Controversy: Only by Popular Demand

This ought to be a short little essay here, one that I do not wish to dwell on for too long, though still feel it necessary to write because of what it is inspired by. I look at my article statistics, the pieces that do the best and those in the converse category of near-dead. I'm stuck asking myself, "Why does every controversial article I write have to do so well?!"

I can't stand controversial topics, because what is controversial today is so inconsequential I don't see why I let myself get dragged into the fray. At the same time this is an addictive cycle, one that I can't seem to resist, so I suppose there is an answer but I'm unsatisfied by it. Surely, there must be more, right?

It isn't often I'll dignify people with an argument, as I prefer to speculate rather than argue, but when I do it nets me profit. So I'm torn between profit, and the health of my mind, body, and spirit. I can hear it in my head, like an announcer at a circus or monster-truck rally, "Back by popular demand... controversy!"

Is taking part in this pitiful show worth it? Is gaining profit worth looking like a clown? Performing like dancing monkeys can't be the best way to make profit, right?

Then again, looking at the world, I forget we are all just apes throwing poop at one another for entertainment; the world has been this way since time immemorial.