Image courtesy of wwcutie
Have you ever noticed how common lists are? Why does it seem that almost every blogger in the blogosphere churns out list after list after list? How many times do we need to read “12 Ways to Have a Great Day”? What if you didn’t read this list? Would you still be able to have a great day? What if you spent the two minutes it took to read this list and simply made a list of your own?
“Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.” ~ Albert Einstein
Lists, not just in the blogosphere but in almost every corner of mass media, are primarily used as a marketing ploy to “trick you” into interacting with media content because lists fit perfectly into your brain’s preference for structure and efficiency – mental shortcuts – or put bluntly, “laziness.”
In the interest of attention allocation, self-awareness and the prevention of mental laziness, I’ve put together some reasons to avoid lists:
1. Prevent ‘Attention Theft’
Media sources, including blogs, use lists to steal your attention. Take a look at this list from a prominent blogger on “how to get traffic to your blog.” Wait, don’t look! I’ll save you the distraction and tell you what you need to know: Can you guess the first item on the list? “Use Lists!” What do you think is at the absolute bottom of the list, coming it a lofty number 56? “Write stuff the people want to read and share.” The most altruistic item on the list is given the lowest priority. Whether or not this was a conscious decision on the part of the blogger, it is quite telling.
2. Be the Hunter – Not the Hunted
Lists are the antithesis of self-awareness – they are nothing more than an old marketing tactic to get you to do something you did not consciously set out to do. To be charitable, I must say that some media sources are often intended (and sought) as a source of entertainment, rather than education, for (and by) the end-user (you). And that’s OK. Aimless wandering is perfectly acceptable when aimless wandering is your purpose. In summary, be mindful of what you are doing.
3. Lists are Listless
Lists do not provide energy – they sap it. Certainly, one might feel a bit of elation from reading an inspirational article or blog post. The problem, however, with this kind of short-term inspiration is that it might seem to help you in the present moment but it does not often carry over into the next moment – this inspiration is a state, not a trait, and eventually leaves an empty space that needs to be filled again by another inspiring article or blog post.
One may successfully argue that reading the right lists on a daily basis will eventually aid in the formation of positive thinking and healthy habits. My observation, however, is that most lists are formed and published with the intent to steal the attention, which often results in a fragmented attention for the reader. A fragmented attention is a fragmented person.
4. Lists Are Generally Generalizations
Lists are typically “one-size-fits-all”-type generalizations. Unless it’s a narrow subject, directed to a narrow audience, such as the “Top 10 Ways to Stay Safe in a Foreign Taxi“, then it is unlikely you will find many points useful to your needs, if any at all.
Creating a list by (and for) yourself is the perfect antidote to generalization. At risk of entering a circular argument, perhaps a good list (other than your own) would be a list that explains how to make a list?
5. Avoid the ‘Poverty of Attention’
Information rich often translates into attention poor.
Avoid the poverty attention by allocating your attention in a similar way you would a portfolio of investments: Each media source is allotted a certain amount of time and/or energy for consumption and serves a purpose in a larger collection of diverse media sources.
Allocating attention is quite a conscious, valuable and necessary personal development practice amidst the deafening media noise of today’s overabundance and hypervelocity of information:
“… in an information-rich world, the wealth of information means a dearth of something else: a scarcity of whatever it is that information consumes. What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it.” ~ Herbert Simon
Is there ever a good reason to read a list? This question is best answered by you; however, I will humbly submit to you that there is only one consistently prudent reason to read a list:
1. You created it.
What are your thoughts?
Kent Thune is a guest blogger for PickTheBrain and the author of The Financial Philosopher.
Want Personalized Productivity Tips? Click Here!
Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter!
Related Articles:
Beyond GTD: How to Keep Productivity Simple
The Secret To Fantastic Leadership
Interesting that this article is written in the form of a list.
So funny that you should write this today! I usually try to use lists on my blog because I find that readers seem to respond more to them (probably because they can skim them quickly). Today I didn’t use a list and the first thing that came to mind was, “Will anyone really read this? Are readers going to be upset if there’s no list?” I completely agree with your points about lists and this post made me feel a lot better about not using a list today.
Positively Present: Thanks! I used the list format as parody to create a bit of a comical and sarcastic effect.
Kent
Positively Present: My first response to your comment was meant for “Pol” (above yours). I apologize to you and to Pol!
With regard to your comment, I agree. At times, I feel as if a given post I am writing will work well as a list but I also feel as if the list format can reduce the quality of the post’s content. This brings about a dilemma, especially with “self-improvement” bloggers (which I don’t consider myself to be): How does a writer help a reader “improve” their self by finding gimmicky ways to attract more readers?
I am sure some bloggers can do this effectively (use lists and simultaneously help rather than hinder “self-improvement”).
Thanks for provoking thought.
Kent
Read only what is most important.Reaind properly is alsoan art.Today reading matrial pouring thousands way on our brain what to avoid and what to remember is you can acaquire by pratice.only.What may most important you read ,think over it be septic and drawyour own conclusion.
