Funny Top Ten Lists - Why Are They So Popular?

(1) They solve a very common problem.
Whether it's caused by our increasingly short national attention span, or a lack of time for unwholesome entertainment, funny top 10 lists solve the same problem: the need for a quick, easily obtained humor fix. Funny top ten lists are just like reading ten short jokes: there's a single set-up line (the headline), followed by ten targeted punch lines. Just the ticket for those of us with attention deficit disorder ... or solitary social lives.

(2) The number ten has symbolic meaning.
The number 10 is the basis for the decimal system; the most common numbering system in the world. Mathematical scholars tell us that the number 10 was chosen by early humans because, whenever they looked down, they always saw 10 digits. Since most early humans ran around naked, it's pretty clear that we have women to thank for devising the decimal system.

(3) The headlines grab our attention.
Since most of these lists appear on the Internet, they're largely uncensored. As a result, they're often designed to appeal to our baser interests. You remember our "baser interests," don't you? They're the subconscious thoughts about y-rated sex that keep popping into our heads every 10 or 15-seconds. As a general rule, funny top 10 lists feature all the best and worst elements of The National Enquirer.

(4) They're highly addictive.
You can never read just one! Unless you have an Actual Life, they invariably draw you in; and pretty soon, you're spending more time with funny top ten lists than a rocker spends in rehab. Although individual lists can be read rather quickly, they typically appear as part of a large group of lists. If you enjoy the first few lists, the hook is set. Now you've got to read on, in order to find out if the others are equally funny.

(5) They draw attention to a website.
Experts in search engine optimization have long known that the addition of funny top ten lists to a website is one of the best ways to increase visitor traffic and links from other sites. This technique often attracts attention so effectively that these lists are frequently referred to as "link bait" within the SEO industry. Since funny top 10 lists are known to attract a lot of eyeballs, sites that showcase them are extremely popular with online advertisers.

(6) Most lists are evergreen.
Whether funny top ten lists target current or historical topics, public interest in these lists is essentially timeless. Although former N.Y. Governor Eliot Spitzer and O.J. Simpson would probably like to believe otherwise, the public does not quickly forget the people or events that have attracted the media spotlight. Plus, skillful composers of funny top ten lists can easily bring readers up to speed by incorporating any necessary background information into the lists themselves.

(7) They appeal to a very diverse audience.
Although individual composers of funny top 10 lists must remain focused upon a specific target audience, collectively, these lists have widespread appeal. Anyone with a troubled childhood, a wet sense of humor, or a depraved indifference to Paris Hilton is likely to become an instant fan. As Larry the Cable Guy is fond of saying, "I don't care who you are; that's funny!"

(8) They poke fun at every imaginable topic.
When it comes to comedy, nothing (and no one) is sacred. Just ask any Ayatollah in your neighborhood. In fact, the more supposedly sacred the target, the greater the added shock value. And remember: one funny top ten list equals ten total shocks!

(9) David Letterman keeps public awareness high.
Even though he's just a reader, rather than a creator, of humorous top 10 lists, Letterman's name has been synonymous with these lists for the past 25-years. His reading of a top 10 list is always one of the most eagerly anticipated events on his Late Night television show. Of course, it helps to be as goofy-looking as David Letterman, and have a backup band musically punctuating every punch line when you're presenting a funny top 10 list.

On the other hand, since he's not allowed to use any of The Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television, his team of comedy writers deserve a great deal of praise for maintaining the long-term popularity of top 10 lists.

Copyright 2009. Funniest Top Ten Lists. All rights reserved.

Don G. Asmus is the List Master at Funniest Top Ten Lists, where he consistently creates the funniest top ten lists on the planet. http://www.FunniestTopTenLists.com/

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