If this forum prohibited lists, would there be any forum?

Why are we compelled to make lists? What do you learn from them?

human head thinks real good to make organized thinks.

they toss films and directors out there to discuss? They spur debate? I feel lists by themselves are kind of boring, but when accompanied with some kind of explanation as to why one picks what to include, they can be interesting.

No one is compelled to make lists. People make them I presume because a) sometimes it’s their first post, and it’s a neutral way to acclimatize to the idea of public exposure and b) if they endure in their love of subjective categorization (without qualification or explanantion), they are probably looking to expand their knowledge by comparing it to others with similar mindsets. I agree that it’s not the most interesting of approaches, and often comes across as trainspotty, nerdy and stinks of life lived in a dank trivia basement—-the kind of High Fidelity conversation whereby the acts of naming and collecting data substitute for a sense of identity, providing some kind of easy buffer against/escape route from reality.

But it’s not the only form of communication in the forum. There are many serious threads with more dynamic debates and questions open.

There’s a definitive Sight and Sound style poll open which closes on March 1st. I’m hoping this might end the compulsive list mania somewhat.

Most of the threads are not list-threads. There’s a lot of great, serious commentary on this site, from a wide range of viewers, thinkers and fans. I see lists as an occasional past time, a blowing off of steam, and a way of temporarily organizing my impressions of what I’ve watched and admired. But I think the answer’s a resounding yes, of course there’d still be a forum without lists.

People who tend to do things in excess – watch too many movies, read too many books, listen to too much music, sleep with too many partners, etc., tend to make ‘lists’ – its the sort of thing they like to do. I am one of those who makes lists – you’ll have to guess for which of the topics I listed here. I just post my film lists, but I can discuss, ramble, theorize, and mostly b.s. (my moniker), too. Lists are a way of keeping track. I am also composing a list of annoying cinephiles and threads, so beware.

People on this forum fall into different categories – many of us overlap. There are list makers, discussion freaks, analyzers of most over-rated/under-rated, and those who like to snipe at everyone else’s comments/opinions. That’s what makes us so fascinating. Were eclectic, unpredictable, annoying, and have a list or opinion on any topic. Have list – will travel.

“He’s keeping a list, and he’s checking it twice, gonna find out whose naughty or nice…”

A list is only good for two people. #1 the person making it. I rarely pay attention to other peoples list, and I find that noone responds to mine.

2. people new to cinema(or what ever the list is about), because lists can be good starting points for a person just getting into film or music or whatever the list pertains to. I know when I started getting into cinema I used lists to help me start out, and to some extent I still do, for instance if someone were to give me a list of Indian filmmakers, I could use it as a starting point, because I haven’t seen any film from India not made by Satyajit Ray, and while I think it would be hard to top Ray, I would love to see other great Indian films. Preferably not musicals, although I am willing to have my mind changed about musicals, I’ve just yet to find one that will.

That’s why I honestly did not respond to Marq’s recent thread asking for recommendations. There have been so many lists of great films on this site, by me and everyone else, current and classic, on so many threads, that there is surely fertile ground enough for anyone who goes back through and reads them — shit, enough titles to keep anyone busy for the next decade at least.

No offense, Marq.