God, I hate lists. Everybody uses them. It is to the point where they have become a pet-peeve of mine.
I visit a lot of blogs, and when I’m not visiting blogs, I’m reading RSS feeds. Throughout the average day I read 30 feeds and 30 blogs. Alright, so I don’t always read them, but I do visit them. Seven out of ten times the blog post is a list of the greatest new thing-a-ma-bobs or the hottest women’s… web designs.
So why do I hate them? Well, let me tell you. Here you are, 10 reasons why I hate lists.
1. A list should only be used as a list. They shouldn’t be used for amusement. Want to write about politics? Write about politics.
2. I’ve read it already. Chances are, I know exactly what you are going to say. I know exactly what order they will be in, and I know your list is as pitiful as the next.
3. Lists cheapen the value of content. Now, don’t get me wrong, lists every once in a while are fair game. However, don’t write every single post as a damn list. It annoys the hell out of me and I’m sure it annoys the hell out of 99% of your visitors. The one exception is cracked.com and the only visitors they get consistently are diggers. Ouch!
4. Most of the time your list doesn’t make sense. Is there a reason why you listed the guy smoking a bong in the ‘greatest moments in history’ list? If so, please feel free to tell me about it.
5. Is there a reason for your #1? No? Then don’t list it as #1!
6. It’s a fad. Everyone is doing it, so I have to too! Weeeeee!
7. Most blogs do it out of laziness. Instead of actually writing a comprehensive paragraph, they go ahead and create a list so it will look like they wrote more. Smart move, Arnold!
8. Can’t think of anything better to say but have to make the list to 10? Write something stupid. It works!
9. Half the time there isn’t a #10, but instead a #10 which asks what #10 is.
What is #10? Why do you hate lists?
Written: Nov 19, 2008
Tags: lists web-development, satire
fragileheart
November 19, 2008 @ 10:42 am | Reply
But Gary… you use a lot of lists on your blog tooooooooooooooooooo?
Texas Wanderer
November 20, 2008 @ 1:11 am | Reply
Hum, isn’t making a list about hating list actually listing the lists that drive your list of hating list?
Margaret
November 20, 2008 @ 5:03 am | Reply
I like Ben Barden’s new blog 10things, but then again, his lists are original and not copies of someone else’s list that’s just going around the internet. I fully expect to see HIS lists start making rounds.
I see many blogs writing in a format that’s supposed to generate SEO because the point lines are set in bold. Like Blogs that use lists are often empty of content. with following paragraph of 3 or 4 lines that gives the back up for said opinion. To me, those are pretty much list points with the first line in bold. What do you think of that practice?
I really don’t mind lists as they indicate the person is organized, usually that they thought through their subject and put it into some kind of order. Whether I can agree or not on what my order of the same points would be is irrelevant, but I do want to know WHY they put that particular item there and as you so aptly pointed out especially why #1 is #1.
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Carol
November 20, 2008 @ 10:58 am | Reply
Here goes:
#1 Lists are a good way to make some semblance of sense out of things that are otherwise nonsensical.
#1 Lists are encouraged by self-appointed bloggy gurus who tell us the search engines will find your Top Ten Tips lists, even if your lists are about things that are otherwise nonsensical.
#1 Lists are easy for readers to scan, especially those readers who don’t take time to read (ie. skimmer scanners).
#1 Lists are fun ways of breaking up the monotony of otherwise rambling streams of incoherent novel-length paragraphs. Like mine.
#1 Lists entice the uber-organized Container Store phreaks into believing the author is one of them.
#1 Lists are trendy and hot. Like you, oh Impish One.
#1 Lists can be in no particular order. Like this one. Pick the #1 of your choice and go with it.
#1 Lists are easy to write. Sometimes.
#1 Lists are easy to read. Sometimes.
Smile. You know you want to.
how to cure acne
November 24, 2008 @ 9:57 am | Reply
I hate it when people decide to write a list and then, about halfway though they run out of ideas and the rest of the list is meaningless.
Mike
November 25, 2008 @ 9:31 am | Reply
I don’t dislike lists. I find there are too many of them however. The only ones I read are the ones that give me ideas about what others are using for software. Sometimes favorite music, book lists entice me. I like to find out what others think are bands or songs, albums, books etc. that have meaning to them in one way or another and whether or not I agree with them. Myself, I would probably never create one, because as I said before there are too many of them already.
Jordan Pearce
November 25, 2008 @ 9:03 pm | Reply
Niiiice! I do believe if bloggers are going to post lists maybe no more than 2-3% of their posts. Make them count and make sure they get used.
The Lazy Bloggers Guide to Lists: The Short List
#1 Make lists. Lot’s of um.
#2 Refer to #1.
#3 There is no #3.
Armen Shirvanian
December 1, 2008 @ 7:15 pm | Reply
I am glad to see this, as I had not yet seen a post somewhere about why lists are not such a good idea. However, there are numerous posts available that support the use of lists. There are some redeeming qualities of lists, as mentioned in Carol’s comment, but the points in your article are quite valid. Many lists do tend to be added to with a bit of extra material that even the writer is not interested in, in order to complete the number of items the title of the list says it has.