We are accused of airing First World Problems whenever we make a complaint so insignificant that it really only serves to emphasise the fact that we are fortunate enough to enjoy extremely privileged circumstances.
As explained at knowyourmeme.com, "[i]t is typically used as a tongue-in-cheek comedic device to make light of trivial inconveniences." In comparison to real problems such as hunger, cholera and rape, First World Problems (had to park far from door, your show isn't in HD, too much goat cheese in salad) just make us look self-obsessed and superficial.
The very term First World Problems comes with it own issues, implying as it does the existence of a Third World. In fact, officially Third World countries are now more properly known as developing countries but I guess Problems of Developing Nations doesn't have quite the same ring. And anyway, First World Problems is much better than White Whines - a term that is catchy yet potentially offensive to non-Caucasians.
The act of labelling our petty inconveniences as First World Problems serves to underscore the trivialities of our pampered lives and highlight the exaggerated levels of comfort we often take for granted. Hopefully it might also shame us into considering the plights of people who can only dream about having such privileged concerns.
Some First World Problems are:
