Meaning of 3rd World?

[W Griffin]

On another NewsGroup there's a discussion based around/upon the meaning
of the phrase: "Third World Country".
One person is saying that "3rd World" simply means a country which
is/was neither Democratic nor Communist. That Democratic Countries were
said to be 'First World'; that all Communist Countries were 'Second World
Countries'; and, that the phrase "Third World Country" is used only in
reference to those countries that are left-over' (i.e., those outside of
the Categories of "Democratic" or "Communist").
The 'poster' says that this phrase had no 'Economic' or 'Cultural'
implications and that the phrase was only applied during the 'Cold War' (and
is no longer used). He claims that this is a 'textbook' definition of a
"3rd world country" (the only 'proof' he presents is : "I teach Philosophy
at a rather large State University").
in any case, ...his explanation of the use of the phrase (once again,
'the Third World') definitely doesn't coincide with my
observation/experience with its use. For example,
I don't remember anyone referring to "North Korea" as a 'Second World
Country' (even though it was 'Communist'). Rumania? China in the 50's?
Any light you can shed on this is much appreciated.

b.

[Joe]

In article <J6Pk3.40101$5a.4...@news20.bellglobal.com>, W Griffin
<wgri...@sympatico.ca> writes

It's not political. The first ('Old') world is Europe, the second
('New') world is the Americas and the 'Third' world is all the rest.
Including China, Japan, Australia....
--
Joe