[lmm]

On the contrary, I'd say it proves their point. They don't know or care whether it's about Polynesians or Melanesians (and I don't think you care either - would you have considered their comment fine if they'd named the correct group of people?). It doesn't matter.

[jwkpiano1]

You’re dead wrong, I do care. It does matter. I disagree with the comment but I would not have responded this way if it hadn’t made such a blatant factual error. If we’re going to make assumptions about the internal mental state of other commenters, would you have said the same thing if he misidentified, say, Germans for French? I don’t think you would have.

[lmm]

> would you have said the same thing if he misidentified, say, Germans for French?

In a context like this? Yes. I struggle to think of a phrase that bears the same relation to France or Germany, but can't think I'd care more. (I think I heard once that the "let them eat cake" princess was actually in Spain rather than France? But no-one cares)