Over the 7 months that the site has been running, things have gone pretty smoothly. There have, however, been a few occasions where mistakes were made that needed correcting. This is my list-of-humility where I tell you the biggest mistakes I have made! Consider it my Lenten penance!
10. Not Citing Sources
I think we have all seen the result of not quoting sources – 100 comments bitching about plagiarism! It turns out that Wikipedia has a policy that you must open source any document that quotes even the tinniest bit of it and must cite every page you quote. I didn’t know that when we started out and a LOT of internet police decided to tell me! I am so sorry! I now open source any document that may even smell of citations from Wikipedia so as to not offend the Wikipedia police. (image above: Jfrater upholding copyright law).
9. Posting an offensive list
While the site was very young I posted a list that was very politically incorrect. At the time I didn’t consider it a problem, but I should have known that our large American viewership might not agree. After a couple of hours of squirming, I deleted the list. I won’t name the list – it is better forgotten!
8. Not Editing Lists
I have received many lists which I just posted straight to the site because I love the topic – but I didn’t check them first. The result of this is normally that I spend a good two hours going back and editing the list each time someone notices an error! I submit all lists to the site through special software for the Mac which has a built in spellchecker so I really have no excuse not to check first!
7. Not Checking Uniqueness of Lists
I have had to delete two lists (which is probably pretty good considering the number of submissions I have received) because it turned out that they were verbatim copies of other sites. The good news is that since this has happened I have become a lot tougher on submitted lists.
6. Editing a Live Site
I am sure that many of you have experienced very weird quirks on the site which are due to my editing and testing new ideas on the live site! To be honest, I have not managed to set up a beta site that will let me test out new stuff so I just do it straight on the live site. I am terrified that one of these days the change will lead to catastrophe! I promise to set up a test site ASAP! Cyn (pictured above typing out my latest list as I dictate to her) will smack me if I don’t.
5. Ranting in Comments
I try very hard to keep my cool when commenting and reading comments – but there have been a few occasions where I have become very agitated and have said a lot more than I should! On a few occasions this has led me to edit or delete comments the next day when I have calmed down. (Image above: jfrater “chatting” on the bible stories list).
4. Commenting when Drunk
I think most people on the site now know that I enjoy a tipple on a regular occasion. Unfortunately there have been a few times that I have posted comments whilst under the influence which, on viewing the next day, shame me so greatly that I have to delete them and hope no one noticed! (image above – jfrater the morning after).
3. Not Upgrading soon enough
Long timers (read Ravyn, Juggz, Cyn, Kelsi, etc.) will be well aware of the downtime we have suffered on the site in our seven months. Little did I know when I started the List Universe that we would become so popular so quickly that I would need to upgrade to multiple servers! If I had had the foresight, I would have gone straight to the higher priced servers instead of upgrading by tiny stages. This will not happen again – we are moving to a big cluster soon. (image above: sponge-jfrater so excited about the traffic that he forgets to upgrade the servers).
2. Adding a NSFW category
Now I know that many of you supported me in the inclusion of this Not Safe For Work category, but in hindsight I realized that it crippled me. Prior to adding the category I had posted many lists that contained content that people might consider NSFW but I always added a warning and no one complained. As soon as I introduced this category I realized that people would rely on it to determine which lists they should avoid – the result was that if I wanted to do a future list of serial killers, due to the photos I would have to make it NSFW. This excluded many people from good quality historical lists.
1. Writing Too Many Lists
In order to satisfy, I do, on occasion, write lists that are not as good as my usual output just to make sure you are all getting lots of lists during the day. The end result is that they are not the best and people complain. I have even had people say they would rather see fewer lists of better quality. Henceforth I shall only write good lists and will throw away the bad “fillers”! (image above: jfrater on an average listverse morning).
Afterword
Many thanks to Cyn (pictured in item 6) who did a great job editing this list to prevent problems related to item 4!
JFrater thanks for posting that deff not the same rhyme I was thinking of. I had never heard of that rhyme before.
jfrater:
This is your website and you post whatever list you want. ***** on the rest of us for lack of tolerance and understanding. If thin-skinned individual complains that he/she is offended by one of your lists tell that person to post their objections and let the readers handle it. It comes down to intent and impact. If the intention is provide a daily respite from a wary world, then jfrater cannot be accused of offeneding. But if the person takes offense to the list regardless on the intent, then, jfrater, by no fault of your own, you are guilty. You cannot be held responsible for what a reader determines to be offensive, regardless of what most of us dumbasses in America think. Everyone has a different threshhold.
