I recognize the general hypocrisy of a guy who spends his day trying to build web traffic complaining about someone else's formula (and it is a formula) to do so, but if Neetzan Zimmerman, of The Daily What and Gawker said this to a New York Times reporter with a straight face, I really have to re-evaluate my perspective on humanity in general:
“It really comes from a place of knowing what historically has done well,” he said, “and what generally tends to stir conversation.” Cats, Mr. Zimmerman said, are a surefire bet, as are stories about zombies and videos of flash mobs or public marriage proposals.