Writing for the Masses

I am a student of human behavior, an observationalist, a people-watcher. I watch human behavior with much interest, and perhaps that's why I majored in psychology and minored in sociology in college. Psychology is essentially the study of human behavior and chemistry of the individual while sociology looks at the affect of human behavior on society as a whole - to me, both equally fascinating subjects.

I have worked in social services, advocacy, criminal justice, and the corporate world, but alas, my love, my passion and my dream is to write. I write fiction, poetry, articles, what have you. Why do I write? Because I love it. Because I have a passion for it. But more than that, I read, I study, I research - just because I love knowledge and I love observing human behavior - reading and writing can bring those two things together.

However, I mostly write because when I read, I am intrigued by certain topics, read many various opinions and facts on the subject, and then put them all together to form my own opinion, which I then usually have a burning desire to share and discuss it with others. That's why I write many of the articles I have written.

I do my best to back my opinions up with facts and research, but we all know that statistics can be skewed to match just about any opinion on any subject if you want to make them match badly enough. Still, I love the debate. I love the discussion of an issue, when two or more people passionately relay their views to each other, seldom coming to a consensus, but knowing the topic was thoroughly explored and each side of the issue argued well.

It's exhilarating, exciting, and for me, dare I say, fun!

What is not fun is when people cannot keep the focus on the topic at hand and revert to attacking the individual for their opinions. I know many wonderful writers whose opinions on certain subjects I do not agree with, but I respect quality writing and conclusions, even if I disagree with the topics. I also try my best to respect the writer as a person, knowing there is not a single person on this planet with whom I will always agree about every issue.

If you want page views and lots of different readers, one sure fired way to achieve that, regardless of the quality of your writing or the quality of the conclusions you have drawn, is to write about controversial subjects and hold a strong opinion for or against that subject in your writing.

I prefer to take a different tack in my writing, and try to explore both sides of an issue before I draw my conclusions and state them as personal opinion. I realize this isn't going to get me heated arguments and debate, and it will reduce my page views, but I feel it keeps my writing balanced for me.

You see, I write about what interests me, and I hope it will spark something in another and interest them too. When I read, I want to read something that makes me think, causes me to question a belief or opinion I have enough to want to know more, or that sparks some type of emotion in me. THAT is what I consider good writing, even if I do not agree with the opinions held by the author. Someone who can do this, without turning me off with hate speech, biased 'facts', or blatant ridiculous conjecture is indeed an excellent writer.

It's true that page views and readers will flock to the popular and controversial. If you want to be this type of writer, that is quite all right with me. I respect that decision. On the other hand, some of the greatest writers of our time are little known authors who do not draw large crowds to comment on their pieces. However, these writers have developed a loyal readership, who respects their opinions even when they disagree, and they become respected in their skill and craft and unbiased presentation.

I'm not saying that controversial writers do not become respected for their craft. There are many controversial subject writers who I hold in high esteem - even those who I disagree with, provided their writing is not hate filled, ranting, and lacking of any factual evidence or theories to back up what is nothing more than a personal opinion, unfounded at best, fallacious at worst, and often just downright not worth the time to read or give credence too.

It takes a tough skin to be a good controversial writer, and honestly, I am too emotionally connected to my writing most of the time to write controversially, unless I truly feel very passionately about the subject. That is why I honestly respect an excellent writer who can write controversially but still make sense in doing so.

One should never write to offend - writing should be about education, sharing opinions, relaying information, and stating opinions backed up by facts and research. If all someone wants to do is rant about their personal opinions, perhaps a blog is a better solution for writing, instead of attempting to appear to be an expert on a subject, when all the writer is really doing ranting about things they don't like or promoting things they do.

My suggestion to those of you who do like to write to entice the masses and incite controversy, please keep doing it! I love to read a well written opinion piece that I can tell is passionate, but please back your opinions up with facts and research that I can follow to learn more about your topic and try to understand your point of view. If you truly feel so strongly about your opinion as to write about it, then let me know why you feel the way you feel, spark something in me to make me want to take a stand or have an opinion, opposing or not.

Then when others dare to hold differing opinions, respond with respect and facts, research, or additional information - attack the opinion, but not the person, and I guarantee you will find a loyal reader in me, even if I don't agree with all you have to say.

My hat's off to those excellent controversial opinion writers who do this properly. Yours is a skill and a craft that is most difficult to attain, and if you do it well, you deserve every page view or dedicated reader you have gained.