Today is Listverse’s second birthday! In that time we have had over 70 million visits! Because it is our birthday, I have decided to do a list of our most popular lists since we opened our cyber-doors two years ago. I am hoping that it will introduce at least a few of you to some lists you may have overlooked. The statistics I used to determine the order is total unique views – that excludes repeat visits from people who may be wanting to check up on the comments. Be sure to mention your own favorite lists in the comments. Happy birthday Listverse!
This was the list where we first met Juan Baptista dos Santos – the man with three legs and two penises. He was eventually to appear again on the bizarre relationships list because of his brief sexual encounter with Blanche Dumas, the woman with two vaginas and three legs (that would have been a good one for the amazing coincidences list as well!)
This list was published at quite an opportune time as many of the disorders that appeared on it later featured in other lists as related facts, so everyone that read this one was prepared for the others. The list was published just 3 months after the site launched so its high number of comments was pretty amazing. Comments above 200 happen quite regularly now but it was extremely rare back then. The contributor (JT) has contributed many other popular lists since then.
This list would rank high in the most popular, most commented on, and most controversial! This list started out as a top 15 and excluded a large number of very popular films. For this reason the comments (for the first time on the site) took on a very nasty tone and I had to pull it. I spent a few hours adding new films and re-rating some of the originals and finally came up with the top 20 as it stands now. As you can see by comment 1: “Mr Frater this list is so much better.” the updated list had a much better reception.
Not only is this one of our most popular lists, it is one of our most stolen. It seems that the majority of the 59,500 Google results for “10 amazing facts about dreams” are related to our original list – either as a complete rip or a derivative. The 450 comments on the list certainly speaks to its popularity with the most recent comment being posted a mere few days ago (nearly 2 years after first posting).
Having done a second list of evil women, I would be quite keen to combine the two and re-order them, giving us an “all time most evil women” list. Unfortunately when I wrote the original there were a number of wicked women I was unfamiliar with and the commenters certainly had no problem pointing that out. The list caused some controversy because of my inclusion of Queen Mary and Queen Isabella, but that was balanced by the inclusion of Elizabeth I on the second list. All in all, the list proved very popular despite its less-than-ideal ordering.
Sticking the Shroud of Turin onto any list is a recipe for controversy on this site (and most of the Internet for that matter). This list was definitely no disappointment. I certainly was surprised by the popularity of this list and that inspired me to write another 5 mysteries lists (and there are more to come I assure you). The Shroud seemed to be the most talked about item on the list and this lead to what was one of our earliest religion versus non-religion debates.
This was one of the most enjoyable lists to put together – which may account for its popularity. It featured some spooky and some happy coincidences. It eventually led to a second list of the same and there will hopefully be more in the future. Item number 9 (the Mystery Monk) was definitely my favorite addition. If only we all had someone like that watching out for us!
It was probably the political nature of some of the items on this list which led to its popularity – that and a front page on Reddit and Fark. This was a fascinating list and there will hopefully be more of the same in the future. I think item 5 (the Lincoln photo) is the most interesting as it is such a famous portrait – who would have thought that it was a photographic fake?
This was our first popular list (and the first one to reach the front page of Digg – causing untold headaches managing traffic but leading to our fast rise in popularity). For the last two years this list has topped the “top 10″ on the site so I was pretty shocked to see that it had been ousted from its place by the new number 1. This list was particularly close to my heart as all of the recordings were things that had fascinated me long before compiling it. Moreschi (the last Castrato) is especially interesting to me due to my interests in history, religion, and music; Moreschi combines all three!
So after nearly two years a list finally toppled the reign of the incredible recordings. Considering how recently this list was posted (just 7 months ago) it is an amazing feat. It was sent in by Blogball who has submitted many excellent lists in recent times. I am sure I am not alone in saying that I look forward to more in the future.
Unfortunately this list caused such a furore that I had to remove it. The list explained the ten most commonly used methods of suicide as well as the likely consequences when things go wrong. In the footer of the list I included telephone numbers for suicide lines in the countries that send us the most traffic. At first the list was well received (albeit controversial) but eventually we reached the number one spot on Google for “suicide” and we started getting a lot of very angry comments from people who were disgusted with the list. We also received a lot of comments from people who said that the list was going to help them commit suicide (I think that these were almost all from people trying to guilt us into removing the lists). Despite all of this I left the list on the site – but I closed the comments. A few months later one of my advertisers completely withdrew from the site and another threatened to if the list was not removed.
We may all like to think that there is no censorship on the Internet – but in a way this was a form of censorship through blackmail. Without the advertisers the site would have to close. My hands were tied, so the list was removed; that is the reason you have to view the list on my person site. Interestingly, if the list was still available, it would be in the number one position on this list with 463,999 unique views.
In summary to this list I would like to thank you all for sticking around and commenting on the lists. It has been quite hard to get lists out regularly and I am proud to say that we have not missed a single day in the last year – despite moving half way across the world. Thanks to the admins who have been a great help. There are many more lists to come in the future and I look forward to the next year in the hopes that we can grow even bigger.
greal job on all list
It’s a list of lists. Heaven!
lol@ten
Happy Birthday, and thank you!
