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If you are reading a list and you find yourself agreeing, or disagreeing or simply you have something to add, you can create a list linked to the original one.
The great thing about this approach is that when two lists are linked together, they can be combined to form to form the consensus viewpoint!For instance, imagine you encounter a list of the best horror movies of all time. You agree with some of the list, but disagree with the ranking. By creating a linked list, you can add movies of your choosing and rank things as you choose. Then, if readers want, they can see the combined ranked list so see what the combined wisdom of the group is when it comes to horror movies.Here's how to create a link to another list...1First, find the list you want to link to!
Obviously, this is the first step. When you're reading the list, notice the links to the right hand side (click this item title for an example).
The links allow you to create a blank list linked to the one you're reading, or to use the existing list as a "seed" for your list.
Both of these options are discussed individually below.
(The last option allows you to create a brand new list of your own -- that allows you to create a list is not linked to the existing list at all. Since we're concerned with linking lists here, we don't care about the third option at the moment.)
The links allow you to create a blank list linked to the one you're reading, or to use the existing list as a "seed" for your list.
Both of these options are discussed individually below.
(The last option allows you to create a brand new list of your own -- that allows you to create a list is not linked to the existing list at all. Since we're concerned with linking lists here, we don't care about the third option at the moment.)
2Option 1: create a blank link to the list
If you choose this option, you will create a list linked to the existing one, however it will be completely blank so you can start from scratch.
This is the option you'll likely want if you aren't interested in carrying over any of the items and rankings from the existing list.
This is the option you'll likely want if you aren't interested in carrying over any of the items and rankings from the existing list.
3Option 2: use the existing list as a "seed" for a new list
If you select this option you will create a list that is linked to the existing one and that carries over the item titles and rankings (not the comments, if there are any) from the existing list.
Think of this as a way of getting a head start on your own list.
This option is best if you want to include -- but re-order -- several of the items on the existing list.
If you choose this option, you remain free to add, edit, re-order or delete items on your list. That's because you're still making YOUR list, you are just using the existing lists items to get you started.
Think of this as a way of getting a head start on your own list.
This option is best if you want to include -- but re-order -- several of the items on the existing list.
If you choose this option, you remain free to add, edit, re-order or delete items on your list. That's because you're still making YOUR list, you are just using the existing lists items to get you started.
4For both options -- make your own description
Regardless of which option you choose, you will be taken to a page where you can write the introductory description for your own list in this family.
The controls on this page are the as those covered in the basic list creation how to, so you can click on this item to visit that how to.
The controls on this page are the as those covered in the basic list creation how to, so you can click on this item to visit that how to.
5Now, add/edit list items
Once you have written your own list description, you can click the link to go to the "add/edit list items" page.
If you are creating a blank list linked to the original list, there won't be any items already on your list when you reach the editing page.
If you used the original list as a seed for the items, you will find the items (with no comments or URLS) listed on the "add/edit list items" page. You may move or edit or delete these items as you choose -- it won't affect the original list.
In either case, from this point forward, the process is the same as described in the basic list how-to.
If you are creating a blank list linked to the original list, there won't be any items already on your list when you reach the editing page.
If you used the original list as a seed for the items, you will find the items (with no comments or URLS) listed on the "add/edit list items" page. You may move or edit or delete these items as you choose -- it won't affect the original list.
In either case, from this point forward, the process is the same as described in the basic list how-to.
6A few words on how we generate consensus between lists
Of course one reason to link lists together is to allow readers to generate a consensus viewpoint by combining lists.
We generate the consensus by analyzing the rankings and the text of the item titles in all lists in a family. (We don't analyze the comments for this purpose).
Once that is done, we can combine items and scores for like items and generate the ranked consensus list.
Of course text is notoriously tricky to analyze.
Generally speaking we're able to figure out that two items refer to the same subject, even though the text might be slightly different.
For instance, we can figure out that "Joe's Italian Restaurant" and "Joe's Italian restaurant and deli" refer to the same thing when they appear in the same family of lists.
And yes, this is true for all the languages we support!
But it is possible to create a list item that is so different that we can't roll it up correctly for scoring.
An example: imagine you have a list about problems in San Francisco. One list has "homelessness" on it. Another list has "the homeless" on it. We can figure out these are related concepts and roll them up together as they should be.
But if a third list has "the homeless people downtown" on it, our system regards this as a new concept and doesn't roll it up with the other two.
That means that the "homeless" issue might not get the proper score when a consensus is generated.
To fix this, the person who entered "the homeless people downtown" can simply change the title to something like "the homeless" and then add the remarks about downtown to the comments section for their item.
