1 It’s often a cynical attempt to lure readers into thinking they they might get a nice shopping list of things that will make their life wonderful. Still you need to go out and actually buy the stuff on the list (and make sure you remember to take it with you in the first place)
2 Everyone else is doing it so it’s just not original
3 The number on the list is usually rounded to make it nice and neat. Life’s not neat like that. Who decided there are only 10 reasons? Me in this case, and what do I know?
4 Lists are linear and that’s not how the brain works
5 In trying to fill up space, lists pad out with unhelpful, really obvious or throw away items
6 The same item is often repeated in the hope no-one notices
7 My niche area doesn’t really lend itself to lists so I’m jealous (and that sucks)
8 The same item is often repeated in the hope no-one notices (I know!!! That was a really CHEAP joke!)
9 Once you reach your randomly allocated, nice neat number, you stop. Thinking stops. Creativity stops
10 Sometimes number 9 happens before you even reach the final number and then you just look stupid.
Of course you may have thoughtful, creative readers who add extra items in the comments section …
Then lists might not suck so much.
