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Ahh yes, the old Ford/Chevy debate. In our modern daily lives, the click-bait comparison debate is as ubiquitous as the headline itself. It's a siren song that lures us in with promises of settling that age-old question: "Which is better: this or that?" Whether it's "This Actresses Dress!" or "The Secret to Cooking Perfect Eggs Every Time!," "9mm vs 40: We finally settled this!" (engage massive eye roll) we can't resist the temptation to click, even if we know deep down that we're being played, which you absolutely are.
But what is it about these debates that have us hooked? And why do companies continue to use them to their advantage? The answer lies in the psychology behind our decision-making process. We humans are hardwired to make comparisons. It's how we determine the value of things and make choices in our daily lives. When we see a headline that pits two options against each other, or even just gives an opinion in the form of an absolute, it triggers a sense of curiosity and a need to express our feelings. We want to know which one comes out on top, and moreover, we want it to be our opinion that prevails, because that information gives us a sense of control and certainty in an uncertain world. Especially if other people validate us. However, the truth is often more nuanced than the simplistic binary choices presented to us. Companies know this and use it to their advantage. By creating clickbait, they can manipulate us into engaging with their content, which ultimately benefits their bottom line. The more clicks, shares, and comments they get, the more revenue they generate through a myriad of means. But at what cost to us? These engagements distract us from important things in life, like meaningful conversations, personal growth, enjoying time with people who matter, building that homemade flamethrower, feeding your baby armadillo, etc. They can also lead to a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) and social anxiety, as we feel pressured to participate in the debate or risk being left behind, or worse yet, our feelings being missed out on by the entire universe. In the end, we're not really learning anything new, gaining any insight, or teaching anyone anything; we're just mindlessly scrolling and clicking our way through life, screaming into a deafening void of opinions on irrelevant and unanswerable questions. So, the next time you find yourself getting sucked into a click-bait comparison, take a step back and ask yourself: "Self, am I getting anything out of this? Or am I just being played by a corporate machine designed to exploit my human desire to be heard?" The choice is yours but remember: there's more to life than arguing on the internet. In the end, there is rarely one correct answer. The real answer to almost any polarizing debate is....... going to be covered in a later article, so be sure to check back in.
That being said, follow us on instagram and facebook @jsdrakeoutdoors and @drakefinesportingarms for access to my most recent poll: "If science can reintroduce the Dodo, should we re-eradicate it just for fun?"