The First World Problem Thread

[SOBEIT]

The wife is making too much noise while ironing and I'm trying to watch the Voice!

[CathHarmony]

Originally Posted by Nil

For what? The colors?

hehe its like ordering the numbers 1 to 9 according to shape, it not entirely logical

[Dougal's Breakfast]

Re: decluttering.

I spent three years of my life possessing nothing more than the contents of a rucksack.

I never, ever want to return to such a miserable existence.

I'm keeping my coupla thousand books if it's all the same to you hippies...

[MusicChick]

Originally Posted by Dougal's Breakfast

Re: decluttering.

I spent three years of my life possessing nothing more than the contents of a rucksack.

I never, ever want to return to such a miserable existence.

I'm keeping my coupla thousand books if it's all the same to you hippies...

Hahahah, me too! Been there. And miss it a little bit, tbh, not being poor, just not having stuff, to organize, dust, clean up, move when moving, having rooms so busy..I think I need to be visually stimulated less at home, so I go through a phases of tossing ton. It's gradual, I like the process. Maybe I just have been having a spring cleaning itch.

It's not hippie thing, it's not pitch your bras ladies and get liberated kind of thing, really. My nothing owning neighbors are actually h/c advanced career people and do so much that owning very little makes their life simple enough in order to focus on kids,activities,work, family life, better. But I know what you mean, most people hog stuff that is dear to them.

[Dougal's Breakfast]

Originally Posted by MusicChick

My nothing owning neighbors are actually h/c advanced career people

They always are.

Genuinely hard-up people are usually quite fond of their possessions.

[MusicChick]

Originally Posted by Dougal's Breakfast

They always are.

Genuinely hard-up people are usually quite fond of their possessions.

Hmm...I think in their case it's cultural. Modesty. They never buy stuff they absolutely can't live without. They are also so polite and pay attention to every word one says, instead of making comments about what I wear or own, I need to go to Asia to see.

I know what you mean about poor folks not pitching stuff, even if they get well off some tend to hoard..for what if. I never been rich, yet still would like to not let my current situation, nor those from before, to condition me to have stuff cling to me and me to stuff. It's deliberate, makes life easer. Need to work on it more, since children tend to copy their parents and I want my child be not stuff clingy.

We should organize a yarn swap, by the way, I used to do that with stitch bitchers, instead of holding onto left over something that can come handy to somebody else, it's cool to swap or donate. (it could be dangerous for some serious yarn hoarders, though)

[ceppych]

I'm making patchwork quilts for my grand daughters with Liberty lawn dresses I made for their mothers.
My daughters are 50 and 48 and I'm so glad I didn't throw those dresses out, as the little girls seem to love them, and it brings back many happy memories for me too.

[adrianlondon]

Originally Posted by MusicChick

I need to go to Asia to see.

Yes, do. They're all exactly the same!!! In the Philippines, for example, they nominate one person to own every pair of shoes.

[CathHarmony]

Originally Posted by Dougal's Breakfast

Re: decluttering.

I spent three years of my life possessing nothing more than the contents of a rucksack.

I never, ever want to return to such a miserable existence.

I'm keeping my coupla thousand books if it's all the same to you hippies...

Why was it miserable?

[ceppych]

Originally Posted by CathHarmony

Why was it miserable?

Do you think it might have something to do with not being able to fit too many books into a rucksack?

[MusicChick]

Originally Posted by adrianlondon

Yes, do. They're all exactly the same!!! In the Philippines, for example, they nominate one person to own every pair of shoes.

Woot...

I just want to slurp the noodles

[CathHarmony]

Originally Posted by MusicChick

Hmm...I think in their case it's cultural. Modesty. They never buy stuff they absolutely can't live without. They are also so polite and pay attention to every word one says, instead of making comments about what I wear or own, I need to go to Asia to see.

the first thing my mother notices (and comments) about people is what they are wearing and then she checks out (unconsciously) what they have, they are valued accordingly

its a tricky one, because most people are not much more than their possessions (even in their own minds for example i own a porsche so i am better than someone who owns a skoda, i have a more expensive pair of shoes on so i will push in front of the person with plimsoles) so its a valid way to value them. its the ones who are more than this, that this mo becomes more tricky.

[CathHarmony]

Originally Posted by ceppych

Do you think it might have something to do with not being able to fit too many books into a rucksack?

theres always the library,

i gave away all the books i only thought were good enough to read once (why keep them, someone else can enjoy them), you don't need to own many books except maybe the tolkien trilogy to be happy.