Happy Birthday ListVerse! And Congrats to you Jamie! And Congrats and Thank-you to our Admin. staff! And..and..and…
Top 10 Incredible Recordings–That was the list I “stumbledupon” that made me a bonafide LVer.
What a wonderful thing to have a vision to share, the tech-savvy to act on the idea, and then to be validated by sheer popularity in the world wide arena. Again congrats Jamie!
Your lists pop-up in my life daily as I surf the tube, or am out in the world with my family. Little tid-bits of extra info gleaned from lists and comments get peppered into conversation.
@oouchan (48): “As they say: conga-rats!
”
Mental image of cartoon rats dancing in line –da-da da-da Bump bump!! Thank Alot!!
Happy Birthday LV! It’s LV’s birthday and yet I am the one with a gift!…of an LV addiction requiring me to go to this site repeatedly for a fix, haha.
And to JFray and the Mod Squad for putting up with a bunch of us crazies that come back here again and again… muchas gassy ass.
“…happy birth-day, mis-ter pwes-i-dent, :O
happy birth – day,
ah-tooo,
ah-you”
Happy Birthday, Lisverse.
Your lists never fail to fascinate me. Great job to JFrater and the gang. 
@deeeziner (65): Someone said that to me once and I got the same mental image.
Best. Website. Ever
Happy birthday, Listverse!
Happy birthday Listverse! I love you!
happy birthday xx
Great list and happy birthday, Listverse! (And happy birthday to Canada, too)!
Happy Birthday Listverse. Thanks for all the fantastic lists and all the hard work you guys have put in
we almost have the same birthday!
happy birthday listverse!!!!
5***** Site
A little addictive?
Congratulations!
Happy Birthday Listverse! I can’t believe it’s been just two years, it feels like it’s been longer than that. Trust me, that’s a good thing! Cheers, Jamie and here’s to the continued success of Listverse!
I still remember getting the chills listening to many of the recordings on the Incredible Recordings list, it was pretty much what hooked me on this site. Keep up the good work!
woot!!!! been here for all two years and you can expect me to be here for many more! happy bday listverse!
Congratulations on another great year Jamie! For some reason I felt a connection to this site when I first started reading your lists. The comments seemed to be thoughtful and intelligent and were not full of profanity for no rhyme or reason. I found myself learning just as much from the comments as the list itself. This is a rare quality if you compare it to comments on other popular sites. I also appreciated the respect and appreciation you gave to the people commenting from very early on and you still show that even after the success of the site. I will also never forget how neat it felt when my first list was published (Top 10 Memorable Movie Stunts) I have been hooked on writing more lists ever since and I now consider it one of my favorite hobbies. Congratulations again Jamie and I am looking forward to your future lists and the comments from all the Listversers.
Travis, that was a cool song.
happy b/day listverse get any nice presents lol
Many more b-days LV…one of the best places on the net!
mr plow part from ***** its the best site on the net long liv LV
First of all, A big thank you to Jamie for all the hard work, burning the candle at both ends sometimes to keep us LS happy.
And thanks to cyn and Mom 424 for all there hard work in admin.
I had an engagement party here last week and a bottle or 2 of champers were left behind, they have been on ice since then.
7 PM Here so I will go and crack the cork and pour the juice into a proper champane glass – I salute you Jamie a job well done, may it grow from strenght to strenght
Cheers
I’ve been visiting this site for more than a year and a half and had no idea that it shares a birthday with Canada Day!
Long live Listverse!
Happy birthday listverse! and congrats Jamie! Keep up the great work! I’ve gotten several people hooked on this site, and will continue to to email the lists to anyone who will find it interesting.
happy 2nd LV you make my work days a hell of alot more interesting.
Wow, 2 years. Nice to see one of my lists still going strong.
Happy 2nd Birthday, and many more!
Happy Birthday!
Productivity has gone down at my job since finding you but I’m not too concerned about that…
Keep up the great work!
It would be pretty ironic if this list became the new number one most popular lists ever
Happy Birthday Listverse. I shudder to think how mundane my life would’ve been these last two years without having LV around to break up the monotony of doing stuff like, you know, my actual job. I’d probably end up having to venture out of my mom’s basement more often and interact with living breathing humans. Thank you Listverse for saving me from that cruel fate!
Well well, (draws breath), two years and still going as strong as ever. What a wicked job you have landed yourself JF – real jammy, jamie. I can’t remember how and why I ended up ensnared and shackled to this hulking beast – but I do remember the first time I wrote a list, and the joy (i.e. humiliation/embarrassment) when it was actually published and thrust onto the world. Oh the shame…
I can’t sing ‘Happy Birthday’ because the song is copyright and they’ll probably sue YOU for… oh what the hell – I don’t care if they sue you.
(EVERYBODY!)
Happy Birthday to you,
Put your nose in dog poo,
Kick a nutter in the gutter,
And stick his mouth closed with glue.
@bucslim (50): Very Very funny, well caught. g (sniffs) Is that…?? (sniff, sniff) is that… beaver ass juice I can smell??