Keep up the good work
G
jfrater: You know that someone can simply change the url of the booklet and can then view the whole list again?
Yeah and my grandma called Brazil nuts Nigger Toes too, and she wasn’t the least bit prejudiced. We have pictures of my mom when she was 5 or 6 playing with a kid they called “Smokey”. He was always welcomed at their home, and this was back in the ’30s. Too bad people don’t understand historical context.
Great job jfrater. I’ve been coming here since last summer but never felt the need to comment because pretty much everything is already said but keep the lists coming.
I’ve been reading lists here for about 6 months, but I’ve only commented once because I never really wanted to say anything >_
***** it cut off my comment.
I just wanted to say great job on posting all these lists jamie. and keep them coming =]
My grandmother called Brazil nuts nigger toes too and she was not prejudiced in the least either.
She was born in Australia and lived there till she was 25, but I am not sure where she picked up the name there or once she moved to the states after she married my grandfather.
Hey, at least you know where you might need to improve! I for one, think you’re doing an awesome job and I love frequenting this site. Keep it up.
jfrater: I’m an American, (couldn’t you tell from my shameless ‘Imperialist’ attitude, lol), and I absolutely HATE censorship. I hate to think that many of the stories I write would have to be censored to be readable by the public. I hate that the thought police try to tell me or anyone else what we should put in our brains. Ok, I shouldn’t rant. I guess since we’re all different then there are bound to be those whose brains have not developed those centers for common sense, and those who never grew any skin, and still others without the will power to turn a page, click away, or change the channel. Oh well, vive la difference!
I too demand long time reader status…psh just because this is my first comment does not mean i stand by idly…. And btw, jfrater i love your mistakes…the English teacher in me enjoys going through the list and nitpicking everything. Another thought, just because a list may be considered “controversial” there should be no reason you should delete it! If you feel the need to put the list out there you should just take off comments for that list. The world should be allowed to say what it wants without having any repercussions.
Shadow and Avi, to be honest, I was new to the site and I am not sure I would make the same decisions now – thanks for the support!
Awesome list! lol hahaha JK JK!
Even through mistakes, I still love you
(not that way!)
I think that some people seem a little too sensitive when it comes to content posted on websites. If it weren’t for over-sensitive people then this list wouldn’t have 10 items in it.
Personally I think this site makes for great reading. I work in a call centre in Sydney Australia and on Saturdays one of the supervisors posts the lists on our little message report box that pops up in the corner of our computer screen. Without reading some of the very interesting lists I don’t think I could get through 8 solid hours on a Saturday of cold calling.
J.man love the site the new look is great. Don’t you dare change a thing, and don’t worry about offending Americas we are offended by just about every thing. Keep up the great work. Y-LE
Hmm, and I gave up potatoes for Lent. I personally think you are doing a great job, so keep up the good work!
Just want to say I love your site and I haven’t noticed any of these mistakes, except the last one sometimes (see Top Ten diet pills). However, it’s really rare that I’m not fascinated by your lists. I am easily entertained. My favourites are the lists in the Bizarre categories (ghosts, mysteries).
But, but, but we like nsfw…sniffle…tear
-Andrea Carlena Beauman
I think list universe is fine the way it is. If you don’t like it get out. Don’t “speak for us all.”
hey new list
TOP TEN LISTVERSERS MISTAKES
1.commenting when drunk
2.not promoting the site
3.ranting in comments
4.supporting jfrater for the inclusion of nsfw category [:)]
5.always trying to find mistakes in the lists
other listversers can contribute for the next 5
Hey jfrater, I have been in the background watching from the very begining, I love this site, this is my escape when i get home from work. Thanks for the great lists, laughs and history lessons.
“special software for the Mac”
well there’s your problem.
What was the list that was deleted? Tell me!
i’ve been reading this site daily since august of last year…i think your doing great.
Jeez. I can’t believe you mentioned Juggz, Ravyn, and Kelsi and not me . . . I feel hurt. I’ve been on this site for at least 3 of the 7 months . . . Okay maybe that’s not considered long term.
On a side note though, I used to just casually view the site and it was when you commented to me personally that I really became hooked. It made me feel special :p
Mystern: That is the best part about listverse, besides the lists of course. How many other sites actually have any kind of interaction with the admin not mention one who actually listens to and likes suggestions on how the site is.
