Over the last few months, the hashtag #FirstWorldProbs has been present in my timeline. I’ve seen friends of mine use it and I’ve scrolled through countless strangers’ tweets about it. Whether you think the hashtag is offensive or simply a funny joke that raises awareness to issues of developing countries, #FirstWorldProbs is something people use when they’re tweeting about how indecisive they are about which luxury makeup palette to get. There are so many other examples.
Snapchat's new update was dumb, now I have to tap twice as much #firstworldprobs
— Logan (@logybearswag) October 11, 2016
My phone should have been charging for the last three hours but I forgot to turn the plug on #firstworldprobs
— Steve Croydon (@SteveSMC) October 12, 2016
https://twitter.com/shannahhrosee/status/785959557755351040
I too tweet about these ‘probs’ but not being an avid hashtag user, I’ve refrained from the using the popular tag, until one random night when I thought to myself, “Am I a true teenager if I never use hashtags, reference memes or spend hours watching vines?” I then proceeded to quickly type in previously mentioned thought along with the hashtag #Firstworldprobs into Twitter. I was about to press the tweet button to send my late-night thoughts out into the Twittersphere when I suddenly realize I couldn’t use the hashtag. If I did so, I would be politically incorrect because I am part of the Second World.
You’re probably wondering what a Second World country is and I’m not offended by that. In fact, I’ve had worse experiences, such as when people asked me if my home country of Romania is in Africa (it’s in Eastern Europe). Eastern Europe, as well as Southern Europe and South-Central Asia, are where most of Second World countries are located, which include former members of the Soviet Union and of Yugoslavia, as well as ex-communist states like China, or Romania.
Photo by Nations Online
I find that I deal with what I call ‘#SecondWorldProbs’ (I’m not actually trying to start a hashtag) on a daily basis, especially in school. Some of these are things I think people in First World countries should know about.
Most importantly, in Second World countries we’re limited in terms of what we can do, purchase or accomplish.
We are limited because our laws, government, and educational systems are trying to transform an old communist layout into something more modern by attempting to blend our old traditions with Western ideas.
This is simply not working. My generation is taking 20 different classes a school year and is expected to take a (mysterious as of yet) new version of the baccalaureate at the end of high school that would supposedly combine three different languages into one test, and three different sciences into another. I’m not saying that specific model of testing is wrong, I know it works in (Western) countries where students are taught to think that way. However, we are being taught differently, therefore this new design (based off of Western ideology) does not fit with the way that we have learned.
Second World problems are important: we’re trying to leave the past behind and evolve, and become equal with First World countries. However, as you may have already guessed, we are unable to. In my country, officials aren’t hearing out students, parents or teachers when writing new curriculum and new laws. Evidently, because of this, many people turn to continuing their studies in more developed countries, where they can benefit more both personally and professionally. But because our courses and our exams are so different and close-minded, we usually have a disadvantage when applying to a university. While this is just one example, there are many other similar issues to this in our country. However, at this point in time, reforming our education system properly is critical. That said, I’d like to leave you with this.
Third World problems are real, First World problems are (sort of) a joke, but please don’t leave out Second World problems.
