Buzz
As Mytour's fifth anniversary draws near, it seems fitting to recognize some of the community's most frequent contributors and commenters. Apologies to those left off the list – as per tradition, I've had to limit the selections to just ten. I'm sure there will be varying opinions on who should or shouldn't be included, but this list is based purely on my own observations over the last three years, and, of course, it's highly subjective. Feel free to point out anyone I've missed in the comments.
10. The Firsts A Unique Subculture
More of a collective than a singular personality, the 'firsts' are those individuals who find peculiar satisfaction in being the first to comment on a newly-published list. Across the globe, in various countries and time zones, hundreds of people are constantly refreshing their browsers, racing to claim the title of 'first commenter.' To all the 'firsts,' past, present, and future, I respond: WHO CARES?! I can never understand the warped sense of accomplishment from such a trivial pursuit.
Another group that fills the esteemed space of Mytour are what I refer to as the 'closet-firsts.' Similar to the regular firsts, these individuals thrive on being the first to comment, but there's a subtle embarrassment in their behavior. Instead of posting something overt like 'FIRST WOOHOO!' they'll leave a more neutral comment such as 'nice list,' while quietly enjoying the sight of their name topping the comment list. Yet, it's all too clear to other readers that it's impossible to fully read and evaluate an entire list in just fifteen seconds after it's published. So, to all the closet-firsts – you’re not fooling anyone!
A special mention goes to one particular 'first' – the person who uses a profile picture featuring a hashtag symbol and the digit '1' on a red background. For a long time, this 'first' diligently worked to 'win' the first-comment challenge every single day. However, it seems they have recently grown tired of this routine.
NOTE: Since we made the switch to the Disqus commenting system, it seems we've successfully rid ourselves of the 'first' posts.
9. GrammerNazi
GrammerNazi's actions appear to be entirely driven by his fluctuating mood, swinging between being an irritating troll and a nearly serious commenter. The term 'troll-like' fits him well since typical trolls quickly grow tired of posting on the same site and move on, but GrammerNazi has stuck around. From what I can tell, the GrammerNazi profile has existed since at least mid-2011, though he could have been posting under different aliases before that.
He takes pleasure in sharing crude, controversial, and intentionally provocative remarks, which often reflect the kind of immature behavior you'd expect from a teenage boy. I've used masculine pronouns out of habit, as the 'foul-mouthed little boy' persona is so ingrained. However, despite the crude language and lowbrow humor, GrammerNazi occasionally offers some surprisingly insightful thoughts, and, I must admit, his posts have made me laugh more than once. Perhaps there’s a childlike side in all of us.
8. Ryan Thomas The Cynic
Ryan Thomas is a well-known list maker with a distinctive style. Whether you admire or despise him, there’s no denying his significant contribution to Mytour, primarily through the sheer volume of lists he’s published. His list topics cover a wide range of subjects, though he seems particularly fond of movies (especially horror) and music.
Ryan's writing style is undeniably cynical, but he pairs this with sharp philosophical insights that make for some truly impactful material. While his sarcasm can sometimes overwhelm the tone, he generally manages to keep his lists light-hearted with his dark, irreverent humor. A perfect example of this can be found in the opening line of his recent list on 'human freaks of nature': Kermit the Frog once sang, 'It ain’t easy being green.' Well, how about, 'It ain’t easy being a conjoined twin trapped in a humiliating form of circus slavery.'
Ah, classic Ryan Thomas.
7. Kate Wan née Mulcahy The Dark Horse
Kate Mulcahy came onto the scene earlier this year and immediately started producing a stream of top-tier lists. She quickly became a favorite among Mytourrs for her engaging and well-crafted entries. Her broad knowledge base, ability to come up with unique list ideas, and impressive writing skills have kept her readers hooked from start to finish.
Kate, as you might imagine, is a woman from Great Britain. When she first arrived, the sheer volume of her lists—around nine in just twenty-five days—led some Mytourrs to question whether she was a real person at all! A popular theory was that Mytour had hired someone (or even a team) to produce content for the site.
Kate’s relatively low position on this list is mostly due to her being a newcomer. With a couple more years or an additional fifteen to twenty lists under her belt, she could easily be ranked among the top two or three contributors on Mytour.
