very white story for a very white company and a white producer and director. True diversity is having global stories, written and led by people from those backgrounds given equal prominence and advertising as "white" western productions.
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I think the main problem is, that the writers of the new live action Disney movies think they are immune to critique - and if you pointing out that the stories are dumbed down of just plain bad you are hating on diversity.
I don't know why you are getting downvoted, you are right. I for my part for example found the new Arielle movie bad because they curb stomped the story so much to appeal to everyone, which ended up very bland. Not because of Halle Berry (she played her role well and has a great singing voice). I would have preferred if they had made the modernisation like they did in Kiss The Frog (my favorite Disney movie). For example, how about if we set the story in the slavery times on the Caribbean islands a hundred years ago, with a young slave man from a plantation pretending to be a prince so Arielle, a local mermaid not knowing a lot about human culture, would help him to get out of slavery - but then, everything goes wrong because she decides she wants to be a human too? That would be a modern and diverse retelling of the original, without being an absolute copy of the original movie or the book!
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The people I have heard upset about Disney's recent endeavors are not upset about diversity. They are upset about the diversity being the whole show in lieu of an actually good movie / plot. Make a new compelling movie / story. Don't just reheat one of your old movies using different genders / diversity as the selling point.
Diversity is good. Disney movies are just trying too hard and offending people in the process. Little Mermaid is supposed to be as pale as seafoam which is why they made her a redhead originally I guess. Give us more Tianas and Moanas rather than deciding to blackface white characters. True diversity needs to be actually diverse.
Depends on the execution though - Zootopia or Mass Effect have morals about diversity and pick up the theme within the story in a natural way that fits the narrative (Good products). Just having a diverse cast to say "look how good we are", "sticking it to all those bigots" or simply to have it as main selling point is bad. "Forspoken" is a good example on how to make a product fail - Bad writing, gameplay wasn't that good, but we should all love it for the rather lackluster main character or else we are sexist racists (typical Disney reaction as well if their movie flops)
Forspoken is a lot of fun though. It's like what would happen if Annihilation was a video game. I do wish the story was a little longer though.
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My problem with it isn't what they're doing but how they're doing it. Don't remake all the old movies and just turn previously white characters into other races. Instead come up with new material and tales that would be culturally relevant to non white races. You can cast the entire production from that racial group giving them a voice on the big stage. Moana, Coco, Mulan, Lilo, Encanto, etc were all great stories I loved. That does more to provide inclusivity and cultural awareness than just changing Snow Whites characters.
Diversity - beautiful. Tokenism for brownie points - insulting. Been the token Asian in a workplace, discovering that I was hired to be the "token ethnic person" was a slap in the face. A lot of stuff in media recently is putting in token diversity in.
My child is ethnically "Other" on forms. I'm convinced this has helped get school places because it looks good on the school's diversity. I'm convinced my husband has had interviews for the same reason 🤦♀️
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Just don't watch it or buy it. Easy. I have no idea why everyone gets so worked up about it. You don't have to talk bad about it, just ignore it. Be an adult.
Its patronizing, they remake a movie that was a proven commodity and somehow make it way worse than the original. I'm honestly hard-pressed to think of one remake in the last 5 years that was even close to the original.
What's patronizing about it? While I didn't think it needed to be remade, and agree the live-action films haven't equaled their animated predecessors. I'm trying to imagine what's patronizing? It's business. People paid to see them. Disney made money. That's what Disney is all about. Money.
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I think it's fine when it's a fictional character, but if it's supposed to be a real person, who there are contemporary portraits/statues of they should choose a similar looking actor. Heck, it even bothers me that in most movies about ancient Romans, the actors all have posh British accents. Maybe, if I knew nothing about history, these things wouldn't bother me, but I do. So, it does. Edit: Nobody knows what a mermaid looks like. Probably a light belly, and a dark back. Seems to be the coloring of most sea dwellers.
someone just last night told me I was what is wrong with society for supporting diversity.
These people confuse me because it's like they don't go outside. The area I live in is pretty diverse and a lot of my friends in elementary school had parents who immigrated here from other countries.
