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"I am happy being in possession of a mindful of useless information..."

List mania...

by Jacqueline Alexander

I am not sure if it started with Schindler's, Lloyd's or Craig's but the western world seems to have become obsessed with lists. Whether it is the a-list, z-list, the rich list or the mailing list there seems to be one for every occasion. The wedding list, the guest list and the shopping list all have an important role to play but I am not so sure about those put together to fill an hour or three of our Saturday night television viewing.

Not being a fan of lists, life can sometimes be a little random-access but it has its benefits. Walking into Waitrose is less of a chore when you looking for inspiration rather than referring to a predetermined list of ingredients. Remembering you have forgotten to collect your dry cleaning at 5.20pm ensures that you manage to fit in at least 10 of your 30 minutes of adrenaline-filled exercise for the day. And I know that breakfast wouldn't be the same without a furrowed brow and a preoccupied expression as I struggle to remember what it was I shouldn't have forgotten to do yesterday.

Whilst lists are not my favourite thing in the world, learning something new is up there with champagne, a weekly massage and a weekend in Rome. I am in a constant state of amazement at how much there is to learn and the internet is, potentially, a wonderful source of information. Just this week, I discovered the Axlotl - a strange creature that inhabits the depths of a Mexican lake and looks like a cross between a frog and a baby with an emoticon face. The Axlotl's ability to regenerate most of its body parts fascinates scientists who are attempting to learn valuable lessons from this physiologically clever aquatic creature.

My newfound knowledge isn't going to pay the bills or enhance my social skills, but I am happy being in possession of a mindful of useless information and I fully intend to keep topping it up.

What is the most densely populated country in the world? Before this week, I would have hazarded a guess at Bangladesh, Singapore or perhaps Taiwan but never would I have come up with Monaco. I can also tell you the other top nine most densely populated nations of the world. How? Because I found a list of them, that's how.

In fact, I found hundreds of lists. Some are totally subjective - the top ten cinematic masterpieces are just a matter of opinion - some are totally useless - not even I want to know the top five reasons we supposedly like cheesy horror movies - but others capture the imagination and draw you into a diverse, and sometimes fascinating, world of lists.

Interestingly, the most popular feature on listverse.com is that of the top ten most evil women. Why we should be intrigued by these depraved individuals is perhaps questionable but it seems that there is some truth in the rumour that we have a weird curiosity that draws us into the dark recesses of the world. I was squirming as I saw Myra Hindley featured at number nine of this gruesome line-up. What unspeakable atrocities had the other eight women done to deserve their places? Just in case you are browsing this newspaper over breakfast or supper, I will spare you the details; suffice to say that a knife, a head, a meat hook and a family meal were all involved.

Less macabre but no less enlightening information is shared via the history, art, travel, entertainment and sports categories. Some are worth cross-referencing with a second opinion; the 'top twenty last words' seem to be laced with legendry influences but, there again, fact is often stranger than fiction. It may well be true that Sir William Erskine exclaimed, "Now why did I do that?" as he leapt from a window in Lisbon in 1813, but I would need a little more verification than is available here.

Other lists need no such authentication. The list of the 'top ten historic radio broadcasts' includes audio files to allow you to listen for yourself. The recording of the radio presenter, Herbert Morrison, covering the Hindenburg's doomed arrival into New Jersey in 1935 is a shocking and emotional testament to the impact of the disaster as it unfolds. It will leave you shaken, possibly even cause a tear, but it's definitely worth a listen.

After exposing yourself to the raw emotions of one of the most dramatic accidents of the 20th century, you may benefit from some of the more light-hearted aspects of listverse.com. The 'top 50 jokes' has to be one of the most subjective categories. I can't say I agree with all the inclusions but the one about the dumbest animal in the jungle managed to force a giggle and has already been repeated on more than one occasion.

The List Universe is the brainchild of a chap going by the name of Jamie Frater and it seems that he may be on to something. The site is open for both contributions and comments from visitors and, judging by the level of activity on the site, it's proving to be rather popular with new lists being added with surprising frequency.

The 'top ten unsolved mysteries' is a particular favourite. The Turin Shroud, the Mary Celeste and Jack the Ripper all feature in this section which has attracted so much attention and feedback that Jamie has introduced 'another top ten unsolved mysteries' to accommodate, amongst others, the Loch Ness Monster and D B Cooper, the notorious hijacker who has not been seen since jumping off the back of a Boeing 727 with only $200,000 and a parachute for company.

One of the strengths of this site is that most of the examples are so much more than just lists; you are given just enough information to whet your appetite and there are links and references available to encourage further investigation. Be careful though, if you have an inquisitive mind, you could be embarking on a journey that will take longer than your average lunchtime.

Having explored this site's highs and lows, if your favourite list isn't featured, and isn't of the shopping variety, it may well be worth sending it in. The owner of the site, Jamie, encourages contributors and, you never know, you may be added to his list. Just one word of advice, make sure it's not a hit list.

The List Universe

Jacqueline Alexander presents Web Watch every Tuesday at 5.45pm on BBC Radio Berkshire on 104.1FM, 104.4FM, 95.4FM, 94.6FM and DAB Digital Radio. To listen in, just visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire.

What is Web Watch?

Web Watch is broadcast on BBC Radio Berkshire, published in the Henley and South Oxon Standard and published online right here at web-watch.info.

As a cross-media project, Web Watch is designed to help you find the best sites here on the Internet.

You can catch Web Watch on air every Tuesday at 5.45pm when Jacqueline Alexander sits down with Phil Kennedy during the Drivetime show on BBC Radio Berkshire to chew the virtual fat.