Listography - Create Lists Online About Your Life

Discovering Listography: Beyond a Simple To-Do List

Recently, while exploring the web for interesting online destinations, I encountered a distinctive website. Initially, I assumed it was designed for time organization and task tracking.

The website, named Listography, suggested a function of creating and overseeing to-do lists through its very title.

A Different Kind of List-Making Tool

Here at MUO, we have previously explored numerous tools of this nature. For example, Tim showcased 5 websites offering printable grocery lists, and Kaly compiled a detailed overview of various To-Do services.

However, Listography deviates significantly from the typical to-do list application.

My initial discovery occurred while researching opinions on films. I found a user’s compilation of their favorite movies and observed other Listography members engaging in discussions on the list.

This interaction revealed the true purpose of the platform.

Unveiling the Core of Listography

Listography provides a space to publish lists online, encompassing preferences, aversions, anxieties, ambitions, and concerns – essentially, the elements that define an individual’s character.

Examining a person’s Listography profile offers a rapid understanding of their personality.

Furthermore, initiating a conversation based on one of their lists can be a genuinely enjoyable experience.

The platform fosters connection through shared interests and personal revelations.

It’s a unique way to learn about others and share aspects of yourself.

Exploring Listography: A New Avenue for Online Expression

Creating a Listography page offers a customizable experience, ranging from simple to highly creative. The initial setup process closely resembles that of Twitter – primarily involving uploading a profile picture and selecting a background. Like Twitter, expression on this platform is highly focused.

It represents another form of social sharing, allowing you to reveal aspects of your personality without excessive disclosure or significant time investment. Discovering lists created by others can be quite engaging, and I personally found several excellent recommendations for films and books through the site!

Your profile includes four default folders for organization. The 'Main' folder is publicly visible, but you can further categorize lists using subfolders. Crucially, a private area is also available for storing lists that are works-in-progress or intended solely for your personal use.

The settings section allows you to personalize your profile and background image. You can also define the public page name for your lists; for instance, mine is currently listography.com/RyanLists.

It’s important to remember that this platform is designed for public self-expression. Using it as a personal to-do list is not recommended, as it lacks features like calendars and due dates. Instead, lists incorporate comment sections and RSS feeds.

The core purpose is to share your interests, passions, and preferences with others – to communicate what motivates you and what you appreciate or dislike.

Selecting "create list" opens a default list screen, initially featuring a rather unappealing green background. The first step is to choose a more suitable background color from the bar at the bottom, followed by selecting a category and a title for your list.

My initial list focused on upcoming movies I eagerly anticipate seeing.

To build your list, utilize the wiki code for bullet points ("*"). You can also upload an image to enhance the visual appeal of your list – a highly recommended practice for a more professional look. Choose between bulleted or numbered lists, then click save.

This action immediately publishes your list online, displaying it as a list box on your main page.

For organization, four options are available at the bottom next to the "save" button: design, folder, abc, or guide.

Design refers to the window previously shown, allowing you to adjust the background color and upload images. Folder enables categorization of your lists into subfolders. Selecting "abc" automatically alphabetizes your list.

The "Guide" option directs you to a formatting page offering helpful wiki formatting tips for creating visually appealing lists.

Here is my main profile page, showcasing my first two lists: movies I'm excited to watch and actors I particularly dislike. Beyond simply sharing lists for review and comment, Listography has other potential applications, one of which I will detail below.

At the bottom of each post, whether viewing your own or someone else's Listography, you'll find "tools" and "comment" options. Commenting is straightforward, but the "tools" area provides additional functionality.

If you encounter a comprehensive and valuable list, you can easily save it by clicking on tools->send, allowing you to email it to yourself or a friend. Subscribing to the list's RSS feed is also an option.

How can RSS feeds be beneficial for lists? Consider this scenario: you're coordinating a family reunion with a small group of relatives. The reunion requires a shared "to-do" list.

You can create a public to-do list on your Listography page, allowing family members to track progress. To follow updates, they can click on tools -> RSS list feed. Each Listography list has a dedicated RSS feed, enabling subscribers to receive notifications of every change.

The potential applications are vast. Teachers could use it to maintain a classroom assignment list, automatically updating students with new tasks. Blogs and websites could manage "writer lists" with assignments, notifying writers of updates via feed.

The social aspect of Listography is also enjoyable. Browsing lists created by others often reveals useful – and sometimes less useful – insights. Reading and providing feedback on lists can be a rewarding experience.

I consider Listography a valuable platform for social expression, similar to Twitter. Like Twitter, the format is somewhat constrained, but this also contributes to the speed and ease of updating lists. The RSS feed feature makes subscribing to lists as simple as following someone on Twitter or Facebook.

Have you explored Listography? Does the idea of publishing your own lists online appeal to you? What would be your first list – movies, music, or something else entirely? Share your thoughts in the comments below.