--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think any List of Best X creates…" description: "\"I think any List of Best X creates arguments and people saying 'You listed that rubbish?' That's what lists like this are for.\" — Scott Westerfeld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/scott-westerfeld-928_any_i-think-any-list-of-best-x-creates-argum_1002599.png" --- # I think any List of Best X creates arguments and people… ![“I think any List of Best X creates arguments and people saying 'You listed that rubbish?' That's what lists like this are for.” quote by Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/scott-westerfeld-928_any_i-think-any-list-of-best-x-creates-argum_1002599.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/scott-westerfeld-928_any_i-think-any-list-of-best-x-creates-argum_1002599.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b4/scott-westerfeld-928_any_i-think-any-list-of-best-x-creates-argum_1002599.png) > “I think any List of Best X creates arguments and people saying 'You listed that rubbish?' That's what lists like this are for.” [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques “best of” lists, noting they generate debate and criticism, and suggests such controversy is intentional to spark discussion. **In simple terms:** Best‑of lists provoke arguments and debate. Key Takeaway Use lists to stimulate critical thinking. Themes media critique lists debate Mood analytical skeptical curious Type critical inspirational When to use this quote - online forums - editorial writing - consumer reviews - academic discussions Key Concepts cultural studies communication media literacy Questions to Reflect On - Why do we create ranking lists? - How can we improve the usefulness of such lists? A Different Perspective Lists can oversimplify complex topics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Listed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listed/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I'm looking for pound-for-pound list to be the best in the world and it takes belts to get there so let's get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-ferguson/i-m-looking-for-pound-for-pound-list-to-be-the-best-in-the-world-and/) [Tony Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-ferguson/) > [I want to open a destination place where you go for the best chocolate chip cookie you've ever had in your life, the biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-yard/i-want-to-open-a-destination-place-where-you-go-for-the-best/) [Sherry Yard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-yard/) > [I had to learn to do everything because I couldn't find another kindred soul. Now you see eighty people listed doing the same things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-harryhausen/i-had-to-learn-to-do-everything-because-i-couldn-t-find-another/) [Ray Harryhausen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-harryhausen/) > [It's just that back then we didn't know that was considered being a coproducer. I would sit on the side and say what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-just-that-back-then-we-didn-t-know-that-was-considered-being-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't mind being listed alphabetically. I do mind being treated alphabetically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-tallchief/i-don-t-mind-being-listed-alphabetically-i-do-mind-being-treated/) [Maria Tallchief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-tallchief/) > [I'm not really listed anywhere; I don't know how people find me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-baker/i-m-not-really-listed-anywhere-i-don-t-know-how-people-find-me/) [Rick Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-baker/) > [My dad was a congressman, and he taught me at a very early age, 'They voted for me, they view me as theirs, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ford-jr/my-dad-was-a-congressman-and-he-taught-me-at-a-very-early-age-they/) [Harold Ford, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-ford-jr/) > [As an athlete, success is not just about winning; it is about working hard and giving it all you have. 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I've checked it a couple times and saw (something he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-marino/i-don-t-understand-how-imdb-works-i-don-t-know-who-logs-in-the/) [Ken Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-marino/) > [I am not expecting anyone to feel sorry for me, but when friends ask how it feels to be a debut novelist who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-joyce/i-am-not-expecting-anyone-to-feel-sorry-for-me-but-when-friends-ask/) [Rachel Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-joyce/) > [His death certificate says he died first of pneumonia and secondly of Alzheimer's disease. They could have listed another cause of death: a refusal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-george/his-death-certificate-says-he-died-first-of-pneumonia-and-secondly-of/) [Rose George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-george/) > [“Knowledge is shown when used, not when listed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahim-talibzade/knowledge-is-shown-when-used-not-when-listed/) [Rahim Talibzade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahim-talibzade/) > [It's finding those nonsensical pieces of conversation that we all do all the time. We do all the time. When we're talking on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-finding-those-nonsensical-pieces-of-conversation-that-we-all-do/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I guess some people are brilliant enough to be brilliant on their own and never doubt anything and come up with fabulous things. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-guess-some-people-are-brilliant-enough-to-be-brilliant-on-their-own/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) ## More by Scott Westerfeld > [“She thought of the orchids spreading across the plains below, choking the life out of the other plants, out of the soil itself, selfish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/she-thought-of-the-orchids-spreading-across-the-plains-below-choking/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [But it's always taking a risk, when you ... kiss someone new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/but-it-s-always-taking-a-risk-when-you-kiss-someone-new/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [The Rusty Ruins were the remains of an old city, a hulking reminder of back when there'd been way too many people, and everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/the-rusty-ruins-were-the-remains-of-an-old-city-a-hulking-reminder-of/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [High school wasn't a trial by fire or some ordeal that had to be survived. It was all a big joke. You just had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/high-school-wasn-t-a-trial-by-fire-or-some-ordeal-that-had-to-be/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [And you've actually watched it yourself?' I asked. 'Willingly?' Sure. I had to see it, you know? Besides we should be safe. Only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/and-you-ve-actually-watched-it-yourself-i-asked-willingly-sure-i-had/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Sometimes, the hardest thing was doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/sometimes-the-hardest-thing-was-doing-nothing/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“Sure, zombies can “be a metaphor.” They can represent the oppressed, as in Land of the Dead, or humanity’s feral nature, as in 28…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/sure-zombies-can-be-a-metaphor-they-can-represent-the-oppressed-as-in/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“You don't look very happy." Tally tried to smile. David had shared his biggest secret with her; she should tell him hers. But she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/you-don-t-look-very-happy-tally-tried-to-smile-david-had-shared-his/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Dude, I just watched you climb up a f\*cking building!-Lace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/dude-i-just-watched-you-climb-up-a-f-cking-building-lace/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“Weird, even for one of us. Or maybe she's worse." "Worse how?" "Normal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/weird-even-for-one-of-us-or-maybe-she-s-worse-worse-how-normal/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Tally smiled. At least she was causing trouble to the end. "I'm Tally Youngblood," she said. "make me pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/tally-smiled-at-least-she-was-causing-trouble-to-the-end-i-m-tally/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Out here, you find out that the city fools you about how things really work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/out-here-you-find-out-that-the-city-fools-you-about-how-things-really/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“Growing up like rewriting is simply admitting how clueless you were not so long ago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/growing-up-like-rewriting-is-simply-admitting-how-clueless-you-were/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“The beauty of the world…has two edges, one of laughter, one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder. —Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/the-beauty-of-the-world-has-two-edges-one-of-laughter-one-of-anguish/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Cure for writer's block: blow something up(in the story)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/cure-for-writer-s-block-blow-something-up-in-the-story/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) [Explore all 321 Scott Westerfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) ## More Any quotes > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. 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I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [We earned any fans with the way we play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/we-earned-any-fans-with-the-way-we-play/) [Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/) > [Hard work and a good education will take you further than any government program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/hard-work-and-a-good-education-will-take-you-further-than-any/) [Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/) > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [The system in Germany is different, as you sign up with a company for two or three years, and you work exclusively with them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wlaschiha/the-system-in-germany-is-different-as-you-sign-up-with-a-company-for/) [Tom Wlaschiha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wlaschiha/) > [I'm writing about real things. 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