How to be controversial without offending.

wordsandthebees · 24th Nov 2016, 05:53 AM

There's no doubt that controversy sells and one of the most effective ways to get a reaction from people is to write about something controversial. Whatever your subject, its really important that if you are going to write about something that ruffles feathers, you do it responsibly.

I don't think the reputation of any brand or business is worth a reaction which will damage the reputation of your brand which it can easily do in today's online world.
There are a few things to consider when blogging on something that is knowingly controversial and its entirely possible to do it in such a way that even if people disagree with you, your reputation needn't suffer.

1) Write in the third person.

Use facts to write your blog and don't refer to I or me. That way, if you get any backlash you can always refer people back to the facts that you've stated and referenced rather than going head to head on something that has come across as your opinion only.

2) Side with the majority.
I'd completely advise against blogging in support of a known criminal or child abuse. If your subject doesn't have a clear majority then I'd avoid it altogether and the reason for this isn't to be seen as a fence-sitter it's because if enough people report you (which they're likely to if your views are offensive), your blog will be shut down.

3) Close off with class.
Let your readers know that you know that your opinion isn't the only one, you hope you haven't offended and you welcome constructive feedback. We are fortunate enough to live with free speech and you have every right to post your opinion. I recommend doing this calmly and rationally rather than flying off the handle and having a big rant under your brand name.

4) Don't succumb to backlash.
By this I mean don't get into a slanging match with someone who has a different opinion to you. People can become very aggressive when they're hiding behind a keyboard and aren't afraid to tell you what they think. Respond with dignity and reiterate the point that you respect their views as you'd like them to respect yours.

5) Buckle up!
If you touch enough raw nerves you're likely to get feedback like you've never experienced before! Be prepared for your post or blog to go viral and for any attention that it might attract. And if not, try again!

mattsuth · 24th Nov 2016, 09:10 PM

Yeah this is great!
You see posts all the time which have really stirred people up and you know they've been written form the heart so the author knows how to defend themselves.
I'd add to this list to BE GENUINE. If you write a piece just to play Devil's Advocate and stir people intentionally it will come across in our writing and people will be even more annoyed with you. The trick is to get your point across without getting into a fight about it.
I'd also advise not to get carried away because while it can be tempting to carry on ruffling feathers once you've started, it's not the best for your reputation and like you say, is a viral post really worth damaging your brand for??

yukon · 24th Nov 2016, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by wordsandthebees

How to be controversial without offending.

Originally Posted by wordsandthebees

1) Write in the third person.

Yukon doesn't care about bogus forum profiles that write articles.

24th Nov 2016, 05:53 AM	#1
wordsandthebees HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2016 Posts: 368 Thanks: 257 Thanked 85 Times in 73 Posts	How to be controversial without offending. Share on: There's no doubt that controversy sells and one of the most effective ways to get a reaction from people is to write about something controversial. Whatever your subject, its really important that if you are going to write about something that ruffles feathers, you do it responsibly. I don't think the reputation of any brand or business is worth a reaction which will damage the reputation of your brand which it can easily do in today's online world. There are a few things to consider when blogging on something that is knowingly controversial and its entirely possible to do it in such a way that even if people disagree with you, your reputation needn't suffer. 1) Write in the third person. Use facts to write your blog and don't refer to I or me. That way, if you get any backlash you can always refer people back to the facts that you've stated and referenced rather than going head to head on something that has come across as your opinion only. 2) Side with the majority. I'd completely advise against blogging in support of a known criminal or child abuse. If your subject doesn't have a clear majority then I'd avoid it altogether and the reason for this isn't to be seen as a fence-sitter it's because if enough people report you (which they're likely to if your views are offensive), your blog will be shut down. 3) Close off with class. Let your readers know that you know that your opinion isn't the only one, you hope you haven't offended and you welcome constructive feedback. We are fortunate enough to live with free speech and you have every right to post your opinion. I recommend doing this calmly and rationally rather than flying off the handle and having a big rant under your brand name. 4) Don't succumb to backlash. By this I mean don't get into a slanging match with someone who has a different opinion to you. People can become very aggressive when they're hiding behind a keyboard and aren't afraid to tell you what they think. Respond with dignity and reiterate the point that you respect their views as you'd like them to respect yours. 5) Buckle up! If you touch enough raw nerves you're likely to get feedback like you've never experienced before! Be prepared for your post or blog to go viral and for any attention that it might attract. And if not, try again!

24th Nov 2016, 09:10 PM	#2
mattsuth Active Warrior Join Date: 2016 Posts: 61 Thanks: 60 Thanked 23 Times in 15 Posts	Re: How to be controversial without offending. Share on: Yeah this is great! You see posts all the time which have really stirred people up and you know they've been written form the heart so the author knows how to defend themselves. I'd add to this list to BE GENUINE. If you write a piece just to play Devil's Advocate and stir people intentionally it will come across in our writing and people will be even more annoyed with you. The trick is to get your point across without getting into a fight about it. I'd also advise not to get carried away because while it can be tempting to carry on ruffling feathers once you've started, it's not the best for your reputation and like you say, is a viral post really worth damaging your brand for??