[motohagiography]

Was disappointed that one of the comments was marked as dead on this thread.

It contained an important point (if in isolation):

"Since the rioters are protesting a Green Tax, the media (and HN) concludes that Facebook, Russia, or a general lack of cognitive ability among the French working class must be the cause."

Barring the self sabotaging dig at HN, treating peoples concerns as incoherent provokes escalation, which appears to be the case in France. The popular culture war likely reduces to traditional class lines, and history tends to treat managerial elites who develop contempt for their workers rather badly.

Between the Guardian and other newspapers forfeiting their credibility for cheap political points, and the troubling view that filter bubbles and social media censorship create a simulation that props up an increasingly unpopular elite, sites like BuzzFeed should act like they have a sense of proportion.

Surely Marie Antoinette had no idea what she would be remembered for either. If only someone could have got through to her.