@blogball (80): So modest in your modesty. I can see you – with that cheesy grin
And No.1 list too. Yeah, yeah…laugh it up.
happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…happy birtheday dear Listverse…happy birthday to you!!!
i wish you maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaany more
Congratulations, Jamie and everyone who has contributed to the success of LV! It’s been two years of absolutely wonderful fun and education, lots of new friends made (and a few who disappeared into the ether), and some memorable trollz!
Its been fun.
I can only hope that my site (no, everyone, nothing like this) is as successful in it’s own way!
Again, congrats!
ta!
segue
Happy Birthday Listverse !!!
I remember the suicide list… because i never got to see it. it was taken off during a trip i was taking so i never got to read it… so mad…
Happy birthday!!!!!! i am so happy that the last pictures taken list was #1. I love that list. i just re read it and i still get chills when i read the one about the photographer on 9/11.
Happy Birthday listverse im not a constant commenter but I am an avid reader and in short this site rules!!!
Congrats jayfray!! most evil women was the list that introduced the site to me. LV has been my home page for about a year now cuz i got tired of typing in the address several times a day.
good work so far. i hope to submit a publishable list some day. but until then, cheers mate.
Feliz cumpleaños!! Happy B-Day Listverse!!
Happy Birthday ListVerse, I hope there are a lot more to come…. Keep up the great work!!
I loved #2, the recording list!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LISTVERSE!!!
Happy 2nd birthday! Still the most interesting read on the web…
Jf you should be pretty proud of your website. Its to bad people are big babies and can’t handle some lists.
Good job JFrater and Happy Canada Day everyone
I too am a List Verse junkie I read the list every day and sometimes comment. I don’t know how it’s possible to come up with and publish a new list every day. I’m amazed.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISTVERSE!
(Sorry for Caps, but this occassion called for it)… I can’t believe I haven’t read some of these! Will definitely be doing some more trawling through older Lists.
Happy birthday, Listverse! I’ve been a loyal visitor for the last six months, have read nearly all the lists (no admin lists, and I may read the Your View columns someday), and still enjoy coming here.
I’m surprised that the list from a few months ago about Excuses people make for hating America didn’t make the list. Didn’t it have about 850-1000 comments last time I looked? I know the Creationism topic in Your View is also immensely popular too.
Anyway, happy anniversary, and here’s to many more lists!
Okay, the one list is 1700 comments and counting, but still…
Happy Birthday Listverse!
I am so happy this website exists! I’ve been visiting this site for a year and a half now, and I’m so excited for the lists to come. As an avid listmaker myself, I can appreciate wha it takes to compile these lists. A big “Thank You” is owed to all contributors on my part, because if it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t get my list fix everyday. Keep up the good work Listversers’!
Congrats !! Nice job.
Congrats! And thank you very much for keeping me entertained for hours when business is running slow at work!
Happy Birthday Listverse!!
Congratulations, I love this site, it’s very informative, just started reading those lists a month ago, and am still catching up on your archives.
For more lists to come, tagay!!
Jamie – Thanks for the two years of this awesome website! I am definitely an addict, especially to the forums. (Thanks for letting us have our own little forum game making fun of YOU!) You have a great sense of humor, which is just ONE of the many things I admire about you. You should be proud of all the hard work you’ve done and of the sweet smell of success.
Conga-rats, Fearless Leader!
Thanks everyone for the great supportive comments
It certainly makes the job much easier for me! I am really hoping that over the next year we can grow exponentially and I am looking forward (as much as you all are) to some amazing lists. Let’s make year 3 our best ever!
Happy Birthday Listverse! Thanks for all the hard work Jamie, Dangor, Mom, and Cyn!
Some of my favorite lists:
Top 10 Fascinating Facts About *****
15 Funny Sports Quotes
10 Hilarious Listverse Comments
Top 15 X-Rated Plants
10 Misconceptions About Common Sayings
Top 10 Pink Floyd Songs
Top 10 Guitarists You Don’t Know
While looking through the archives I kept seeing more lists that I missed and need to go back and read.
congrast wishing u that this keeps on going on and on and on ……..and on.
Again nice list, and they are already at Listverse. I hope for many more to come. I could make a list of the people I tell about Listverse. It is always when they ask “where do I get interesting facts from??
Jamie, accidentally stumbled upon the site maybe 2 months after you started it and have made it a must stop almost everyday to see what is next. Love it how there are some lists that have informed me of material ( books, artists, philosophers, etc.) that I did not even know existed. Also the weird and creepy ( recording of an exorcism!). Keep up the great work!
I loved this site. I found it almost right at the beginning and was pretty active for a while- and supportive. Well I think it sucks now. Ok. Maybe thats way to harsh – but the lists are just… I don’t know. There’s not as much substance at all. The lists used to be so much more reliable. I remember, when I read and enjoyed almost every new list. Now I occasionally stop in too sift through the junk and see if there is anything good. I don’t comment anymore because I’m always tempted to just write “This list sucks.” JFrater, I know you care about the community of people here but the site itself isn’t “your baby” anymore- a lot of these lists are junk. Sorry. I have to take my angst out on someone.