Why is it that questions of a controversial nature usually get more replies than questions that aren't controversial?

I'm not sure Andy, but I do know that when I was on a large site before this one, my most popular poll was actually a poll about what seat do you prefer on an airplane?  No kidding!  But I do banter a lot with people that come to my posts and I was always posting cool pictures and gifs.  It was a lot of fun.  I dare say there were over 400 hits on that darn thing (admittedly a lot of it was me responding to people) and it was featured on the site's main page.

Maybe because people are more "passionate" about the controversial topics than the run of the mill questions.  If you strike a nerve with people .. they're more apt to speak out.  You can only answer "What's your favorite song/movie/TV show?" so many times before you pass on those.

Yep.  And people write essays, sometimes novellas because their opinions will save the world, you know.  And those threads never make me laugh.

Good post, Andy. 

There are currently 2338 members of Answermug, so, allowing for those who for various reasons aren't currently active, a question like "What's your favourite song/movie/TV show?" could easily get 1000 answers from different members. Remember too that most people are "passionate" about their favourite songs/movies/TV shows, far more so in my social circle than they are about controversial topics such as politics or religion. Over the last 30 years or so, I've found that most people would rather avoid those topics and talk about entertainment instead when they are out socialising. What makes social interacting on the Internet so vastly different from social interacting in a pub?

There is no longer a choice as to what seats to prefer on an aeroplane, because smoking is no longer allowed on them, whereas in the glory days of those "Airport" movies, one could book a flight and be offered "smoking or no smoking" seats, so that question would be moot in this day and age. However did a question like that get 400 hits? I wouldn't expect it to even get 4 in view of the facts I just described.

I don't think those essays and novellas are meant to be funny, Thriftymaid. The people who write those are usually serious, although I rarely bother to read their posts let alone take them seriously.

Well, the way the question actually evolved was in a discussion about the experience of flying in general.  It turns out a lot of people can relate to the aggravations of being stuck let's say in the middle seat or what it's like to be in window seat and need to get up more than once.  It really was a humorous post and I remember laughing out loud at some of the pictures and gifs people posted for me.  

It's easy to pick on the airlines.  LOL

Oh, I see. The way I see it is that it doesn't really matter on a plane whether one sits in a window seat or not because there's no scenery to look at up there, just sky. When I travel on a train I like to get a window seat whenever possible because I like to look at the surroundings, be they urban or rural. But there's nothing like that to see out of a plane, so why would anyone make a big song and dance about where they sit on a plane, whether it's a serious question or a humorous one? Lol:)

That is exactly why the question worked.  It got everyone that participated in the mode of being silly.  It was a rare hit since most of the popular questions are indeed the ones centering around controversy.  

It's because they raise more discussions, or even arguing so among opposite minded people. Whereas a question about Pink Floyd, which by the way have made a lot of great music is more for a niche of people. That niche won't most of the time be disagreeing as much.

On the other hand, we're also always hearing that people wonder why the silly/nonsense questions get more answers than the serious ones.  I guess it all depends on which ones stand out more for each individual.

That's my point.  I never read anything over a couple of lines because there is no chance of it being entertaining.  I don't mind discussing things a bit but I much more enjoy humor and wit...........clean and intelligent please.  I find the people on this site, not including former ABers, don't have easy going and fun sense of humor type personalities.  They take themselves too seriously and think their opinions matter when they just don't.  Just my observation shared with a former AB guy.

"I think it has something to do with people who ask a question, but don't always get the answers they seek"

That's one reason why it's better to ask questions that elicit specific answers, although some have disagreed with me on that. The truth of the matter is that I don't want discussions that turn into back-and-forth, tit-for-tat, etc. I much prefer a straightforward answer to a question, whether I personally agree with that answer or not.

I think you've nailed it there, SH. You see, I would rather have a situation where people are agreeing more and arguing less, preferably not arguing at all if at all possible. Pink Floyd was just an example that came off the top of my head, I could have mentioned some other popular band, but my point remains the same. My point is that it is not necessary to argue, it gets rather tiresome after a very short time (certainly a shorter time than the average Pink Floyd song). Lol:)

I much prefer entertainment-type questions.

At those controversial question areas, I often end up shaking my head in irritation and/or allow myself to get angry at some people's words.

I need less irritation and anger in my life and so I usually don't answer those questions. (Exceptions, of course.)

By far, the most answers I ever got (I think it was 53 answers) in answerbag was when I asked

"Have you ever thrown anything at a TV screen?"

;)

I feel much the same way as you do, Welby. I too need less irritation and anger in my life. I have never actually thrown anything at a TV screen (if I did it would probably break the screen) but I must admit there have been times when I've felt like it. Lol:)

:)

Ha!

Thanks, Andy B!

Thanks, Nicko!

:)