Why Do We Like Ranking Things So Much?

Another musing on my social media algorithm, I guess. I forgot to mention last time I started a piece with my social media algorithm that, aside from guitar videos, gear demos, and solo clips, another form of content that really seems to pop up on my phone these days is rankings. Some of them don't even align with many of my interests at all. Ranking every US President. Ranking the best drinks to have on the golf course. Ranking every Malcolm in the Middle episode from worst to best. Ranking every letter in the alphabet. Why were people ranking things that would arguably be tedious and extremely difficult to gauge? 

Now, before I start ranting about this, there is one thing I need to be clear about. I love ranking things. I used to rank Star Wars movies and Star Trek episodes as a kid (yes, I am a fan of both franchises). Currently, I have an ongoing list of Bond films from worst to best saved on my phone, and a list of the greatest guitar players of all time constantly shifted about in my brain. I love ranking things. But why? Why did I feel the need to rank all 25 Bond movies? For this to be completed, I would have to watch all of these movies in close succession, so that my memory stays fresh. And don't even get me started on the alphabet. How are you gonna rank that?

To figure out a possible answer to this question, I first consulted my childhood in order to find out why I liked ranking things so much. For those wondering why I did not immediately turn to Google and discover what scientists had to say about this, I knew there were no statistics to answer this question. Even if there were studies or research conducted on this issue, I was certain that simple science was not the way. Do we think of science all the time when we're ranking things? Probably not. 

Why did, or rather, why do I like ranking things? Let's start simple. I like chronology. Putting things in order of importance, preference, or simply making a list of a thing's development over time seemed intriguing. Let's think of Bond movies, for example. If I had not made at least a mental list of each actor's tenure and their respective films, would I have cared for the developmental aspect of each film? Would I look at Connery's Bond compared to Craig's Bond, and have spotted all of the differences in their nearly 50-year gap: their portrayals, the sidekicks, or the gadgets? Maybe not in detail. Let’s add another layer. If I were to add my own preferences and rearrange this chronological list, I would have a much clearer picture of not only the development in each film, but also my critique of these developments and how they compare to each other. 

The same goes for my list of influential guitarists. I would first make a list of all my heroes: Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, and so on. Then, I would rearrange these names according to the amount of influence they had on my style of playing from least to most: BB King, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. For me, ranking things always starts with listing every element, devising a criterion for arrangement, and rearranging them to complete a list based on my preferences.

But this would undoubtedly be different for others. I've seen people do point scoring, create charts with written reasoning behind each of their choices, and even blind rankings, where people rank items without knowing what comes next, and cannot recant. In these forms, ranking is not just about placing things on a list anymore, but rather, actual critical thinking and decision making that requires consideration, clear criteria, and ample knowledge of what you're ranking.

Let's just take blind ranking as an example. Unlike most list-making, where you are given a set of items and are made to rank them, blind ranking sets you up so that the comparative factors that lead up to the decision amount to a bare minimum. Only the number of items you are meant to rank is revealed to you. All of the elements I previously mentioned, such as chronology, development, and preference, are removed from the act of ranking. All that is left is pure speculation on what items will be provided for you. 

But this is far from order. While normal ranking is, in my opinion, a chance to organize our brain and label a specific sequence of preference, alternative forms of ranking, such as point scoring and blind ranking, where more mathematics and critical thinking are involved, are meant to give us more creative input. Looking at each item on a list from multiple different perspectives is simply so much better than saying, "Oh, it's great," or "Oh, it's better." Meanwhile, blind ranking forces us to think on the spot and make tough decisions; acts we find incredibly difficult to muster, but also fun and intriguing when there is enough reasoning to back up a claim. I feel that since we as creatures long for new perspectives, diverse ideas, and "hot takes", ranking has morphed into something more than just a medium to organize. It's fun to rank things. It's even more fun now. 

Sure, I have never been courageous enough to blindly rank 10 Bond films, or to rank every John Mayer song in his catalogue using a score system (I've seen multiple on Reddit). But I see no harm in trying this out. After all, it must be fun, right?

Credit: The Makeshift Project

The Hype (Scare) Over Labubu Dolls

What do you think is the primary use of a stuffed animal? Is it a source of comfort for children who need a friend to be with? Is it a collectible, like a Pokémon plushie, for instance, where the consumer has the opportunity to collect every character from a series? Well, with Labubu dolls, it is all those things, including a cultural phenomenon, worldwide popularity, and conspiracy theories. 

I first heard of Labubu dolls from social media, where I saw literal swarms of people in front of Pop-Mart stores, the retailer of Labubu products. Many influencers, including my friend, uploaded photos of themselves in front of Pop Mart as well as the crowd in front of them. That made me wonder: what made these dolls so popular?

The character "Labubu" originated from a book series written by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung titled The Monsters. Labubu is a part of the main cast of characters, shown as a funny yet creepy and mischievous rabbit-like creature with a wide, toothy grin and large eyes. After a plushie was introduced by the brand How2Work in 2015, Pop Mart collaborated with Lung and created the signature Labubu toy that has grown increasingly popular over the last year. 

According to Lung, Labubu, and his series The Monsters was inspired by Nordic mythology and folklore he enjoyed during his childhood. Raised in Utrecht, Netherlands, Lung was exposed to such stories from an early age. Many believe that books such as Where the Wild Things Are were also inspirations for the Labubu character. 

Okay. We got a rough idea of how they look, and I can see why they are popular. They have an interesting duality to them. Labubu is a cute-looking monster, just like Pokémon. Sure, they might look adorable on the outside, but like Pikachu, they also possess monster-like qualities, such as elvish ears, sharp teeth, and odd stature. But why and how have they sold to the numbers that they have?

