• sbird@retrofed.com
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      2 days ago

      “First world” was a Cold War era term, where “first world” is America-aligned nations (so by definition, that would include the U.S.), “second world” was Soviet-sligned (no longer really in use since the Soviets no longer exist), and third world was everybody who didn’t pick a side (so China after Sino-Soviet split, India, Brazil, etc.)

      Most organisations use the more neutral terms “developed” and “developing”, and the U.S. is definitely a developed nation (there are less binary terms that economists and such use to categorise even further that you could look into, just check the organisation who runs it since many can be biased towards certain things compared to others)

      • XiJinpingStanAccount@lemmy.ml
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        1 day ago

        Personally I think those terms are still kinda weird. Like “developed” isn’t a binary. You never stop developing as a nation. Sometimes you backslide too.

        • jfrnz@lemmy.world
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          18 hours ago

          You’re not alone, that’s why they’re only used today in Reddit/Lemmy comments and Republican tweets. Oh, recently probably Executive Orders too.

      • plantfanatic@sh.itjust.works
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        2 days ago

        Sure, continue to perpetuate the selfish and ignorant defintion dude! You’re only making things worse by trying to reuse the antiquated USA centric definition. Only Americans use that one still.

        • sbird@retrofed.com
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          2 days ago

          I am not trying to encourage the use of the term (it was a Cold War term), the idea of developing nations being part of the “third world” implies that they are far lesser than the first world nations, so it’s a stupid term that nobody should use in my opinion.

          • plantfanatic@sh.itjust.works
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            2 days ago

            What’s wrong with the modern defintion?

            You’re refusing to even believe there’s another one, if you perpetuate the antiquated one, and incorrectly try and correct someone who is trying to use it right, you’re only making things worse.

            • sbird@retrofed.com
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              1 day ago

              Again, the idea of developing nations being in a “third” world isn’t good. Putting down people from being a “third world” country isn’t good. I am not advocating for this term, it is a stupid term that international organisations no longer use.

              And yes, alternatives exist. Developed/developing is better, though not perfect, and there are other, more accurate metrics and classifications on the development of nations

    • gingernate@sopuli.xyz
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      2 days ago

      That’s not the definition of first world… Switzerland is a third world country by definition

      • plantfanatic@sh.itjust.works
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        2 days ago

        Anywhere but the selfish United States it is. Do they not teach you how words and language can evolve…?

        The only place still using the antiquated definition is the US. I think it’s so they can feel better or something, but yeah. Stop perpetuating outdated and racist definitions.

        • sbird@retrofed.com
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          2 days ago

          We aren’t advocating Cold War era definitions! We’re saying first/third world is stupid and nobody should really use it!! There’s a reason why most economists and such use developed/developing (or less binary classifications)

          • gingernate@sopuli.xyz
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            1 day ago

            This exactly!!! hahahha. Saying third world to refer to poor places is the antiquated and racist omg haha.

            • plantfanatic@sh.itjust.works
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              1 day ago

              Who’s refering to poor places? The link provides multiple metrics, and lots of developing countries meet it. But anytime it gets talked about, all anyone does is bring up the antiquated defintion to derail the conversation.

              Your defence is what people use to try and prevent the US from being labeled properly as third world. Which is just funny as hell.