Is it normal that i am starting to belittle people's problems?

Your friends really could use a wake up call. I have friends who have truly suffered most of their lives. They are all great people who have turned so much around for themselves after living with hardships they couldnt control. I led a pretty decent childhood and my adulthood isn't so bad. So before I say things are hard, I think of those friends, what situations they came out of and it helps me keep my issues in perspective. If my problems don't measure up, I keep my mouth shut and count my blessings.
My friends tell me not to do this, that my problems are real, but I respect them and they really don't need to listen to petty problems and whining.
I may take that to extreme, but your friends could use a good trip to a soup kitchen at a homeless shelter. Maybe they'll see how good your friends truly have it.

This is called first world problems. People with money come from safe places a lot of times and dont really have a lot to deal with. So they make a big deal over tiny things since to them that's a problem. Though you will often still get scolded for not thinking these people are going to die over something so stupid. I personally have been belittled and accused of mental illness just because I dont want to baby every drama queen who goes suicidal since he lost at a video-game. I feel you *hugs*. People with no problems make problems out of bullshit so I can understand your frustration. This is coming from a person living in a first world country too. I dont think your an asshole. I think you just have more perspective then most of the fucking idiots that live in this world.

Yep, you're normal. If it were an occasional complaint from feeling down, fine. Everyone does that occasionally. It usually leads to them having a big sigh, then looking around them and being glad for what they DO have. Might take days for that to happen, for them to pull themselves out of the funk, but in a healthy person who has it good, that's the normal progression.

But constantly complaining and rarely if ever saying anything about how good they have it? That just says that person is an ungrateful sort who needs a wake up call. And you could be just the person to give it to them.

I think what you said above is perfect for saying to them. Just repeat it back to them. Practice it in a mirror if you want, imagining you are talking to them, and it'll come more easily when you need it.

It's what I do. When people around me who have things really good constantly complain and rarely if ever say they're grateful for something, I start to wonder if they're people I really want to be around. I tell them of my past and how I think I have it really good now despite not having the best car or more sex or this thing or that other thing. I tell them how much happier I am now that I've chosen to think that way.

Then I sit back and wait to see how they take it. Might take moments, might take days, might take still longer. The ones who get the wake up call are the ones I like to be around. The ones who don't I unload like bad baggage and feel so much lighter and better for it.

Regarding OPP I think we all try to play it safe by either ignoring OPP's, going along with that-which is the problem, thinking it or they will go away until they become OOP's or-OUR OWN PROBLEMS. I think the best attitude one could take is to always be open for these PP with problems when they come to you for help. You could control the situation by setting barriers where instead of you having to try to avoid them , they will try to avoid you. By the way, ever heard about a man who lived in Germany during Hitler's reign? he heard they were rounding up all of the gypsies and his attitude was; well I am no gypsy-why should I care what they do to them. Next, he heard they were rounding up Catholics, negroes and Chinese, and again he thought I am none of those people why should I even bother . It wasn't long after the soldiers came for him and his and there was no one left to which he could call.

We are a Social Species and it feels good to get people's approval even when what we are doing is wrong or just plain stupid. So, the next time you see folks doing something that is not Kosher or not good let them know about it be sure to tell them why.......we are all our brother's keeper!

There's nothing wrong with that at all. I feel the same way about other people's problems also. There's just so much more important problems to worry about than the trivial problems of people's social, personal lives.

Most people's so-called "problems" deserve to be belittled.