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There's a term in comedy that I think should be co-opted for more mainstream use. Whenever a comedian consistently takes the easy joke, appeals to the baser instincts of their audience, lacks creativity or curiosity in their approach, they're often referred to as a "hack."
It sounds mean, but I think it's an appropriate level of harshness for the type of person who dodges curiosity, empathy, and creativity for the sake of personal comfort and ease.
And it's a concept that maps right onto other spheres - to the twitter account who lobs bombs to win arguments, the preacher who panders, the president who only appeals to his base. These people are hacks.
It doesn't mean they're beyond redemption, and it doesn't mean they won't succeed to entertain you, but it does imply inherently that they contribute to the mainstream evils present in their audience. Their audience won't grow, they won't even stay static. They'll dig in.
Hacks reinforce implicit bias and closed-mindedness, whether they mean to or not.
Comedy isn't the only sphere with hacks - anyone with a public platform needs to think deeply, even agonize, over the messages they reinforce with their words, art, tone.
