h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Every now and then, I see an expression or a meme or a trendy saying, and I think - that doesn't help me at all.

The latest one of these for me is posting "First world problem" when someone raises a trivial or everyday issue. I see it a lot on the Guardian, and recently a bit here.

But how does it help me? I mean, I know its much worse to have all your goats die of thirst, or to be kidnapped by the janjaweed then to have people talk loudly on their mobile phone, but does that mean that I shouldn't be irritated? Or indeed that all my problems are in relative terms, trivial?

Any ideas for what use I'm supposed to make of that concept?


sprout

Well, yes. Your problems *are* trivial. You're only irritated because you're choosing to be. Eat a peach.

At least your goats haven't fallen out of a tree.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=goats+up+trees&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ojgXT4KRD8eZhQfuzJCYAw&ved=0CCkQsAQ&biw=1354&bih=644

Or your goths.

http://gothsuptrees.net/

I don't like internet memes - classic First World Problem right there.

I haven't heard that term before sprout. What's the context and who is using it? Is it people with genuine concern for the third world? Or is it people being rude and just writing off your concerns?

I think it's misunderstanding what human beings are actually *like*, apart from anything else. Even during famines, in the harshest prisons, even in forced labour and death camps, people a) find things to laugh about, and b) get annoyed by trivia like the irksome habits of a neighbour in the next bunk.

Even in the third world, you can bet money on it that people are getting annoyed by things as trivial as these "first-world problems".

It's generally meant comically. People (like me) tend to use it about their own alleged problems.

'Should I have a latte or a cappucino? Too many decisions! #firstworldproblem'

giyf for other examples.

KB:

>>Even in the third world, you can bet money on it that people are getting annoyed by things as trivial as these "first-world problems".

That's true and the clarification is well added. To be used correctly, the meme should refer to problems that are both trivial and only applicable in a state of first world luxury. Latte or cappucino? Neither! Problem solved.

But crucially...*it's only a joke*.

Examples:

http://first-world-problems.com/

While we're here - what's the difference between a Fail and an Epic Fail?

Fail Blog is behind a SOPA wall at the moment. Does the SOPA blackout count as a meme?

I'd say that it's not *entirely* a joke, Ed - at least, not always - it's a common criticism levelled at protesters in countries like Britain or the USA. "Huh. What have they got to complain about? If they lived in Sudan they'd know all about it!"

That's true - it is said. But it's not quite the specific #firstworldproblem meme, I'd say. The hashtag is added sardonically, to people's own tweets or status updates.

Memes are jokey things. Amusingly captioned cats. Things like this http://tinyurl.com/amusingmeme

WHy is it a meme? It looks like a saying to me.

You know what the problem is with reading more material than listening to it?

I've just realised "meme" isn't pronounced "me me"

There are certain words I'd never know how to pronounce, because I've only ever read them. "Segue" for instance. I can think of about ten different ways for that one.

Properly "memes" are not jokey things, but something halfway between a shared memory and an experience that can be passed on. Like a gene, but mental, a cultural building block, if you like.

Have you ever heard the verb 'to misle' - pronounced my-zull and meaning (approximately) to confuse?

I'm reasonably sure that it came from a scene in TV's 'How Green Was My Valley'* in which a Welsh speaking boy was beaten by a teacher because he mispronounced 'misled', only having read it previously and not having heard it spoken.







* Written by A5316860, Grandma of the Researcher of that Entry.

@kea:

The thing that makes #firstworldproblems a meme is that it's generally something used as a jokey thing on teh interwebs, in tweets and facebook updates - and also collected on sites like the one I linked. It's also leaked into other forms of communication, though. And doubtless it can also be used unkindly.

(and, of course, this isn't the original, Dawkins sense of the word meme)

mala

@KB

That would be seg-way.

F.

Sorry, distracted by goths up trees, and now unable to thing about anything else. Seriously, fits of giggles here. Helpless giggles. This may be something to do with its being 4 a.m., but it's mainly the goths.

TRiG.

I only discovered them after I got a Goats Up Trees calendar for Christmas. I didn't even realise that it was a meme.

It goes back to a time when we were walking the West Highland Way. The Loch Lomond section used to be murderous and had taken a lot out of us. We were trudging along, tired and dispirited when my wife said,

'Oh, look! A goat up a tree.'

'Don't be stupid!' I said, grumpily, 'Goats don't climb trees.

The goat must have heard me and realised its folly because it fell out right in front of me.

I discover that goats *frequently* climb trees. I've never lived it down.