More list envy on the social timelines last week. The Huffington Post Social 100 created much the same (though less localised and more amplified) shitstorm as the People Management HR Power Tweeters list a few months ago.

These types of lists will continue to be produced – after all it’s the way we create and consume so much content these days – and they do provide a service. To some they’re indispensable.

I’ve written at length before on why they don’t annoy me the way they do others, and the rights and wrongs of producing them, so without wishing to repeat myself, here are the main points…

• Lists are usually prepared for people who know no better. They point the curious and those seeking more information and insight in the right direction, leaving room to investigate.
• Lists are shared and critiqued by those who think they know a lot better. These are either included in the list (full of humility) or not included (full of indignation at those included who shouldn’t be there, and those not included who should).
• A list will only be a snapshot, a guide to encourage the curious to investigate further. Anybody not included on the list will undoubtedly come across the radar of the curious as they begin to interact with those who are included on the list.
• A list will be subjective; it will be in the eyes of the compiler. They will have their own rationale, it is their opinion. Someone has either asked them, or commissioned them, to compile it, or they have done so as part of their own content.
• There is a difference between HR/Recruitment practitioners who tweet and people who tweet (and share) content about HR/Recruitment. The former do not necessarily do the latter and the latter are not necessarily practitioners of the former.

Yes, I’m on some of these lists. It’s my job to be on these lists. As content and social media manager for a large digital recruitment brand, that is part of a top 5 global digital recruitment brand, I’d be doing something wrong if I’m not on the radar of people who compile these types of lists around my sector.

I’ve often observed that influence score deniers are usually people whose score doesn’t reflect how influential they think they really are, and so the list deniers are usually those who think their influence and reach should be recognised without them having to do much to bring it to wider attention.

It’s a list. Get over it.