Am I just becoming a cranky old goat or is anyone else getting sick of all the "list" posts that seem to have become the standard for blogs today?
I use an RSS reader and here is a sample of what I found on just 6 different blogs I subscribe to today, along with my comments: (I'm not linking to them -that would be a hypocritical thing for me to do given my position-but if you really want to see any of them I'm sure you'll find them on some search engine)
- Top 10 most loving couples (People actually care?)
- Top 10 mood apps and visualizers (WTF?)
- Top 10 Facebook apps (I guess if you're a FB user that may be interesting-actually why do I have a "RSS feed to someone who writes about FB? Delete time.)
- Top 10 Worst web app names (really now, who cares?)
- Top 5 hottest product launches of 2007 (could be interesting but I only agreed with 1)
- 29 tips on how to save money on gas (geez-driving slower, car pooling and turning off my A/C saves gas? Who knew?)
- 9 Great reasons to drink water (Good, because if there was just 1 or 2, I'd probably never drink water)
- 39 ways to live and not merely exist (Well, it held promise but #1 was Love, #2 was get outside, #3 was savor food-Ahhh, shouldn't the first few be earth shattering-something to really get your attention?? I wasn't going to waste my time working through all 39.)
- 10 ways to remove clutter from your life(Wait a sec, I like clutter. And if I didn't, I wouldn't have it so this list is-oh never mind)
- 8 things you don't know about me (Why do I care? Oh, so you can get link love? Nah, been there, done that, I'm finished with that silly meme stuff)
- Top 7 iPhone parodies (why do I have an RSS feed to someone who posts about iPhones-delete)
- 9 you tube videos arranged to create Brady Bunch opener (I have no idea how anyone could even think anyone would look at that)
- 7 blogging tips from the Beatles (some people will use ridiculous subject lines to try to get you to read their BS)
- The key to link lists and 15 focused resource link lists (focused? my eyes begin to glaze over)
Then to top it all off, blogging guru Darren Rowse comes up with a list why lists are great: (with my witty and sarcastic comments)
I find that one of the easiest ways to write a blog post is to write a list.
- Lists are Scannable (so what's the point here?)
- Lists keep Posts succinct (succinct isn't necessarily always good)
- Lists look ‘neat’ (I like clutter-see above)
- Lists area easy to link to ("area?" you need a proofreader Darrell)
- Lists can be a comprehensive to tackle a topic (you forget a word here Darrell?-see above comment)
- Lists can be persuasive (so can my cat)
- Lists add to the ease of writing (ahh--now we're getting to the point-god forbid that writing should be difficult)
- Lists can start memes and go viral (Bingo!!-it's all about traffic isn't it-Well!!! Isn't it?)
So unfortunately, I don't think lists are going away anytime soon but I stand be my original statement. I'm sick of them. Oh no!! I just realized my list above is (gulp) -another list.
Sigh, I need a beer.