[MusicChick]

Originally Posted by CathHarmony

the first thing my mother notices (and comments) about people is what they are wearing and then she checks out (unconsciously) what they have, they are valued accordingly

its a tricky one, because most people are not much more than their possessions (even in their own minds for example i own a porsche so i am better than someone who owns a skoda, i have a more expensive pair of shoes on so i will push in front of the person with plimsoles) so its a valid way to value them. its the ones who are more than this, that this mo becomes more tricky.

Well..to start with, people owning Škoda (home sweet home) are all 1st world pimps. I am kidding, it's not true, it is a pretty affordable car.

Attaching value to people according to what they possess is strange. You get also treated according to what brand your shoes, jacket, accessories are, whatever you are sporting. Hair color and skin color does it's trick, as crappy as it is. Guys probably get treated sometimes accordingly to how pretty their wench, I mean girl is, and vice versa, which is as superficial as you can get. I think maybe that's why some people tend to collect..to feel like they are worth more. That's what I meant by detaching oneself from stuff means more control over one's life, including one's self worth. I know it's not as direct, and people are not superficial..still, I don't like showing off, and like not having things define me (nor that heap of yarn, either). I like confusing people in their judgment, actually, stereotypical thinking is irksomely boring.

People collect titles and degrees, too, though, for the same reason..not sure if that is a 1st world thing or a douche thing.

[CathHarmony]

Originally Posted by MusicChick

Well..to start with, people owning Škoda (home sweet home) are all 1st world pimps. I am kidding, it's not true, it is a pretty affordable car.

Attaching value to people according to what they possess is strange. You get also treated according to what brand your shoes, jacket, accessories are, whatever you are sporting. Hair color and skin color does it's trick, as crappy as it is. Guys probably get treated sometimes accordingly to how pretty their wench, I mean girl is, and vice versa, which is as superficial as you can get. I think maybe that's why some people tend to collect..to feel like they are worth more. That's what I meant by detaching oneself from stuff means more control over one's life, including one's self worth. I know it's not as direct, and people are not superficial..still, I don't like showing off, and like not having things define me (nor that heap of yarn, either). I like confusing people in their judgment, actually, stereotypical thinking is irksomely boring.

People collect titles and degrees, too, though, for the same reason..not sure if that is a 1st world thing or a douche thing.

the reality is this is most people though,
look how much money women spend on hair products, clothing, shoes, handbags, makeup, to appear anything but who they are ..

[MusicChick]

Originally Posted by CathHarmony

the reality is this is most people though,
look how much money women spend on hair products, clothing, shoes, handbags, makeup, to appear anything but who they are ..

I am not sure if 1st world high maintenance is only a female trait, though..

(I thought about what things I would say are ok to hoard..for some books, for others paraphernalia, I don't see camping gear as collecting, but it does complicate my plan to downsize and reduce personal possessions to a couple of hundred plus there are many chess pieces, and I have a lot of needles and pins, ugh, fruit canning jam making stuff, spices, sigh, looks like a 1st world problem though I don't like owning up to it)

[CathHarmony]

Originally Posted by MusicChick

I am not sure if 1st world high maintenance is only a female trait, though..

(I thought about what things I would say are ok to hoard..for some books, for others paraphernalia, I don't see camping gear as collecting, but it does complicates my plan to downsize and reduce personal possessions to a couple of hundred plus there are many chess pieces, and I have a lot of needles and pins, ugh, fruit canning jam making stuff, spices, sigh, looks like a 1st world problem though I don't like owning up to it)

hehe thats quite funny bcs thats a lot of what i have, its a sort of insurance if the shtf, and it will theres no way we can carry on like we are.

[lost_inbroad]

Originally Posted by MusicChick

I am not sure if 1st world high maintenance is only a female trait, though..

You're right, my shoes and cologne could easily subsidize rent for a couple of months.

[Dougal's Breakfast]

Originally Posted by CathHarmony

Why was it miserable?

Because I was poor.

[ecb]

Originally Posted by J.Marple

How on earth can you find anything?

My autistic son thinks in numbers, colours and days of the week (as in the day of the week he last did a thing on). Spine colour classification would suit him down to the ground.

Me: "want to read Pip and Posy and Super Scooter for your bedtime story?"
Him: "red and white, Thursday"

His visual memory is vast and he never seems to forget. I think he could run to several rooms full of books before he started getting confused.