whinescale
noun
A continuum measuring the seriousness of personal problems, and therefore how much whining they justify.
“And the insurance won’t pay for it either - that’s assuming they let me keep the job in the first place,” said Dorian. He shook his head. “Anyway, enough about me. How’ve you been doing?"
Isaiah opened his mouth, and then closed it. Before he met up with Dorian at the bar, he’d been upset from finding out how small his annual bonus was going to be that year. After hearing Dorian vent about what was going on in his life, Isaiah knew his own problems were so much further down the whinescale that it would be rude to even mention them.
“Oh, you know. I’ve been good,” Isaiah said finally.