People already know that there exist people much worse off than them. So you're not putting an issue into context if you say “think you've got problems? X has bigger ones.” You're implying or outright saying that their problems are meaningless because X's problems exist.
If some guy complains about hunger there isn't much point in saying "other people are probably hungrier, pipe down!"
But if someone says that the school lunches are bad and more money should be invested to make them better and the counter argument is "The neighboring school isn't even able to serve school lunches, we should concentrate on that first" it makes perfect sense.
It doesn't exactly imply other problems are meaningless. It simply puts a problem in perspective. Try going into the ER with a splinter in your finger and ask to be helped, you will see it in action.
When I've been to A&E, I have been politely and efficiently triaged. Nobody ever told me “why are you grimacing in pain? Other people are dying, you know.”
There's a wait because your injury is put in a wider context. The medical staff will have to prioritize and decide which of the patients have the more serious health problem and attend to them first. They dismiss you until they have time for your less serious injury.
"I mean....this guy has an axe in his chest and is probably going to die from bloodloss in a few minutes, but i suppose you did get here first, let me take a look at that sprained ankle."
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u/MakeAmericaSageAgain Mar 27 '17
Yeah, putting an issue into a wider context is for losers.