Are there distinct third world opinions in one direction or the other? I've tended to assume they are non-unitary rather than broadly converging on one side or the other.
replyWhen people from developing countries praise China and communism while criticizing the United States and claiming “Europe is the same,” I find it hard to take their views seriously.
replyI think their stance often comes from a strong anti-Western bias, and sometimes from feelings of resentment.
Is it possible that you're missing something or not fully understanding their viewpoint?
replyAs someone coming from the Second world (Eastern Bloc), lived in the First world (Western Europe) and now living in the Third World (SEA Tropics), I'd say that in my opinion, a lot of the Westeners are so inherently arrogant that they don't even realize that. Some of these people would rather die from own arrogance, rather than imagining the other point of view.
replyCertainly, just as much is true in reverse, or in every direction for that matter, which is why we end up falling back to substance.
replyThe third world has the hustle and vitality that the US is slowly losing. We ignore that at our own peril.
replyHustle and vitality borne out of generally horrible conditions. I'll take what the "first world" has any day.
replyHard times make for strong men (and women)...
replyThis might be cliche, but it has truth to it. Nothing drives production and innovation quite like scarcity and financial adversity.
Yep. And then it reverses, and then again, and again...
replyWell, that is what's in the ellipsis in the parent's quote:
reply"Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times" G. Michael Hopf
Nonsense. Most third world countries have downright "lazy" cultures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siesta (note that this is common basically all through the equator even with different names, and being close to the equator is a great way to be a third world country).
replyJust for context on "laziness", do you work at a desk all day? Second question, how many animals have you personally killed prior to cleaning and cooking?
replyIs this supposed to be sarcasm?
replyIt truly depends on perspective. I can think of a lot of nations that are rightfully critical of American leadership, especially economically. Investment vehicles like data science and cryptocurrency has given the United States a reputation for spinning fake technology out of thin air. Chinese LLMs positively contribute to the market economy and incentivize American AI businesses to work harder.
replyI take these concerns seriously as a voting American. My 401k is worthless if the US continues to reward anticompetitive monopolies.