Ten Essential Things to Know About Listicles

1. That they are a click-baiters dream come true.

2. That they force the author of the listicle to come up with whatever random thoughts or ideas in order to meet the number of items they promised.

3. That despite their promise for easy and fast information, context is still king and you really should do your research.

4. That despite list item 2, I am seriously debating just stopping the list here.

5. That I could, though, use this opportunity to try to sell you some product or service, since we are all just customers.

6. That AI will likely be producing a ton of these in short order as a means to direct people toward products and services.

7. That if you see a link and really want to click on it, that was the plan. Watch your wallet. 

8. That you really should get more sleep and treat your physical and mental self much better than you do.

9. That “things” don’t add meaning or establish purpose in your life. That using “things” as symbols of status really is, in the end, very empty and that you have the choice to fill that emptiness with more things (only to feel the same or worse emptiness) or to get off that treadmill and connect with people as you are. 

10. That you should communicate with your family and friends and those that love you more often, not to guilt you, but really they do, in the end, add the most meaning and purpose to your life.