Numbers, oh numbers...
These days it does
not matter which magazine or web page you are following, if they are similar or
differently themed. They all create the same kind of articles - lists.
Honestly, I am
annoyed to read article titled, for example: “5 ways how to be happier...”
or even better, “25 things you MUST...” or “43 things not to tell
when...” (43? why exactly 43? why not 44? fantasy has gone away after 43rd?) I
am always like: “Why is somebody writing stuff like this? What’s the point?”
But surprisingly the lists drive people’s curiosity and make them click on the article
with excitement. Maybe people think these lists bring solutions to their lives.
I don't think so and to demonstrate my viewpoint, I decided to create a list of
3 basic ways how the lists are usually made.
1. Forbes and
its famous lists
Forbes magazine
is very well known for their long tradition of creating lists of different
kinds. On their web page, there is a section called Lists with more than 400 of
them! There are lists of the richest people in America, the most influential
people in the world, the celebrity 100, the richest models, singers, actors, 30
youngest billionaires and so on.
In each and
every one of them, the principle is the same - find out who's up who's down. Yes,
people care about strangers they have never met before and are pretty envious
(I think most of them are).
2. “How to” lists
Next category is
“how to”. It is something like a never ending story. “How to tie a tie in 10
ways”, “17 ways how to live healthier life”, “8 ways how to be fresh in
the morning”, “5 ways how to know if your beau is cheating on you”, “how to be
more clever”, “how to be less stupid” - they can even write about “1000 ways how
to write a ‘How to’ article”. Why do people read this? It's simple. They think that
they will find something new or realize new facts. Guess what...they won't (in
most cases). The basic things that the 'how to' lists solve are as old as the
world itself and the lists only remind us what we already know. So, please stop
killing your time by reading things you already know - just do it.
3. Basic (most annoying) lists
Lists made
of “9 must-haves”, “30 leather-look stunners”, “13 date tips you haven't
known”, “50 thoughts you will never understand” and many others. You click on
the article and find out that you actually
don't care. The “must-haves” are usually things you really don’t need and
really don’t like. Leather looks in ELLE magazine, are so expensive that you
would spend your whole-month salary on them.
You probably knew all of the 13 amazing date tips when you were
thirteen, and you will think about the “50 thoughts you will never understand”
only when reading that stupid article. People are also attracted by the number
they see in the title – higher numbers mean better solutions.
All these kinds
of lists try to bring solutions into our lives (or make us go insane). They
make us feel like they can really help us to make progress but in reality they
are useless. We have to live on our own, be independent and find the ways we
want to go. It does not matter how many things we will have to learn. So, pay
attention to important things in your life and stop wasting your time with
lists.
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