Why do liberals love lists so much? Often half of the articles on the liberal sites are about lists.

Headlines from Alternet and Common Dreams the last few days -

"The Five Grossest American Fast Food Ideas"

"Nine Myths about Socialism in the US"

"10 Ways to Force the Stinking Rich to Share Their Wealth"

"8 Invented Diseases Big Pharma Is Banking on"

"The Five Creepiest Moments of the Southern Republican Leadership Conference"

"Top 10 Reasons I’m Breaking Up With You"

"10 Visionary Ideas for Progressives"

"3 Steps Americans Must Take to Prevent Another Economic Meltdown"

"Seven Food and Resources Crises on the Horizon, and What You Can Do About It"

I don't know, that's an interesting question.

I suppose people in general have a tendency to identify things and break them down into measurable pieces.

I'm guessing that's pretty easy shit to write. Find one weird or interesting something-or-other, look up several more and voila, you've got a fluff piece?

But there's more to it. Liberals have a tendency to use exceptional examples of things to 'disprove' a point. Like if you say that Obama and the Dems are instituting pro-corporate policies in general, they'll come back at you with a list of 5 things that don't quite fit that mold. It won't matter that those things are insignificant - sternly worded letters, quotes from a speech, symbolic resolutions, etc. They still serve to rebut the criticism in their minds. These sorts of lists define their worldview.

Another aspect of the disconnect from the bigger picture perhaps?

"10 Ways to Force the Stinking Rich to Share Their Wealth"

Is that for real? You could write a diatribe about just the headline without any clue what's in the article, what a stinking heap of shit.

cause they ain't got nothin', so they feel the need to pile things up to give the impression of gravity.

or·der·ly (ôrdr-l)
adj.
1.
a. Free from disorder; neat: an orderly room.
b. Having a systematic arrangement: an orderly universe.
2. Marked by or adhering to method or system: orderly in the upkeep of his rooms.
3. Devoid of violence or disruption; peaceful: an orderly transition of governments.

http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2008-12-30-images-topten.jpg

Whatever that means. It doesn't matter if the goal is good for bad, as long as you are seen as achieving "something". Scratching stuff off of a list makes it look like you are doing something real. Then you are "on task".

I remember seeing an Egyptian tomb painting that showed some guy marking up a clipboard. I bet it was a list.

At all of the liberal sites, very often half of the headlines say 10 this or 8 that. You don't see that anywhere else.

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/4337/warlist.jpg

*They are educated...
*They are intelligent...
*They make more money...
*They vote...
*They are informed...
*They are enlightened...
*They care about people...
*They are healthy...
*They have soft hands...
*They are competent..
*They are green...
*They believe in freedom...
*They are mostly white...

*They are the most deserving citizens of the most powerful empire on earth...

...which will last for 1000 years ...because of human nature ...and because cream rises to the top... and because someone promised them.


... exactly like the conservatives.

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