Are we spoilt? First world problems

I loved the story about the peacock on the hot tub. Very 'overheard in Waitrose.'

I can easily understand that in the first world we are privileged compared with many others. However, I dislike the sanctimony of the 'check your privilege' brigade. The attitude is ill natured and unsympathetic and has the bigoted assumption that some people do not deserve human sympathy. It also displays ignorance of human nature and of the nature of human life which shares emotions whatever the context.

In the context of a high pressured, stressful, over taxed western life a shower breaking when it was needed might well be more than vexing when the difficulty and expense of fitting in a repair to a 24/7 working life is considered.

But the peacock and the hot tub really takes the biscuit.

Each to our own, I say. We live in a horrible disposable society. Last week my dishwasher broke...I'm not in the least bit bothered, but my husband is beside himself and has rushed to buy a new one. I could happily live without it. Its not necessary in the scheme of things. I feel this way about a lot of things, we don't really need. When watching Escape to the Country, I get really irritated by people who insist they MUST HAVE an ensuite....WHY!

However, I dislike the sanctimony of the 'check your privilege' brigade. The attitude is ill natured and unsympathetic and has the bigoted assumption that some people do not deserve human sympathy. It also displays ignorance of human nature and of the nature of human life which shares emotions whatever the context.

Spot on Lilyflower! Well said.

We shouldn't have to apologise for having a reasonable lifestyle, or to being annoyed by small irritations.

I imagine most of us have a sense of perspective too and know we moan about mostly insignificant first world problems when they hit us.

I don't count myself as privileged to be in the position I'm in.
I've always counted myself very lucky to be in the right place at the right time and working dambed hard with the opportunities that were placed before me.

I don't think that the poster was apologising for her privileged life style. Simply gently reminding us all how lucky we are. Not sure it is something to get cross about.

People who have nice things generally have them because they have worked hard for them or have inherited money from parents who worked hard. Some people have been lucky maybe (a lottery win, so what!). Why is that privileged?

People who don't seem to have much may have been unlucky along the way but, in general, I think it is because they have made bad choices in their life and haven't bothered to 'strive' very much.

This will always be the case in all walks of life. Why feel bad about it! My parents lived in council property and worked in factories all their lives and hated both but they saw it as their problem, no one else's. I passed for grammar school, got qualifications, worked hard to pay off my mortgage early and live in a nice part of the country. I hope to leave a nice inheritance for my kids, something my parents weren't able to do but they were very GOOD parents who provided a loving home and instilled me a good work ethic That's not privilege, there was no envy for those better off, it's through knowing the important of doing well at school, forward planning and hard graft.

Yes we are spoilt and I don't think it makes us any happier.

Too much stuff is as much of a pain as too little. Once you have the basics........then other goods and shackles just create work and worries.

Simple pleasures last longest in my experience.

I would have taken a broom to the peacock but then I am considered a bit of a witch. As for showers, don't talk to me about them - after husband telling me it didn't work because of low water pressure it turned out it was furred up. Got a new one, works fine, husband just survived.

I suppose it depends on your definition of privileged. I am an inner city estate girl (the worst estate in the city) but now I live in a lovely market town. I feel I'm privileged to live here. I can walk a relatively short distance and be in open countryside or the country park. The air feels cleaner and fresher. People who have always lived here take the town for granted. I see it in a totally different way.

Whatever happened to the tin bath in front of the fire!!

Do we need reminding, gently or not Whitewave?

Under threat here of the water for domestic use being turned off for consumption ...don;t know the hourse yet, it is usually something like midnight to 8.00am ...so have to stock up with bottles, buckets and whatever else filled up to use for flushing the loo etc ! Not the first time it has happened but give you a very small idea of what it would be like to live in a country with only contaminated water ...we are very fortunate ! Now off to the shop for a dozen or so bottles of water before they sell out ...

I should add, in case you are wondering, this is because of a very hot canicule (heatwave ...temp at the moment is 38,2 degrees and has been for several weeks, with only a couple of showers of rain) ...farmers are restricted to watering only certain hours and the vineyards are wilting as well as the veg crops. Most of the corn has been harvested so that should be ok ! This is usually followed by torrential rain and hailstones (I think the UK has already had this, as I read on the UK news !)

I woudn't bother wasting water on flushing the loo overnight unless absolutely necessary. I don't!

If it's yellow,
Let it mellow.
If it's brown,
Flush it down!

Yes, of course there will be various exceptions but why not? Saves water and reduces your water bill.

People who don't seem to have much may have been unlucky along the way but, in general, I think it is because they have made bad choices in their life and haven't bothered to 'strive' very much.

I find that an extraordinary statement Quizqueen.

In general, nurses, firefighters, carers,paramedics, teachers, etc., don't have much, but I wouldn't say they've made bad choices or don't strive.

It's all relative, isn't it? If my (elderly but still treasured) computer gives me trouble I get the rage and stomp about! I know I'm being ridiculous, but still.

People who don't seem to have much may have been unlucky along the way but, in general, I think it is because they have made bad choices in their life and haven't bothered to 'strive' very much.

Quizqueen it was after reading a comment like this on another thread that I took a long break from GN. Perhaps you made the comment last time too. I can't tell you how much it annoys me to read such sanctimonious tripe. I think I've had enough of GN again.

Wow - and all rich people have made good choices and striven? I don't think so.Wilma don't you dare go off for a while - we need you

I was neither apologising for my 'privileged' life style not reminding people, gently or otherwise. I was reflecting on how silly it is to get cross about such a minor thing.

I do have a fairly privileged lifestyle but not as privileged as lots of people.

When we moved to this house, the only shower was a cubicle in our bedroom . With 4 children still at home we installed an electric one in the downstairs loo - a cavernous echoey room that is generally freezing cold. The third one came about because DS1 had a stroke, was abandoned by his wife and couldn't easily manage the stairs which meant that we had to put an ensuite in what became his bedroom.

Does all that make me privileged? Having to acquire a third shower didn't make me (or DS1!!) feel privileged.

But, I do reflect on the fact that a dead shower isn't really the end of the world.

Glad you put some perspective on all your showers * kitty* and exactly where you were coming from.
I didn't realise that you were just talking about a minor irritation, so sorry for misunderstanding your motives.

I can't find the full version of this but:

If you keep your food in a fridge,
your clothes in a closet,
have a bed to sleep in
and a roof over your head
you are richer than 75% of the world's population.
(2014 but I doubt there's been much change)

The one I'm looking for starts off with 'if your home doesn't have a dirt floor you're in the top 50%.' I was shocked to find that without a car or bicycle I was still in the top 3%. I think it was printed in a desk diary. Made me think!

I knew where you were coming from Kittylister and didn't for one minute think you were boasting.

Neither did I kitty, I was thinking about cleaning them all!

I enjoyed your post too kitty, didn't think you were boasting either.

Wish I could be as smug as quizqueen.