How To Make Your Own 'Best of the Decade' List
Are you envious of all these "Best of the Decade" lists that everyone keeps coming out with as we approach 2010? Are you disappointed that you really weren't paying attention to what was going on in any particular subject for the last 9 years, or even the last 119 months?
Do not worry! You can create your own "Best of the Decade" list too! Here's how in 4 easy steps:
- Pick your topic. Don't worry if you are far from an expert on that topic. That's not important, as you will soon see.
- Think of 6 things that can make your Best of the Decade list off the top of your head. Typically, these things have happened in the past month, or, if you were really paying close attention, the past year. Worried that your list will seem too biased towards recent events? Don't! Most people are just like you, and can't remember sh*t. This is the "recent memory bias" and will keep you looking like a genius.
- Do some really half-assed research to find 4 other examples. As long as these four examples have happened before 2008, it'll make your list look like you've put some effort into it. The number 4 is what I like to call the "moron's majority." Though it is far from an "actual majority," from a moron's perspective, it'll be enough to make your list look like the majority of the items on it aren't from last week.
- Space out your list like this: Old, recent, recent, old, recent, recent, old, recent, recent, old. See how the careful spacing of your old examples compared to the new examples provides the illusion that your list is unbiased?? That's the "moron's majority" in action!
Congratulations! Despite having barely any knowledge in your chosen subject matter, you have just made your own "10 Best of the Decade" list!
Easy right?! Go make your editor proud.
