It’s a monumental moment here at Listverse. After nearly fifteen years of bringing you intriguing and often surprising top 10 lists, a new chapter begins. I launched Listverse.com on July 1st, 2007, an idea nurtured for over a year with encouragement from my brother Stewart. So much has changed since then, both globally and personally, marked by profound losses including Stewart and my parents, Adam and Lois Frater, who were avid readers and supporters of our community.
A little over a year ago, Listverse was sold to a US-based group. Today, I’m thrilled to announce that this was an interim step, and Listverse has now been acquired by the fantastic team at Ranker.com – a name I’m sure many of you recognize. This list is a special collaboration to introduce Ranker and share some reflections as we embark on this exciting new journey. Don’t worry, I’m not disappearing and will still be around!
10. A Farewell to Friends
It’s important to start by remembering those we’ve lost. Friendships evolve, and sadly, some don’t last forever. In 2018, my brother Stewart, known here as Kiwiboi, passed away. He was a massive supporter and the very reason Listverse exists, contributing insightful comments and even writing the list ’20 Examples Of Why You Should Enjoy Poetry’. His absence is felt daily.
We also said goodbye to Jesse Cunnington (pictured), who wrote three lists and was a beloved commenter as Trigun472. He was only 25 when he died from cystic fibrosis in 2017. Jesse was one of the kindest souls here. Our Canadian moderator, Mom424 (Judy), showed incredible compassion by traveling to him and buying him a car for his medical appointments, giving him freedom in his final months. Thank you, Judy, for your amazing kindness.
9. You . . . The Readers
Listverse thrives because of you, our incredibly loyal readers. Whether you read quietly or engage daily in the comments, your dedication has brought immense joy. Many of us have formed lasting online friendships, and remarkable real-life connections have blossomed too. Back in 2013, during a trip to Los Angeles for a potential Listverse TV show, I met up with some regulars. What followed was a memorably chaotic night, culminating in a hotel suite full of passed-out Listversers! The picture shows an early moment from that evening. We’ve even celebrated Listverse marriages! For me, this community has been part of my life through thick and thin.
8. The Editors
Since 2007, we’ve been blessed with brilliant editors who often wore multiple hats, including writing. We’re still fortunate to have the incredibly smart and friendly Darci. We’ve also had invaluable help from Heather, Micah Duke, and Anthony Sfarra. A special shoutout to Andrew Handley, our social media manager, video creator, and all-around great guy, whose many lists remain personal favorites. We also appreciate the contributions of Colin Jenkins, Josh Sargent, Kier Harris, and the insightful Matt Hayes. Matt was pivotal in our Wellington office (his desk view is pictured), helping to lay the groundwork for the site’s traffic growth with our current design.
7. The Crazy Admins
Our moderators have been the unsung heroes. Who could forget “Cyn The Admin” (Cynthia)? Her fun-loving spirit and enthusiastic moderation left many fond memories. Then there was Oouchan (Amy), vigorous in her moderation and passionate about her political views, enlightening us on gender spectra long before it was mainstream. Patrick Weidinger, a quiet but quality moderator, still graces our comments section with his useful insights. Liam, our most recent moderator, is incredibly smart, offering reasoned comments and invaluable behind-the-scenes help. And Mom424 (Judy), a moderator since our early days, became a dear friend. Her visit to New Zealand was filled with laughter, debates, and fun. Thank you to all our moderators, past and present.
6. Me . . . From Here To Where?
I’ve never fully shared why I decided to sell Listverse. Since childhood, I’ve been fascinated by smells – a trait perhaps common in my family of armchair philosophers. This led me to hobbyist perfume making. After years of dabbling, buying chemicals, and endless mixing, I decided in 2020 to launch my own perfume house: Frater Perfumes. To dedicate myself fully to this new venture, I made the decision to sell Listverse. I now have twelve perfumes maturing and will soon begin bottling. You can follow my perfume journey at Frater.com. Rest assured, I’ll still be around Listverse, checking comments and maybe even submitting a list or two!
5. Hi! We’re Ranker. It’s Nice To Meet You
Now, let me hand it over to the new team. The folks at Ranker say: “Thanks, Jamie, for this opportunity to introduce ourselves! We’re Ranker; we’re a list-making site based in Los Angeles, CA; and we love to rank things. Some of you already know us (we even recognize some familiar names among the writers on Listverse). For those who don’t yet, let’s get to know each other better in the coming months.”
4. Like Jamie, Our Founder, Clark Benson, Has A Longstanding Love Of Lists
The Ranker team continues: “Clark is a list man and a serious music nerd. He created Ranker in 2009 as an alternative to user reviews, and though it became mostly pop culture-focused, it’s grown to cover topics from ‘The Values Of Sitcom Homes If They Were On The Market Today’ to ‘The Oldest Foods Ever Discovered By Archaeologists, Ranked By How Disgusting They Would Be To Eat’. Our editorial staff is constantly searching for the next satisfying thing that we can list-ify and that our readers can vote on.”
3. We’re Here For All Things History, Creepy, Nerdy, Crimey, And Pop Culture-y
Ranker explains: “In many ways, the kinds of lists we publish at Ranker aren’t so different from the annals of Listverse. We create lists about weird historical happenings, fan-driven hypotheses, real crimes – both solved and un – celebrity culture, and so much more. The big difference you’ll notice is that we don’t use a comments section for reader engagement. Instead, we want readers to directly vote on and rank order the list items. If you don’t agree with an item, vote it down! If you think we’ve got it right, vote it up! Ranker’s dream is to have exhaustive, definitive, crowdsourced rankings of… well, everything.”
2. Please Be Patient With Us As We Transition Things Over
A note from Ranker to our writers: “If you’re a writer for Listverse, we just ask for your patience as we get things transferred into our system. We want to make the process as easy and seamless for you as possible, so if something is wonky, or you experience a hiccup, please reach out!” This care and consideration for our writers is something I deeply appreciate, and it assures me that Listverse is in good hands.
1. We’re So Excited To Team Up With Listverse!
Ranker shares their enthusiasm: “Clark’s been a longtime fan of Listverse, watching what you all and Jamie have created. As Clark put it himself: ‘I have been a fan of Listverse for years. I respect the quality of their content, yet I am just as impressed by the passion and meaningful interaction of their audience. This combination of excellent writing and a loyal fanbase make this brand a perfect fit under the expanding Ranker network.’ Our editorial staff has been enjoying your content, especially the author-driven perspectives your lists offer. Together, the Ranker and Listverse libraries provide complementary content for endless reading. We look forward to sharing the best of what we’ve made with you, and likewise, the gems that you’ve made with our audience. Hopefully, there’s lots of happy reading in all of our futures.”
This transition marks a new era for Listverse, and I am genuinely excited to see how the site evolves under Ranker’s passionate leadership. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone who has been a part of this incredible journey.
What are your favorite Listverse memories, and what are you looking forward to in this new chapter with Ranker? Leave your comment below!