Ramesh: You sum it up quite well — be a conscious reader and take control of what you consume, otherwise you will be the one consumed.
Excellent! Thanks for the comment…
Kent
I think lists are okay when you write quality content as you have done with your list above. Let’s face it….people want to get to quality info quickly. However, I do agree that just listing a few words on each line seems a waste of time. If you are not expanding on your thoughts then you leave out info that may be useful to others.
Kim: I agree. Lists can be quite useful; however, the abuse of lists in the blogosphere, for purposes of capturing attention solely to increase readership for the blogger, has become, in my humble opinion, a problem.
If I see a list, I typically don’t read it. That’s just my own policy. Thanks for the comment.
I think it’s fine to use lists as part of your blogging mix, but you should also aim to have well written posts using full paragraphs. You’re right that when you write one of those “100 lists” they tend to be superficial and not really explain the points well, but they can be fun to write and fun to read. I wrote a post on 99 Essential Life Questions awhile back and people really seem to like it. I still run into blogs in which people answer the questions that I posed as one of their blog posts.
Marelisa: I also think it’s fine for bloggers to use lists. I just try to avoid them as a reader because, unfortunately, most lists exist to serve a purpose other than the benefit of the reader. I imagine your list of “99 Essential Life Questions” was well-received by your readers because they respect you.
How ironic – and yet this article is a # list – isn’t this hypocritical?
EasternWind: Yes, I did intend to write this post as a list as a form of parody and sarcasm and the ironic effect, therefore, is natural — not hypocritical. One might even find it humorous! What could be a better way to teach people about lists than with a list? I especially hoped to draw more readers who like to read and write lists to provoke thought and perhaps some spirited debate. Hopefully, at a minimum, my list will make a few people more self-aware as they choose their reading material. The list about lists just made sense to me. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for this. I tend to think the list is a tool that lends itself to superficiality, but it doesn’t always have to be used that way. Maybe some of the irritation with lists people feel has to do with the repetitive content, like — as you said — 12 Ways To Have a Great Day: #1. Say nice things to people, etc.
Chris: I agree. Lists are becoming so common that they may be losing their effectiveness. At risk of sounding arrogant, I believe the writing and reading of lists is an act of laziness. True, the human brain wants and seeks shortcuts but it also wants chocolate cake. I believe there is a case for balance, as with almost everything in life: The occasional list (and cake) is not necessarily bad.
[...] 5 Reasons to Avoid Lists | PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self … [...]
I think bloggers put the most important parts last on a list because it lets them close with a bang. Isn’t that what every debate team around the world does? Lead in with the fluff, and close with the strongest point. It’s what gets remembered.
Bob: You make a great point. The first item on a list does not necessarily have to be the highest in priority. Depending on the delivery the last item could certainly be the highest in priority.
My largest point with this post is self-awareness. While it is true that lists are efficient and work well with the brain’s preferences, it is also true that packaging and positioning can highly influence a consumer’s purchase of a product. If the reader understands the tactics, techniques and motivations of the media source, the reader may be a bit more selective in what they read (consume).
I don’t know what to think about this. I know that lists create effective blog posts but I have a lot of trouble doing so. My blog posts are always made of paragraphs even when I intend them to be lists. I guess there needs to be a balance between what you read and what you actively do, a list can be a good learning material.
Peter: It’s quite alright that you “don’t know what to think of this” — at least you are thinking!
As I implied in the post, only the individual will determine the usefulness and use of lists in their lives. What’s important is that there is more awareness of the primary use of lists — to get you to read the content!
[...] deep within us wants to be …. dare I say it … the king of the jungle. Then I noticed this other post on why I should avoid reading self improvement lists. It said straight [...]
My cousin works for a major magazine and book publisher. She told me once when the magazine cover has a story that begins with a list, newstand sales double and sometimes triple.
I knew there was a reason I love lists.
Steven: Thank you for adding to (and solidifying) my point! The fact that a publisher sells more magazines with mention of a list on the cover says that the quality of the content matters less than the format.
It also says that the publisher is not in the business of distributing useful information, it is in the business of selling magazines first (and perhaps distributing useful information second).
If the content cannot stand on its own without the use of the list, then why read it (or why write it)?
In a perfect world, the list format would be used because the writer feels that their message needs to be heard and the list might capture more attention (and hence help more people).
You said that you “love lists.” What is the reason?
Thanks again for the comment.
Kent
OK i would like to know is the author saying tha list are a good way for blogging or a Bad way to get s reader attention?
I agree and disagree. Also, I’m a list junkie. It is the lazy man’s way of doing thing, but it’s also the busy man’s way to consume info.
Interesting article. To say I thought of using some lists on my blog would be redundant as that’s no surprise.
But now I think I’m gonna try and reduce that to a minimum and only where they actually provide value aside from being just an attention grabber.
An alternative to lists is to use headings to split the article into key components which makes it easier for people to follow and read. That combined with interesting and engaging content and a catchy title should be a good substitute for lists.