We can’t remember who said it, but some journalist recently made virtually the same point, in that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the first “social media-driven” war, where the conflict is played out on Twitter and followed by the rest of the world. Plenty of people pointed out that that would be Syria, where images of victims went viral on social media.
Now the New York Times Thomas Friedman is arguing that Ukraine is the first real world war. We know that columnists don’t write the headlines for their own pieces, but Friedman lays out his theory is the tweet from the New York Times:
In Opinion
“I’m beginning to wonder if this conflict isn’t our first true world war,” writes @tomfriedman. “Everyone is watching.” https://t.co/TTseQFPR6W
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 3, 2022
Everyone is watching, but so far the conflict remains contained between Russia and Ukraine.
When I was in college, people used to flex about understanding foreign policy by walking around with copies of The World is Flat.
It was a music school. pic.twitter.com/KmMVf21enr
— Noam Blum (@neontaster) April 3, 2022
How is this a real headline?
— El Capitan 'Murica (@ElCapitanMurica) April 3, 2022
I’m going to assume there’s more in there than the headline hints at, but then again it’s Friedman so….
— Bob Caskey (hee/haw) (@BobCaskey) April 3, 2022
The best part of this article is how his entire thesis is "wow man everyone can watch the war on smart phones now whoa" which was cutting edge analysis when the same point was made about Syria in 2011
— Swann Marcus (@SwannMarcus89) April 3, 2022
800+ words and not once does he ever get around to making a point of why it matters/what's important.
Just blathers in dumbfound awe that we can watch the war on tik tok.
— Ari Krauss (@AriKrauss) April 3, 2022
Recommended
Surely, Morning Joe will have him on soon and they will nod along.
— Dog guy (@Catsorange1) April 3, 2022
It's the first regional territorial squabble that the media is trying to turn into a world war.
— John (@Greasaholic) April 3, 2022
Right, because the other two wars were not fought between people on simultaneous fronts in Europe, Asia, and Africa, with combatants from the same, as well as from the Americas and Australia. Certainly, those wars weren’t “world wars”.
— Zach (@Get_Gud_) April 3, 2022
So WW I and II, which killed millions of people, don't count because more sophisticated techniques and tactics were invented later? I used to be a fan of Friedman, but come on, what a silly take.
— Eileen Duggan (@DugganPubs) April 3, 2022
But you couldn’t watch it on Twitter so it doesn’t count
— Bubs (@Jenfeds73) April 3, 2022
While your struggle for attention might qualify as the most hard-fought war of our history @tomfriedman , the current conflict certainly isn't our first true world war.
— Wicked Psychologist of The West (@TeaThenPsyOps) April 3, 2022
This can’t be real
— yennefer of vengaboys 📠 (@Hegelian_Chant) April 3, 2022
He actually calls the Russia/Ukraine conflict “World War Wired.”
Just because ‘everyone is watching’ doesn’t mean it’s the first war! It’s actually YOUR fault, media fault and the owners of the media, that people are not ‘watching’ other wars. This is slap in the face for all others who went through wars or are going through one currently
— Silvia (@rheasilviaparis) April 3, 2022
Why is this guy still gainfully employed?
— Mat (@_Hydrofish) April 3, 2022
This is the single worst take on the Russia-Ukraine War I’ve read.
— Woe to the Vanquished (@DRegnum) April 3, 2022
It’s up there.
Related:
Biden staffer explains why WH has been briefing TikTok stars about war in Ukraine https://t.co/gVdecm7Zmw
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 11, 2022
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