To go on about "first world problems", many of them are actually universal problems. Even in the poorest parts of the world, people are still faced with annoyances, and when the biggest problems are too big to solve, they'll fret on the little ones even more, since they're the ones they can do something about. Do you know what's one major concern for south american shanty town dwellers? There are several, of course, but one that always ranks high on the list is Levis Jeans. It may seem counter-intuitive, but fashion matters more in the third world than it does here; maybe it's a compensation mechanism - you can't improve your actual condition, so you work on apparent status signs - but it does express itself in shallow concerns and silly choices.
And I agree on the "using others' misfortune to shame anyone who dares complain" rant. If you don't want to be there when your friends need to vent some frustration, just tell them you're a crappy friend and look for people you'll care about. Or stay alone.
