The high school blockades, once playful gatherings involving trash and light-hearted exchanges of jokes, have escalated into violent and chaotic events. Experts are pointing to a broader cultural shift—particularly in education and justice systems—where an overemphasis on "kindness" has seemingly eroded traditional authority. Caroline Goldman, a child psychologist, and Didier Pleux, author of From the King Child to the Tyrant Child (2002), have expressed concerns about what they call a "catastrophic kind education." They argue that methods like the "time-out" approach, which impose limits on behavior, have been unfairly criticized as harsh or even authoritarian by those who advocate for a more gentle, permissive approach. Matthieu Grimpret, a former middle and high school literature teacher, published Bullshit Kindness: An Inquiry into Positive Psychology in School in 2025. In it, he criticizes what he describes as "lazy friendship"—a concept he claims can be as damaging to students as it is to teachers. Grimpret recalls a time when the term "kindness" wasn’t as popular, and he remembers female head teachers advising him to be less strict with students, a suggestion he chose to ignore. The situation has taken a particularly alarming turn with reports of significant damage to schools. A Twitter post from BFM cited the president of the Pays de Loire region estimating the damage to the Nelson Mandela high school at "two million euros" and calling on parents to contribute to the costs. These blockades have evolved from what was once seen as a harmless form of student folklore to acts of vandalism, and in some cases, attacks on police officers, teachers, or other adults present at the schools. The overlap of these blockades with unrest in the banlieues (suburbs) has raised concerns about the broader social tensions at play. Maurice Berger, a specialist in violent youth behavior, wrote in Le Figaro on October 6 that the lack of a criminal record could be seen as a form of near-absolution before any punishment is considered. He criticized a generation of young people who seem to take pleasure in destructive behavior. Meanwhile, the "kind" minister Geffray has called for more dialogue, a stance that emphasizes compassion but has drawn criticism for being ineffective. Emmanuel Grégoire proposed a solution involving inviting students to meet in local mayoral offices if their schools are closed, though it remains unclear whether funding is available to address the damage or prevent further incidents. On October 4, during a live broadcast on LCI, Ruth Elkrief made a startling claim that some judges and members of the Syndicat de la magistrature (a French judicial union) may be politically influenced. This assertion surprised many and raised questions about the impartiality of the judiciary. The "Malik Oussekine syndrome" has been frequently referenced in the media, highlighting the tragic nature of the incidents and pointing to a larger issue: the perceived legitimacy of violence by the state, which citizens may be complicit in allowing.