I was wondering about the origins of this and a couple other kid things that somehow managed to spread far and wide without the internet involved for the past few days, myself. It’s crazy how this kind of stuff likely does not have a concrete starting point that you can say “this nusery rhyme originated from little Billy Sojack, age 6, on the playground of Chester A. Arthur elementary in Small Town, OH on Jan 3rd, 1967.”
I knew they said it in Australia and Canada, though - I don’t know, I guess I just assumed it was a commonwealth thing. It’s got that specific flavour of daftness to it.
tlekiteki@lemmy.dbzer0.com
on 10 Mar 02:33
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Yes! The Americans reject some elements of English culture just for being weird.
fletcher_bosom@lemmy.world
on 10 Mar 02:07
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Jimmy.
betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world
on 10 Mar 02:12
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Some kid who spends their time coming up with rhymes instead of getting good at running fast, probably.
weimaraner_of_doom@piefed.social
on 10 Mar 14:07
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Jimmy came in first place. What a loser!
– The Kid in Second Place
SolidShake@lemmy.world
on 10 Mar 02:13
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SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone
on 10 Mar 02:29
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Someone who sucks because the second half doesn’t even fucking rhyme. Like that’s the best you could do?? You’d be second in a poetry competition/rap battle as well.
OriginEnergySux@lemmy.world
on 10 Mar 03:03
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“First the worst, second the best” is a playground chant of unknown, likely early-to-mid 20th-century origin, commonly used by children in the UK, US, Canada, and New Zealand to tease those in the first two positions. It is a form of oral folklore used to mock the winner and praise the runner-up.
Anyone remember that “First is the worst, second is the best” rhyme kids used to do? Where did that come from?
Oh yeah? I don’t see you with a treasure chest
kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world
on 10 Mar 04:21
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When I was in Kindergarten, we would all race to get to our seats in the morning and call out “first”, “second”, “third” and so on as we sat down. We’d of course, always have the first two jeering and arguing about being in “First place!” And “First is the worst, second is best!” No idea how a bunch of 5-6 year olds knew this ubiquitous phrase.
But there was this one weird kid who kept coming in third, and he’d always say the same thing. “Well, actually, if you start counting at 0, then I’m actually second. So I’m the best.” And that guy was the worst. I wish I could say that that kid was destined to be a programmer and got an early start on the meme, but no… he was just just dumb and still is.
Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk
on 10 Mar 05:45
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All I can remember from being at primary school in the 80s is that the first three were the only consistent ones.
First the worst, second the best, third the one with the hairy chest.
After that it changed depending on the day/time/vibes
I recall - fourth the dirty donkey, 5th the golden eagle.
We all got bored after that.
jaschen306@sh.itjust.works
on 10 Mar 12:27
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I distinctively remember the hair chest one.
SkipWapPallyPap@lemmy.world
on 12 Mar 04:22
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I always heard it as “first the worst, second the same, third the best of all the game”. I wonder if its a regional thing.
threaded - newest
I was wondering about the origins of this and a couple other kid things that somehow managed to spread far and wide without the internet involved for the past few days, myself. It’s crazy how this kind of stuff likely does not have a concrete starting point that you can say “this nusery rhyme originated from little Billy Sojack, age 6, on the playground of Chester A. Arthur elementary in Small Town, OH on Jan 3rd, 1967.”
I’m surprised they have it in the US!
I knew they said it in Australia and Canada, though - I don’t know, I guess I just assumed it was a commonwealth thing. It’s got that specific flavour of daftness to it.
Yes! The Americans reject some elements of English culture just for being weird.
Jimmy.
Some kid who spends their time coming up with rhymes instead of getting good at running fast, probably.
Jimmy came in first place. What a loser! – The Kid in Second Place
Yeah. But third’s a turd so…
Third’s the one with the hairy chest!
That’s not all! That’s not all!
Someone who sucks because the second half doesn’t even fucking rhyme. Like that’s the best you could do?? You’d be second in a poetry competition/rap battle as well.
It does rhyme. The e in second and best are assonant.
the fuck did you just call me?
You should hear what he called your mother last night.
Well, looks like we got ourselves a reader!
Also third is the one in the polka-dot vest.
Because they forget the last bit: First the worst, Second the best, Third the one with the hairy chest
I didn’t know what OP was talking about until your comment unlocked the memory.
I’ll send you an invoice for my services
“First the worst, second the best” is a playground chant of unknown, likely early-to-mid 20th-century origin, commonly used by children in the UK, US, Canada, and New Zealand to tease those in the first two positions. It is a form of oral folklore used to mock the winner and praise the runner-up.
Thats wot googel sed
Google or Google ai?
Google ai summerising google
In the future, don’t
Anyone remember that “First is the worst, second is the best” rhyme kids used to do? Where did that come from?
Now I’m best. No takebacks.
Oh yeah? I don’t see you with a treasure chest
When I was in Kindergarten, we would all race to get to our seats in the morning and call out “first”, “second”, “third” and so on as we sat down. We’d of course, always have the first two jeering and arguing about being in “First place!” And “First is the worst, second is best!” No idea how a bunch of 5-6 year olds knew this ubiquitous phrase.
But there was this one weird kid who kept coming in third, and he’d always say the same thing. “Well, actually, if you start counting at 0, then I’m actually second. So I’m the best.” And that guy was the worst. I wish I could say that that kid was destined to be a programmer and got an early start on the meme, but no… he was just just dumb and still is.
All I can remember from being at primary school in the 80s is that the first three were the only consistent ones.
First the worst, second the best, third the one with the hairy chest.
After that it changed depending on the day/time/vibes
I recall - fourth the dirty donkey, 5th the golden eagle.
We all got bored after that.
I distinctively remember the hair chest one.
I always heard it as “first the worst, second the same, third the best of all the game”. I wonder if its a regional thing.