Oddbean new post about login | logout it was more about creating incentives to attract the "slow" masses, busy with the daily hustle and bustle of surviving and working. "hey guys come be useful over here and apply your skills in a new way, try not to be stupid about it"
sex sells, so does violence. if you want less people being stupid you'll have to wait till the money is fixed and more people can survive longer on less. also, the reason sex and violence (and their derivatives such as love/romance righteous indignation/gore) sell is because it appeals to our biology, it literally stimulates chemicals in our body.