Juggz: Yeah. I agree. I keep saying we need a Top 10 Reasons Listverse is a Family
And looking back I guess it’s actually been 5 months that I’ve been on this site.
Well I personally love this site and what you do Jamie, so to anyone who doesn’t… sod off… no one wants you!
I like the idea of having a family list as well… oh and Mystern, as far as Jamie making you feel special… don’t feel too special ’cause special means retarded.
Yeah. I rode the short bus to school. This caused me to overcompensate in my studies in 4th grade. As a byproduct I’m now an infinite fount of infinite knowledge in infinite subjects except music and sports.
Clean house means no listverse he he
LOL @ Mystern! Special means retarded is from Kids in the Hall. i can’t find the clip but it’s from a skit that shows some office workers planning a surprise party.
jfrater: just be glad that with these kind of online mistakes, its very easy to erase and forget about it. As you have proven
I agree with jwjwbean that the woman typing in pic 6 is a dead ringer for Captain Janeway out of Voyagerm Amazing!
Hello jfrater,
I’ve been a fan of this website for a while now — about six months, and I just wanted to say *nice job* on the whole new “makeover.” I visit the site nearly every, single day, and, I have to admit, I throw a little party in my head whenever I see there’s a new list! I don’t like to comment on the Internet very much — anything anyone has to say, innocent or not, tends to offend at least one person in some way or another, and I’m not one for offending people, so — I guess what I’m trying to say is that even though I don’t comment, I’m still checking the site everyday and enjoying what you have to offer. Keep up the good work, and have a happy Valentine’s Day. I hope you have someone special with whom you plan to spend the day!
EMILY*
been reading this site everyday since ‘top 10 most bizarre videos’ and i’ve read every list and i gotta say i have seen no real mistakes yet, save the odd bad list, well done!
LOL@ goof_ball(#74): goof_ball & Jamie sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G…
SocialButterfly: heheh – you are just jealous
Lewis: Thanks for the vote of confidence
jfrater: you’re getting a lot of love today. I think I saw another comment somewhere that the reader said you were cute. . . .awww, how junior high
toolnut: of course – that is because I am so loveable
It is my advanced valentines wishes! Oh – and for the record – I have never been given a valentine – remember me on the 14th!
jfrater: I will remember you if you remember me. I too, have never received a valentine and I don’t expect to get one this year either. I don’t know why I’m really concerned with it anyway, Valentine’s day is just a Hallmark holiday, made up to create more greeting card sales. Seems to have worked, huh?
toolnut: I agree – the sad fact is that poor old Saint Valentine (Martyr) is forgotten due to commercialism!
jfrater: what should we remember him for? Is he the patron saint of anything in particular? Just curious.
toolnut: There are three Saint Valentine’s whose feasts are commemorated on the 14th. All were martyrs. None are patron’s that I know of – they are remember for their martyrdoms.
write me some lists!!!
No probs!
nice…
OK, regarding the pic for #6: the gentleman is character actor Henry Jones. His typing student could be Kate Mulgrew (Captain Janeway — yeah, y’all knew that) or she COULD be Candace Bergen. Jamie — my personal OCD is that I HAVE to know the name of virtually every actor I see. Who is she? I won’t be able to sleep until I have positive ID on her! (And the film or TV episode that still’s from, if you could.)
Martin L.-
The pic is probably Kate Mulgrew. Both actors starred in the TV series “Mrs. Columbo”. It was supposed to be “Columbo” (Peter Falk’s) wife.
All those mistakes leads to one very unique and interesting site. I stumbled upon this page a week ago and have enjoyed it ever since, keep up the good work and add more lists soon please!
Incredible recordings got me hooked.
Do you rant after you drink?
The NIU killings makes me remember when you initially left out the VA TECH killings on your campus killing list. Other than that its all good.
Keep up the excellent work.
Cyn looks like Janeway from Star Trek Voyager – seriously.
that would be because i am Janeway!
Cyn: I wouldn’t say that with the trekkies around. We are very easily excitable.
o rly?
Um.. Uh.. ::::buries toes in sand:::: Bye. :::Runs Away::: Damn, my weakness. Innuendo. Oh! You got me. I’m a sucker for a Great Smilie.
117. Crimanon
yup… Hic/// dont comment whenm drunkl///….
:]
well Jfrater i must admit they you have courage to admit they u have made mistakes since starting this site …. it is a sign of wiseness
then i would like to ask if u have a look as interesting as ur ideas
Good work
ciao!