Why I Hate the Phrase "First World Problems"

Beautifully stated by Teju Cole, via Samhita.

 I don’t like this expression ‘First World problems.’ It is false and it is condescending. Yes, Nigerians struggle with floods or infant mortality. But these same Nigerians also deal with mundane and seemingly luxurious hassles. Connectivity issues on your BlackBerry, cost of car repair, how to sync your iPad, what brand of noodles to buy: Third World problems. All the silly stuff of life doesn’t disappear just because you’re black and live in a poorer country. People in the richer nations need a more robust sense of the lives being lived in the darker nations. Here’s a First World problem: the inability to see that others are as fully complex and as keen on technology and pleasure as you are.

YES. This is awesome. I hate the expression "first world problems" for this reason and many others. Shaming yourself for having difficulties in life (regardless of their imagined size or importance) does not breed compassion for other people.