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Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,068,476 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jm31828
To the people who say there isn't much difference in the standard of living for the professional type of people in 1st world and 2nd world countries, I have to disagree- there is still a big difference. My wife is from China so we go back there to visit from time to time. Her family and friends are all pretty well off, many earning really nice incomes that give them tons of spending money, nice cars, etc. But yet their actual living situation is still not very nice by our standards- they live in these apartments that are worth what many houses here in the US would cost ($200,000 USD or more) that literally look in the exterior and hallways like the worst of the worst tennements here, and inside their apartments/condos are gloomy, concrete block and tile places that are spartan, ugly, and lack many of the modern conveniences we take for granted. (for example hot water to anything but the shower, central heating or air conditioning, or even having a separate shower- most of them just close the door to the bathroom, and shower right there in front of the toilet with water getting all over the bathroom with exposed electrical wires for the water heater dangerously close), etc. And these are buildings that are only 10 years old in one of China's richest cities (guangzhou), I shudder to think of what it's like for people with less money or in other not so prosperous areas.
Sure they wear designer clothes, have nice TV's and computers, when you see them out at the stores or on vacations you might think they are living a very first world life, but go back to see where they actually live and it's quite depressing... yes even for those that have good money. My wife's parents have a lot more money than we do, but yet our basic home here in the Seattle suburbs is an amazingly nice place by their standards.
We had a Chinese friend who invited us to his home, an apartment in Chongqing. He was middle of the road by Chinese standards but his apartment was quite nice, nothing flashy but clean, with all the modern amenities. In. Beijing I saw new housing estates that looked like Wisteria lane, with BMWs, mercs, jags in the driveway.
I'd also consider a lot of Middle Eastern countries third world because even though many are fairly wealthy, the governments are very oppressive and the society is often stuck in time.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,068,476 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by callmemaybe
I'd also consider a lot of Middle Eastern countries third world because even though many are fairly wealthy, the governments are very oppressive and the society is often stuck in time.
Saudi Arabia is the ultimate example of the glaring contrast between hi-technology and wealthy and Medieval laws.
Interesting observation, and I generally agree with this. I have seen it in my travels to Russia in the 1990's and Brazil over the last decade.
The question is, chicken or the egg? Are self-oriented societies more likely to seek wealth or does wealth make people less dependent on family?
Also I wanna add - family oriented societies aren't necessarily more loving. My Germanic family has a lot of love in it, we just don't really see a reason to constantly be on each other's case, or a burning need to visit our cousins all the time. But when anyone needs someone, we are there.
agree on africa, but asia is different, as there are pretty well-off countries/territories like japan, singapore, hong kong, south korea, etc.
Yeah I mean, saying 'at least we're not Africa' is kinda like saying, 'at least I'm not being eaten by sharks', it's like yeah, mkay, doesn't mean it's good!
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,068,476 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by callmemaybe
Yeah I mean, saying 'at least we're not Africa' is kinda like saying, 'at least I'm not being eaten by sharks', it's like yeah, mkay, doesn't mean it's good!
Yes, being homeless in Singapore or Japan is no fun. There is little to know social welfare in Singapore, it's kind of like economically very right wing yet has a pretty authoritarian almost communist-style government. It's only ever had one party, despite supposedly having a multi-party system.
05-30-2012, 08:39 PM
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I don’t enjoy using generalized terms such as "first world", "second world", "third world", "developed", "developing", "undeveloped", "West", and "East".
I prefer to describe countries with other words that is more exciting and stimulating to use when describing and can be as accurate/even more accurate for the situation in those countries.
For this thread topic, I will make an exception and briefly use the terms "first world" and "second world," even though almost all the time I don’t use those terms.
Some second world countries can be equally desirable places as some first world countries, but it depends on the exact place.
For “second world” countries China, Thailand, Vietnam, India rate very highly. They rate higher for me than some first world countries such as New Zealand, Poland, Ireland.
Simultaneously, I enjoy plenty of countries classified in “first world" while enjoying plenty of "second world" countries too.
There is a significant amount of second world countries that still do well in plenty of categories such as quality of life, excitement, and what they offer.
Second world countries have to wait 6 - 9 months for an operation?
In Canada, where I live, one can wait up to a year just to see a specialist (to book a consultation), and then there's the wait for the operation. Medical care, when you finally get it, is good, but many people die here waiting to see specialists.
I don’t enjoy using generalized terms such as "first world", "second world", "third world", "developed", "developing", "undeveloped", "West", and "East".
I prefer to describe countries with other words that is more exciting and stimulating to use when describing and can be as accurate/even more accurate for the situation in those countries.
For this thread topic, I will make an exception and briefly use the terms "first world" and "second world," even though almost all the time I don’t use those terms.
Some second world countries can be equally desirable places as some first world countries, but it depends on the exact place.
For “second world” countries China, Thailand, Vietnam, India rate very highly. They rate higher for me than some first world countries such as New Zealand, Poland, Ireland.
Simultaneously, I enjoy plenty of countries classified in “first world" while enjoying plenty of "second world" countries too.
There is a significant amount of second world countries that still do well in plenty of categories such as quality of life, excitement, and what they offer.
Don't be silly.
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