Then the issue of homelessness will get scored properly when a consensus is generated.
In other words, if you want your list contributions to roll up properly when a consensus is generated for a reader, try to keep your item title fairly similar to others in the family.
There is a fair amount of heavy lifting involved from the technology standpoint to analyze the text and generate the rankings. It's a pretty smart system now, and it will get smarter as we continue to work on the software.
We generate the consensus by analyzing the rankings and the text of the item titles in all lists in a family. (We don't analyze the comments for this purpose).
Once that is done, we can combine items and scores for like items and generate the ranked consensus list.
Of course text is notoriously tricky to analyze.
Generally speaking we're able to figure out that two items refer to the same subject, even though the text might be slightly different.
For instance, we can figure out that "Joe's Italian Restaurant" and "Joe's Italian restaurant and deli" refer to the same thing when they appear in the same family of lists.
And yes, this is true for all the languages we support!
But it is possible to create a list item that is so different that we can't roll it up correctly for scoring.
An example: imagine you have a list about problems in San Francisco. One list has "homelessness" on it. Another list has "the homeless" on it. We can figure out these are related concepts and roll them up together as they should be.
But if a third list has "the homeless people downtown" on it, our system regards this as a new concept and doesn't roll it up with the other two.
That means that the "homeless" issue might not get the proper score when a consensus is generated.
To fix this, the person who entered "the homeless people downtown" can simply change the title to something like "the homeless" and then add the remarks about downtown to the comments section for their item.
Then the issue of homelessness will get scored properly when a consensus is generated.
In other words, if you want your list contributions to roll up properly when a consensus is generated for a reader, try to keep your item title fairly similar to others in the family.
There is a fair amount of heavy lifting involved from the technology standpoint to analyze the text and generate the rankings. It's a pretty smart system now, and it will get smarter as we continue to work on the software.
7Finally, advice about etiquette and linked lists
The notion of being able to combine lists and generate a consensus is a powerful thing and it has all sorts of possibilities.
It allows us to capture the wisdom of the crowd in a brand new way.
However, some people might use the ability to link lists together as a way of, in effect, vandalizing other people's lists.
So there is a basic tenet we intend to enforce -- if you link to a list, make sure your contributions are in the general spirit of the original list.
If someone puts up a list of "best children's movies" don't link to it to include adult action movies or even worst children's movies. Neither of those are in keeping with the spirit of the original list -- you should simply create a new list about action movies or a new list about worst children's movies.
The entire consensus building process gets subverted if people intentionally link to a list with irrelevant items.
For example, imagine that one person created a list about things they like about a given candidate for office. Five other people add their views about why they like the candidate.
And then, people who don't like the candidate get wind of this and they begin linking lists filled with nonsensical or hostile elements.
When a reader tries to generate a consensus about what to like about the candidate, what they get is a mix of honest positive views and a bunch of unwelcome disruptions. Everyone suffers in this scenario.
Deliberately subverting the spirit of a list is extremely bad manners and if done specifically to vandalize the original list(s), it's a violation of the terms of service and can result in us closing your CityTools account.
The better approach in the scenario above would be to create a SEPARATE list about why the candidate is horrible. And then let the readers decide which to believe.
So let's play nice and try to build sincere and valuable consensus together.
It allows us to capture the wisdom of the crowd in a brand new way.
However, some people might use the ability to link lists together as a way of, in effect, vandalizing other people's lists.
So there is a basic tenet we intend to enforce -- if you link to a list, make sure your contributions are in the general spirit of the original list.
If someone puts up a list of "best children's movies" don't link to it to include adult action movies or even worst children's movies. Neither of those are in keeping with the spirit of the original list -- you should simply create a new list about action movies or a new list about worst children's movies.
The entire consensus building process gets subverted if people intentionally link to a list with irrelevant items.
For example, imagine that one person created a list about things they like about a given candidate for office. Five other people add their views about why they like the candidate.
And then, people who don't like the candidate get wind of this and they begin linking lists filled with nonsensical or hostile elements.
When a reader tries to generate a consensus about what to like about the candidate, what they get is a mix of honest positive views and a bunch of unwelcome disruptions. Everyone suffers in this scenario.
Deliberately subverting the spirit of a list is extremely bad manners and if done specifically to vandalize the original list(s), it's a violation of the terms of service and can result in us closing your CityTools account.
The better approach in the scenario above would be to create a SEPARATE list about why the candidate is horrible. And then let the readers decide which to believe.
So let's play nice and try to build sincere and valuable consensus together.
