Conflict and controversy are some of the simplest ways to draw attention one’s self in our modern entertainment age.

We know that the mainstream media’s “news” entertainment channels are fond of invoking both of these means of emotional response in order to generate viewership and revenue…It has been rather apparent as of late with their incessant push for a “New Civil War” and their near-constant divisiveness.

Of course, being imbued with this knowledge grants us the serenity to see past some of these pedantic ratings stunts and “hot takes” meant to make headlines.

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Take Bill Maher for example, who realized this week that the fastest way to get millennials to talk about him was to insult recently deceased comic book legend Stan Lee.

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Lee, who died earlier this week at the age of 95, created iconic comic book characters including Spider-Man, the Hulk, and the X-Men, while also helping to re-invent characters Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and other signature characters for Marvel’s main rival DC Comics.

In a blog post published on his website Saturday, Maher wrote: “The guy who created Spider-Man and the Hulk has died, and America is in mourning. Deep, deep mourning for a man who inspired millions to, I don’t know, watch a movie, I guess.”

“But then twenty years or so ago, something happened – adults decided they didn’t have to give up kid stuff. And so they pretended comic books were actually sophisticated literature,” Maher continued.

“The problem is, we’re using our smarts on stupid stuff. I don’t think it’s a huge stretch to suggest that Donald Trump could only get elected in a country that thinks comic books are important,” the comedian wrote.
Maher’s comments drew immediate ire from comic book fans and writers alike, with cartoonist Greg Capullo and writer G. Willow Wilson denouncing Maher’s analysis.

Let me say; it doesn’t matter how you feel about Stan Lee or comic books or Donald Trump.  What matters is that we recognize when Bill Maher is blatantly dipping into the anger pool to generate wealth on his own behalf.

This is the same sort of shock-jock stunt that made singers like Marilyn Manson famous, but done under the guise of a supposedly astute intellect.

Instead of hearing Maher pontificate thoughtfully, (which we will admit he is at times capable of), we were forced to endure yet another mindlessly offensive and calculated thought meant to engage us in anger.