3 annoyances with lists
2009/10/30 filed under /webI hate lists. I really do. Never have I seen a truly funny top ten list on Letterman (granted, I've never seen Letterman funny, so I can't blame all on lists) and usually lists of top-whatevers are simply pointless.
1. All you can find
With some exceptions, most lists you see online, don't contain the best 3, 5, 10 items out of a whole bunch of options, but rather all the options the author could find. Examples:
- 100+ Clean, Simple and Minimalist Website Designs
- 120 Free Icon Sets to Enhance User Interfaces
- 76 Script Directories
- 26 awesome Firefox add-ons for web workers
Solution: drop the number.
2. Limiting yourself by rounding?
Are there really exactly ten tips? Not nine plus one to round it? Not thirteen, but let's skip three?
Solution: drop the number.
3. The number adds nothing
Does it really matter how big the list is you've compiled? Should I want to visit your page when I see you have 26 great ideas for $foo or 75 awesome $bar resources? No, frankly I don't care. I rather have you go through all options and describe why the one you think is best, is best.
Solution: drop the number.
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