We’ve all been there: we’ve brought the most amazing leftovers for lunch to work. We hit the microwave at 12pm to re-heat it and then eat it.
But… someone comes along to kill our food buzz.
“Oh my god!” they exclaim.
“What is that? Is that curry? Is that fishhhh?”
Is that food releasing a poisonous toxic lethal gas that will infiltrate our lungs and kill us all after it’s inconvenienced us for about three minutes???
Next thing you know, there’s a passive-aggressive note on the microwave about smelly foods tainting other people’s lunches, or an email to the entire department outlining courtesy and respect for your colleagues by not bringing food that distracts them or makes them nauseous.
Or envious.
It’s a situation that occurs daily in all offices around the world. But smelly food in the office is a major First World problem and we need to get over it.
Can you imagine these conversations happening in Developing nations? Where even office workers earning decent wages are so precious about the smell of food that they spend time berating their colleagues about their tuna sandwich?
Um, no.
Because in those countries, food isn’t taken for granted – not in the way we approach it in countries such as Australia, where it’s easily accessible to most of us, and many of us believe it’s our god-given right to enjoy perfect eating experiences – even at the office, a space that we share with other people.
Top Comments
Hmmm, I've lived and worked in a "third world nation" and I've had hundreds of lunches with the local staff. In my experience they are more than aware that their stinky foods are disgusting to be around. They may laugh about it but there's a reason why it stays in the tea room and not in the office.
How about we stop all this "first world problems" nonsense instead? It's incredibly patronising to assume that all people in third world countries are perfect saints who never complain about anything and are just grateful for everything they get and would never be bothered by a "first world problem". Do you think they're never in a bad mood? They never have a crap day and snap at someone over something minor? Their entire identity is not tied up in the fact that they are poor, or hungry, or homeless. They are human beings, with their own likes, dislikes, flaws and strengths.
So can I imagine this conversation taking place in a third world country? Yes, with no trouble.
Great point. Furthermore, the existence of "third world problems" doesn't get you off the hook for forgetting your manners and creating "first world problems". What next? Turn up to work without having showered or used deodorant, and shun the toilets altogether, because in the third world they don't have those luxuries? Your smell isn't the problem, your colleagues are!