I’m working from home today, a benefit of having a high speed wifi connection and company supplied laptop. As I sit here working (really!), browsing and sipping coffee, my dog lies asleep in his rather plush bed next to my chair, snoring softly - and farting every few seconds. Nasty, paint peeling farts. One of us may have to move to another room, and I doubt it will be him. I realize that there are literally billions of people who care not one whit about my problem, but still…
I had the same problem as the OP yesterday - only I couldn’t move because a) I usually use my desktop for work-related tasks and b) there was also a workman going in and out and I needed to keep the dog out of the way, so he had to stay in the room with me.
In a few days I will be leaving for an extended vacation, which will involve a very long plane ride. Yesterday I came down with a beauty of a cold!
No matter how healthy I get between now and departure, time change, jet lag, and climate change are likely going to set me back hard. Both the journey and the first few days of my holiday may prove to be quite unpleasant.
I have spent more time in true 3rd world countries than most North Americans. I know of vanishingly few who:
work from home (unless one considers farming WFH)
has a computer of any kind (or reliable electricity, if any at all)
has a wifi connection of any kind
has an indoor pet (pretty difficult in a 1 room mud or cardboard hut and barely/not enough resources to feed themselves)
would even know what a pet bed is
That’s why the thread is called “First World Problems”. You know, things we complain about that a large percentage of the world population would consider a blessing. Hope this helps your reading comprehension. :rolleyes:
When I think of First World Problems, I think of problems that only exist because of technology or situations that only exist as part of one’s station in life in a first world country. As such, I wouldn’t think of a first world problem related to teleworking as being a farting dog, but rather something like missing out on the boss bringing in free donuts because you were working from home.
One example I remember from a couple years ago was when the end of the fiscal year was coming up and, for most government types, their budget is a use it or lose it type of deal, and if they don’t spend it, it usually gets cut, so often if a section is coming in under budget they’ll go on a spending frenzy in the few weeks. So in this case, there was one guy who had gotten quite adept at this to the point that other people would enlist his help in spending unused portions of their budgets toward a mutual goal. In this one particular case, someone had tried to spend their budget, couldn’t, and had asked for his help spending $4 Million by the end of the day. He was really stressed about trying to find a way to use that much money in 2 hours. I helped lighten his mood by reminding him it was a first world problem to have trouble spending enough money rather than not having enough.
Yes, If Haiti (for one) exists only in my head. Please point out which of the items on my list do not apply there, even in the capitol city. Waiting…
Your piddle article points out a cellular phone issue. FYI, cell phone technology is pretty much ubiquitous, because it’s much MUCH cheaper to build/tap into the infrastructure for that than it is landlines. Of course, one still must still find a black market phone and get to a place with a generator - often a 5 mile+ walk - just to hook up two bare wires to the phone battery in order to recharge. Yes in fact, I have done that. Thanks for asking.
If you can’t understand how the privilege and ability to have a ready supply of electricity, a laptop computer, and wifi are first world items, and a smelly dog is all I have to complain about (ever smelled the river in an off the grid, third world village? Or the dump in a Central American slum?) then you are way far out of touch.
The good news is that , if all you have to do with your time is crap on a light hearted thread, you are truly first world privileged.
I have sympathy for you. Takeoff and landing are fucking miserable when you have a cold and your sinuses are all clogged up. I mean, miserable, want-to-die-misery.
I had a friend who flew with a massive sinus infection. Partway through the flight something gave away deep in his sinus cavity with a loud, audible POP! and a large wad of green snot flew into his lap. He said it was beyond disgusting, but he was so relieved that he could both breathe freely and the pain stopped.
For me, a true First World Problem, is that Bath and Body Works is discontinuing my favorite scent (also the one I get complimented on all the time). So, I am having a wee mental temper tantrum, even though I know it’s a stupid and unimportant problem.
Marriott bought out Starwood Hotels, which had the best customer loyalty program around. I don’t know what will happen to my accumulated Starwood points and I will probably lose my personal travel ambassador. Marriott doesn’t have the ambassadors. Sniff Sniff Boo Hoo.
OK, the other problems made me cry, but this one makes me gnash my teeth as well! WHY can’t I get running shoes in EEE without paying a mint? Ooooh, I feel your pain!
I am not from or in the first world, just so you know.
Haiti’s mobile phone penetration is68% (. So, I seriously doubt you are telling the truth, and even if in the unlikely event you are, there is a world beyond Haiti and N America.
I think AK84 is from Pakistan, and may just have taken offense at the idea that every non-first-world-country is Haiti.
Haiti has some unusual problems, even for a developing country, and wouldn’t make a great example of what life outside the U.S. is like. It may be a good example of what life in the bottom 30 countries out of 187 in the Human Development Index is like, though.
Not the point of this thread, and I’ll address it no more. If you don’t like the title or premise, you are not forced to be here. Calling me a liar, however, is bad form no matter where you’re from.
