1. I just don’t get the appeal. No offense intended to the multitudes of my Facebook friends already on this bandwagon, but how is this any different than that old, oft-forwarded email “how well do you know me” survey? I didn’t like that either.
2. I’m pretty used to talking about myself online already. Maybe that’s where I’m having difficulty with the concept of this being anything new?
3. It’s sort of spammy. Technically speaking, this isn’t that different from the type of email I filter from my inbox everyday.
4. “You’ve been tagged in a note.” No way? Really, a text-based note?!? I do have all these pressing Lil Green Patch invitations to deal with… but count me in! Seriously, folks, passing text files around online is SO last millenium. Why not just fax it?
5. After being tagged, I’m supposed to tag another 25 innocents. It’s only missing the threat of quick death or tragic luck if I don’t comply.
6. I hate being told I have to do something. Not the best way to motivate me.
7. Tagging isn’t even an appropriate term. Tagging, especially on Facebook, implies the person is included in the item (like a photo or video). Targeting is more accurate.
8. If you want comments on stuff you write why not start a blog? I guarantee it will be more fulfilling.
9. I like Artist/Celebrity/Politician X. This isn’t that different from the stuff in the rest of your Facebook Profile. It’s also not a “random” fact about you.
10. I don’t like Artist/Celebrity/Politician X. See #9.
11. Most of the lists break down after the first 10 things. Then it’s all downhill.
12. It takes too much time. Let’s say that composing this thing and choosing who to tag takes an average of 10 minutes. That’s a conservative estimate. Time reports that an estimated 5 million of these notes (125 million facts) have appeared within the past week. That’s about 800,000 hours wasted!
13. Can’t we find a better use of our time? Pick up litter, play catch with an orphan, fix the economy… Anything?
14. It’s hard work. Memes are supposed to be fun and easy to replicate. That’s why they become memes in the first place.
15. I don’t use Facebook for this sort of thing. Outside of the bounds of certain Facebook Applications, I don’t really us the network to communicate with small groups of people simultaneously. Notes sent to a handful of people (compared with just posting it to your profile for all to see) are a sloppy way to share information. To paraphrase George Michael, “Facebook is natural. Facebook is fun. Facebook is best when it’s one on one.”
16. It doesn’t leave much opportunity for further discussion. What am I supposed to say, “Wow, I didn’t know you got arrested for THAT? Cool.” Despite the ability to comment, it’s still a fairly one-sided exercise.
17. TMI. I really don’t need to know some most of this stuff.
18. It blurs the already blurry line between professional and personal followers. Haven’t we learned about the pitfalls of sharing too much on Facebook? After carefully removing all the photos of your college keg party adventures, do you really want a written account of intimate, personal confessions for future employers to find?
19. Why is this even being called a meme? Simply because millions of Facebook users are doing it? Does that mean status updates and profile pic changes are memes too? Perhaps we’re overusing this very specific term.
20. If 25 of your friends jumped off a bridge, would you follow suit? Didn’t think so.
21. OK, I’m looking for filler now.
    
22. I got tagged in 5 more of these things while writing this post. Honestly.
23. This is exhausting.
24. Seriously?
    
25. 25 things is a lot. Who came up with that? Whatever happened to the good-old top-10 list?

What do you think? Comment below, then copy and paste into a word processing document, photocopy and hang on every telephone pole within a 10 block radius of your primary residence.

UPDATE 2/7: I’m not alone here. It seems more coverage of this phenomenon is starting to emerge. Case and point: ValleyWag (’25 Random Things’ Lists Are Last Vestige of American Literacy), Washington Post (We Never Do Random Things. Until We Do), Baltimore Internet Examiner (25 Things – The modern day chain letter), and the Dallas Morning News (Millions expose themselves online with ’25 random things’).