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Diversity isn't about hitting a quota. It's about inviting Black and Brown people to share the story. White people just don't get it. Seeing an all white cast makes POC feel like this product isn't for them. It excludes people. Seeing a Black dwarf or elf invites Black people to share in the fantasy. It shows they are welcome to join in the fantasy world.
Well I get really f*****g pissed off at the printers in my office.
We put a guy on the moon 54 years ago but we can’t make something that puts f*****g ink on paper holy f**k.
Being rude to a retail or food worker over petty s**t. I'm so sorry that your 3500 calorie meal was missing the side of ranch you asked for. Ask politely and get your extra diabetes. God people are such a******s.
Any freakout at a fast food joint.
Reminds me of the lady who threw her food at the Chipolte employee because she said her food looked disgusting. The judge offered her jail time or gave her the option of working at Chipolte for 2 months so she knows what it feels. She chose to work at Chipolte for 2 months. Shame on her for throwing food at an employee
Don't know if this qualifies. On safari in Kenya, when all the laundry was hand-washed by the staff, a North American got VERY upset when she was informed she'd have to do her own panties.
My kid last week said “oh but dad I had gnocchi for lunch at school” when I was making dinner
I saw a video of a woman getting extra angry because she got a Kichenaid mixer for Christmas. Those things are super expensive. I would be so happy if I got one of those, but she was super mad. I just think getting mad about something like that is silly.
If she does all the chores and it was given to her by someone who lives in the same home and does fûck-all chores, she probably has a point.
Michelin starred restaurants tend to have too much fish on the tasting menus
Having to pull off to the side to wait for a drive-thru order to be brought out to you because your food isn't ready and there's a line building up behind you.
I have to admit - I hate this. If I have a huge order for several people, sure. But recently I waited at the window for 5 minutes, then they asked me to pull over and they'd bring it out. I watched eight cars get their food and leave. It took 15 more minutes. My order? One hamburger and small fries.
Note: this post originally had 53 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
So I'm gonna get downvoted. I have a bigger issue with people dismissing others problems as 1st world problems. You are going to have feelings and opinions about things affecting your life, big, small or whatever. If your life is in the 1st world are you supposed to live it in silent misery and stop communicating how you feel about what is put before you because reasons? Those starving kids matter and i wish they could enjoy not suffering like that. With that wish fulfilled you know they will feel some kind of way about what they now have Round them, you want them to have it that good, but those that do now are not allowed to? I don't get it.
I know someone who had the 'ideal' childhood. But she'll still discuss the trauma of not having a parent show up at ONE high school event. To me it's ridiculous. That's your major childhood trauma? But to her it's genuine, scarring, damaging. To her it's very real. First world problems are the same way. Every life, no matter how 'perfect', has stresses. There are people out the who'd give a lot to have to deal with (enter first world eye rolling non-problem of choice) as their major issue. I feel for them. But I feel for the guy with the tepid bum too. All problems are valid to the sufferer.
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I have a sister who booked her vacation with all the associated activities and sights, and had excitedly told her coworker about her plans. She cancelled due to Covid, but the coworker liked the idea so much, they went to the same place. My sister was furious because the lady STOLE HER VACATION.
I think a little grace is needed for some of these: sometimes you are just coping with all the big issues then a tiny one comes along Bang! It topples you and you just can't do it anymore. I remember one time I had a melt down because the chicken I was making for dinner wasn't cooked. The chicken wasn't the issue- my crippling anxiety and an upcoming period where my husband wasn't going tombe home was. The uncooked chicken was the last straw, the one that broke my spirit.
I have three kids - two with ASD AND ADHD. Getting them to school and through the day, through the week is a bloody hard slog. I always try to greet my kids after school with a cuddle and a positive word even though there is more often that not going to be tears, anger and chats with the teacher about some incident of the day and me knowing the hard part of my day is just beginning. I remember once being in the line up of mums, watching our kids flood out and hearing the mum next to greet her child by snapping angrily “How many times have I told you to put your drink bottle in the side pocket, NOT in your bag?”. All I could think was “Man, I wish that was all I had to worry about”. These things are all relative, aren’t they?
My godparents, millionaires, are mad that their house needs several WLAN routers because it's too big. Wish I had your problem fam, my WLAN router refuses to work when I sit right next to it because the bastard is 10 year old electro junk at this point.
