Notes on Change and “First World Problems”

“And as the COVID-19 crisis that has changed seemingly everything shows, en masse unemployment and distrust of the federal government is now a “first world reality.””

Events are canceled, schools have moved online, and restaurants and malls are closed. And given other efforts to mandate physical distancing—necessitated by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)—people accustomed to regularly going out and seeing others are experiencing what are commonly called “first world problems.”

First world problems—effectively a cliché in 2020 and commonly applied to vocalized problems with slow smartphone apps, delayed packages or grumpy baristas, for example—acknowledges that not all problems are equal and that, oftentimes, people need to “check their privilege.”

Complaining about long drive-through lines or canceled concerts is, of course, insignificant and irrelevant. Until it isn’t.

Over the past few months, people have experienced unprecedented amounts of change and uncertainty: FaceTime or Zoom calls in place of face-to-face meetings are aural, visual reminders of our new realities and uncertainties, reminders penetrating our consciousness.