In a desperate bid to get us to click on articles or posts on the web, writers are creating headlines making ever-bolder promises and claims.
Here are a few I spotted this morning. Apparently if you read or look at these articles, they will:
...make you reconsider history
...make you speechless
...make your tummy rumble
Adjectives are gettting in on the act, too. One article promises to reveal websites that are not only useful but amazingly useful. Yes, there are many amazing things on the internet, including "Amazing Illustrations by Sayurikemiko" and "10 Amazing jQuery Typography Plugins for Your Site." If they're not amazing they're awesome, like "60+ Awesome Infographics After Effects Project Files."
The web also calls your attention to earth-shaking events you might otherwise miss, such "Why tonight's epsiode of Game of Thrones changed the rules forever."
You'll find a lot of promises of ultimate experiences, like "Some of the Most Hilariiously Bad Racing You Will Ever See," and "This 'Ulysses' Auto-Correct Prank is Perhaps the Best Ever' (that "perhaps" is an unusual sign of modesty) and "10 Films That Can Teach You Everything You Need to Know About Cinematography."
You'll also find a lot of useful life guidance, including "How 5 Post-It Notes Can Make You Happy, Confident and Successful" and "How to See Clearly Without Glasses Using a Simple Trick."
I'm sure diligent readers of this blog will be able to find a few cases where I've used titles that were a bit hyperbolic but I try to resist it.
I'm starting to skip reading articles with headlines that make overblown promises. Not only do I know that the contents seldom, if ever, fulfil the claims but I'm also turned off and a little saddened by the whiff of desperation as they try to find new ways to say LOOK AT ME!!! PLEASE!!! HERE!!! ME!!!
