Strong, surprising—even offensive—takes get the most traction in the social media world. They spark conversation, debate, and the ever-important engagement.
Yet far too many creators try to avoid this behavior. They want to make sure no one will be offended by their work. They want to be “safe.”
Is this a good idea?
To be clear, I’m not talking about attacking marginalized groups. That’s punching down, and it attracts only the worst of us. Building that kind of audience makes you little more than an Orc Lord. Don’t do it.
I’m talking about challenging traditions, customs, or power structures, going after those in authority. That’s punching up, and it’s a good way to stir up controversy-inspired engagement. I’m talking about having an opinion that some people might disagree with, or a strong stance that could rub people the wrong way.
Don’t be afraid of it. Once in a while, brazenly add a sense of danger to your work in this way, ruffle some feathers, and give the impression you’re getting away with something. It will feed the algorithm and increase your chances of getting shares, likes, and comments.
You're talking about a very subtle approach to being controversial that I favor above and beyond the excesses of the "woke" ideology. It's always the technique I use for it in my fiction.
This reminds of Dave Chappelle's most recent Netflix special. It's a master class of Misplaced Focus & Shock where the joke's on him for punching down. What archetype do you think his stage persona is? I see a lot of Lovable Scoundrel.