There’s another common theme in comments to that video about Ethan Van Sciver: oh, no, he’s not using right-wing rage to promote himself. Uh, yes, he is. That’s what his entire channel is about, claiming that the SJWs are coming to take your comic books away. They’re killing your movies. They’re turning women into merciless, man-hating lesbians. He’s using the Fox News/Donald Trump model of engagement.
It’s all about anger as a tool.
In other words, anger is a powerful tool in the worlds of both politics and media. Anger is why narratives about people being “outraged,” written with the intent of actually making readers feel an outrage over that (real or imagined) outrage, are so popular in political media. A lot has happened since Ryan published his study in 2012, but the state of politics and media would seem to only bolster his conclusions.
Keeping audiences lathered into a perpetual state of outrage is good politics and good business. Look no further than Fox News for proof.
Was there ever really a “War on Christmas” involving mass calls to ban Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the song Baby, It’s Cold Outside? No. Is Purdue University trying to ban the word “man”? Also no. Does Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) want to steal your steak? Not at all. Is Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) proposing that we “get rid of children?” Absolutely not.
Are the SJWs coming to rip the comic books out of your hands, replacing them with feminist tracts, full of flat-chested old ladies in loose clothing? Nope.
Although this idea of fanning the flames of hatred to drive traffic to your site has some merit. I’ve been doing it lately. Why do you think I’ve been posting all this stuff about spiders? It’s to get you seething and coming back for more.
Is it working?
Remind me again – the vicious, poisonous, creepy ones I wanted to beat to death with a stick – were those spiders or Republicans?
Angry about manufactured manipulative media outrage!
The narrative over left-wing outrage that ignores right-wing outrage is particularly galling.
@Tabby Lavalamp yeah, and that whole “I know you are but what am I?” projection tactic
As I keep telling my prank-prone coworkers, I’m terrified of Scotch ale…
Sounds like my cycling club. As fine a bunch of wrinkly old reprobates as you’ll find anywhere.
Regards spiders and seething outrage I’m not sure you have the process down pat. Maybe they could be lesbian feminazi spiders?
A little late to the party, but yes, I come back to a fresh breath of air. Honest outrage and naked spiders!
Two words.
Straw & Man.
Its dirty and nasty BUT it works.