One thing that's true in the entire western world is that IQs are dropping fast.
Mine is my new company laptop doesn't have a track point. Dell has stopped putting them on. Since the 90 when I started using a laptop all my laptops have had a track point IBM, Lenovo, Dell. It takes a bit of getting used to but the scratch pads are Xite!!! Once you get used to the track pad you can turn of the scratch pad. You have to start with low sensibility and work your way to whizzing the cursor all over without moving you fingers. I can work on the sofa with out having to take my hands of the keyboard. Dell was cheaper..
A few first world worries I've come across. Won't buy a dented can at the supermarket. Count how many days before food expiry date. Won't use any public toilet because they identify as non-binary. Meltdown because one of the eggs in a pack of 12 is broken. They've rearranged items on the shelves in the supermarket! The free Covid hand sterilizer has run out. The house budget is in error by a few cents. I'm not sure my cat likes that brand of food.
So I'm gonna get downvoted. I have a bigger issue with people dismissing others problems as 1st world problems. You are going to have feelings and opinions about things affecting your life, big, small or whatever. If your life is in the 1st world are you supposed to live it in silent misery and stop communicating how you feel about what is put before you because reasons? Those starving kids matter and i wish they could enjoy not suffering like that. With that wish fulfilled you know they will feel some kind of way about what they now have Round them, you want them to have it that good, but those that do now are not allowed to? I don't get it.
I know someone who had the 'ideal' childhood. But she'll still discuss the trauma of not having a parent show up at ONE high school event. To me it's ridiculous. That's your major childhood trauma? But to her it's genuine, scarring, damaging. To her it's very real. First world problems are the same way. Every life, no matter how 'perfect', has stresses. There are people out the who'd give a lot to have to deal with (enter first world eye rolling non-problem of choice) as their major issue. I feel for them. But I feel for the guy with the tepid bum too. All problems are valid to the sufferer.
Load More Replies... I have a sister who booked her vacation with all the associated activities and sights, and had excitedly told her coworker about her plans. She cancelled due to Covid, but the coworker liked the idea so much, they went to the same place. My sister was furious because the lady STOLE HER VACATION.
I think a little grace is needed for some of these: sometimes you are just coping with all the big issues then a tiny one comes along Bang! It topples you and you just can't do it anymore. I remember one time I had a melt down because the chicken I was making for dinner wasn't cooked. The chicken wasn't the issue- my crippling anxiety and an upcoming period where my husband wasn't going tombe home was. The uncooked chicken was the last straw, the one that broke my spirit.
I have three kids - two with ASD AND ADHD. Getting them to school and through the day, through the week is a bloody hard slog. I always try to greet my kids after school with a cuddle and a positive word even though there is more often that not going to be tears, anger and chats with the teacher about some incident of the day and me knowing the hard part of my day is just beginning. I remember once being in the line up of mums, watching our kids flood out and hearing the mum next to greet her child by snapping angrily “How many times have I told you to put your drink bottle in the side pocket, NOT in your bag?”. All I could think was “Man, I wish that was all I had to worry about”. These things are all relative, aren’t they?
My godparents, millionaires, are mad that their house needs several WLAN routers because it's too big. Wish I had your problem fam, my WLAN router refuses to work when I sit right next to it because the bastard is 10 year old electro junk at this point.
One thing that's true in the entire western world is that IQs are dropping fast.
Mine is my new company laptop doesn't have a track point. Dell has stopped putting them on. Since the 90 when I started using a laptop all my laptops have had a track point IBM, Lenovo, Dell. It takes a bit of getting used to but the scratch pads are Xite!!! Once you get used to the track pad you can turn of the scratch pad. You have to start with low sensibility and work your way to whizzing the cursor all over without moving you fingers. I can work on the sofa with out having to take my hands of the keyboard. Dell was cheaper..
A few first world worries I've come across. Won't buy a dented can at the supermarket. Count how many days before food expiry date. Won't use any public toilet because they identify as non-binary. Meltdown because one of the eggs in a pack of 12 is broken. They've rearranged items on the shelves in the supermarket! The free Covid hand sterilizer has run out. The house budget is in error by a few cents. I'm not sure my cat likes that brand of food.