6. Christine Vrey The Flower Girl
I’ve come to know her as 'the flower girl' because she frequently writes about flowers, though she has also contributed numerous lists on other topics. I’ll be honest, when I first came across a list about flowers, I was immediately disappointed—how could such a topic be anything but dull? But after reading her list, I was unexpectedly impressed by how engaging it was.
Christine possesses a sophisticated writing style, effortlessly transforming even the most mundane topics into captivating and informative lists. Her research is always meticulous, making her lists a pleasure to read.
5. Arsnl The Smartass
Every group has its intellectuals, and Mytour boasts quite a few – none, however, more clever than Arsnl. A long-time commenter and invaluable contributor, Arsnl has been active in the comment sections for many years. His dry humor is characteristic of the British, and his username appears to be a shortened version of a British football team, although I’m not entirely sure of his nationality.
Unlike typical intellectuals, he doesn’t always try to be humorous. For the most part, he engages in discussions with reasoned, logical responses. However, when he does decide to be sarcastic, his wit is sharp, keeping me entertained over the years with his biting humor.
Maybe this recent comment from vulnerablebrena sums it up perfectly: 'See, Arsnl, this is why I have a “crush” on you. Who doesn’t like an intelligent smarts?'
4. Maggot The Ever-Present
Known for his iconic Alfred E. Neuman profile picture, Maggot is a consistently active commenter and contributor of lists. His lists often revolve around music, but his commentary covers a wide range of topics. Personally, he is my favorite commenter. You can always rely on Maggot to offer a thoughtful, balanced viewpoint on almost any debate unfolding in Mytour’s comment sections.
Maggot rarely lets brevity get in the way of making his case and is famous for his long-form responses. Even so, he never comes off as repetitive, always presenting his arguments in a logical, organized manner. Every time I read one of his explanations, I grow more impressed with his reasoning and eloquence.
3. JFrater The Founder
Could it honestly be anyone else at the top spot? Jamie Frater is the founder, owner, and the driving force behind the Mytour community. He has guided the site from its humble beginnings to a global audience of over fifteen million. Jamie is an active participant within the community, even blending his personal life by engaging with others through social media.
Although he no longer publishes as many of his own lists as he once did, Jamie remains a capable and skilled writer, and his work still competes at the highest levels of Mytour articles. As the site grows, it's clear that Jamie’s administrative duties are demanding more of his time, and I’m sure I speak for all Mytourrs when I say we eagerly await (and hope for) more from you in the future, JFrater. [JFrater’s reply: You will; I am dedicating much more time to the site since we moved away from WordPress VIP. That’s why I’ve been posting two lists a day recently. I’ve got several new lists in progress.]
2. Flamehorse The Phenomenon
There’s no better word to describe my personal favorite lister than 'phenomenal.' It’s entirely possible that this guy knows absolutely everything. Everything!
He clearly has his preferred topics – classical music being one of them – but he’s produced such an extensive range of lists that it’s nearly impossible to pinpoint what he doesn’t know! He has an amusing habit of referring to himself in every list at least once, using the phrase 'this lister,' and often employs this to share his personal tastes or highlight his particular favorites.
The sheer breadth of his knowledge is truly astounding, but the real strength of Flamehorse’s lists lies in the quality of his writing. His prose is unmatched in its elegance, and his clear, expressive language makes it a pleasure to read, flowing seamlessly around a rich vocabulary. In my view, Flamehorse is the best list writer on the site.
1. LordZB The Understudy
I refer to him as 'the understudy' because he is my second-favorite list maker, just behind number 2. LordZB has an astonishingly vast knowledge of the arts. His remarkable lists are treasure troves brimming with insights on history, philosophy, literature, and culture. Not only are they highly informative, but his writing also brings such clarity that the reader can quickly grasp the concepts and see them from entirely fresh viewpoints.
With their insightful interpretations, enlightening commentary, and expert assessments, LordZB’s lists are always highly anticipated.
+ Mytour Collections
Alright, it’s not exactly a Mytour personality, but I (JFrater) am hoping it will soon become a key feature of Mytour: Mytour Collections. This new initiative groups lists based on specific themes and audiences. It will eventually be featured on the site’s front page, though it’s currently in a sort of 'beta' phase. Please check it out and share your thoughts. Also, feel free to suggest new topics for collections.
