Did anyone else note that emphasizes of tolerance/respect over merit, and this causes accumulation of degradation, corruption and Third world traits?

2026-06-20 08:24 UTC

Has anyone else noticed that parts of Third world such as North India tend to place a stronger emphasis on seniority, kinship, and respect for hierarchy than on merit? One consequence may be the persistence of outdated systems and practices, as established norms are less likely to be challenged. On the other hand, many cities known for rapid economic and technological progress often place greater emphasis on merit, competence, and maintaining a high bar for entry. This can create an environment where innovation and performance are prioritized over status or personal connections.

Replies (4)

@metermatic26@lemmy.world 2026-06-20 09:31

Yes, absolutely. Its by no means scientific (at least I’m not aware of any research on the subject), but I have worked with colleagues from Mumbai for years and I have experienced many situations in which socials norms -especially adherence to hierarchy- strongly hampered results. In fact, this is by no means an issue limited to the Third world. In my experience this issue also pops up a lot in sectors of Western economies, such as banking, hospitals or construction. Companies that strongly value hierarchy tend to have persistent problems with things like workplace safety, compliance and innovation. In fact, we have an unique example of how values and beliefs can hamper effectiveness and results in the form of the Trump administration. Trump blatantly favors loyalty and obedience over competence. He has effectively purged nearly all offices of government of political opponents, but in doing so he has filled the ranks with unapologetic yes-men who are utterly incompetent at their assigned task. The speed with which this has degraded the US economy, military power, political influence etc. is absolutely astounding and is very similar to countries considered ‘Third World’.

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@formlessoedon@lemmy.ml 2026-06-20 10:29

“Accumulation of third world traits” is going right into the Eurocentric brain-melt dictionary

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@Nemo@slrpnk.net 2026-06-20 13:07

Y I K E S Anyone who would use a phrase like “third-world traits” is exactly the person who needs to learn better to accept and respect others. Moving on, it’s also been repeatedly made clear that “merit”, to those in power, means “perpetuating existing power structures”. Those who write the metrics favor those that are similar to themselves.

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@black0ut@pawb.social 2026-06-20 17:10

This sounds a lot like suicidal empathy, a right wing ultra nationalist and racist dog whistle used to justify discrimination against minorities.

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