So because someone choses to describe them by the function they have on the aircraft, which is first officer, you feel the need to go on the defensive. In the US they don't even have cadets.
FYI, Captain LHS, FO RHS
FO can be any of the following: cadet, second officer, first officer, senior first officer...
These terms are thought up by beancounters who somehow feel that with the new descriptive the salary can be lowered.