In the first half of 2025, the profits that Pop Mart made from selling Labubu dolls amounted to $21.1 billion. As for the number of varieties they offer, there are over 300 different versions of these figurines from Pop-Mart, with different editions as well as sizes. While a normal-sized 15cm figurine costs $15, a "mega edition" Labubu costs $79, and in June of this year, a 4ft tall Labubu doll sold for $170,000. 

But I was still not sold on why there was so much profit. Sure, they were branded as "designer products" and appealed to collectors with 300 different editions. However, even if sales numbers were huge, it is hard to imagine $15 dolls amounting to billions of dollars without a catch; a uniqueness to the rise of these dolls unparalleled by any other fad product. Well, Labubu has not only one, but two. 

A primary component of Labubu's rise is its alleged popularity amongst celebrities. Before 2024, Labubu's popularity was mostly limited to China, and after the pandemic, to East Asian countries such as the Philippines and Thailand. Then, Lisa, a member of the K-pop group Blackpink, was spotted with one and said that her Labubus were her companions during touring. Then, Rihanna was spotted with one. Then, Kim Kardashian. Even Sir David Beckham posted a picture of a Labubu gifted by his daughter. Sightings of these Labubu dolls with famous celebrities grew, and so did their worldwide fame. Fans took to Pop Mart and tried to find the exact model their favorite celebrities had been spotted with. 

Speaking of models, there is one more thing that I think makes the Labubu doll so unique: its configuration. All Labubu dolls (not including the giant ones) are sold in "blind boxes". Blind boxes are a form of selling that does not disclose the contents of a box. Labubu does this in the form of "editions", or a certain theme in which multiple Labubus fall. Blind boxes make it so that customers immediately get the desire to collect in order to obtain a full series or edition, and also add tension and fun to the experience. Blind boxes have been used by countless other products over the years, but paired with the celebrity status Labubus has gained, it only heightens the importance of the "edition" or "version" of the doll. 

Now, to answer the second part of our big question: are Labubu dolls demonic? In my personal opinion, they do look like monsters. After all, the book series featuring them is called "The Monsters", and their wide eyes and toothy grin sure do give a creeping sensation. 

Many claim to have witnessed strange sightings with their Labubus on social media. One user claimed that they had mysteriously been displaced over time, while others claim the creature's eyes seem to follow wherever they go. Labubus have been linked to an old Mesopotamian demon called Pazuzu, a similar-looking elf-like beast. Paired with the similarity in their names as well as countenance, some presume that Labubu dolls are incarnations of this demonic creature. Some countries, including Russia and Pakistan, have banned the sale of Labubu dolls in their nations.

Weirdly, however, there are some sightings of Labubu worship around the world. Most notably, an Indian woman claims that her Labubu figurine is a Chinese god, and performs rituals serenading the toy. More amusingly, protective amulets, or casings for Labubu dolls, were spotted in Thailand and are going on sale on eBay.

Regardless of Labubu's celebrity status in the world, I will unfortunately not be buying one of them anytime soon. I am not willing to wait close to six hours for a toy that I probably will not get from opening one blind box. But to Labubu enthusiasts, do what you must.

Album Review: Are You Experienced—The Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1967

For guitar players like me, the blazing riffs and soloing on "Foxy Lady", "Red House", and "Purple Haze" mean everything to us. They are simply tunes of worship; iconic blues and psychedelic rock masterpieces that influence fundamental areas of our own playing. It is undoubtedly true that Jimi Hendrix is the greatest guitar player to ever live, and that we are all grateful for the gifts that he granted us through his band’s debut record. 

For a while, that seemed to be the story of Are You Experienced. For a while, those three songs were the only songs from that album that I had on my playlist. But in truth, Jimi's dazzling entrance to the London blues scene is much different. 

From my first listen, Are You Experienced has always been the perfect musical representation of Willy Wonka's chewing gum: a stunning course meal of savory, fresh, and sweet that presents all areas of his expertise in genre, musicality, and songwriting. Throughout the album, Jimi is not afraid to showcase his genius. The first track, "Purple Haze", rips through like a fire hose. Mitch Mitchell thrashes his drumsticks against the toms, Noel Redding thumps on bass, and Hendrix's upside-down Strat cuts through it all like angry metal.

Multi-genre albums like these are extremely difficult to dissect piece by piece. But Experienced is especially difficult to do, because the styles our ears are familiar with are smothered with a certain cosmic sharpness that is present in every track. 

If we were to separate tracks by style, well, first there are the rockers, like "Fire", "I Don't Live Today", "Manic Depression", and "Stone Free" (my favorite track). The rhythm section stands out in these songs, I feel. Mitchell and Redding are able to showcase their abilities without becoming back-ups for Jimi. They reflect his energy, constantly feeding back to his playing, and this is consistent throughout the rocking tracks. 

There are the more bluesy tracks, like "Red House" and "Hey Joe", but they are amplified immensely by Hendrix's expert blues tone, which still manages to cut through the mix and shine like a violin solo in an orchestral piece. And still, the rhythm section remains strong when they need to. 

And there are the ballads, like "The Wind Cries Mary", and "May This Be Love", which showcase Jimi's wonderful vocals, which serve as the highlight of these tracks in my opinion. To think that Jimi hated the sound of his own voice.  

But I think the tracks that really shine in "Are You Experienced", which prevent the album from fizzling out, are what I categorize as "the Experience". Songs that not just create hits, but present a clearer picture of Jimi's mind. These tracks are not necessarily tunes that people will immediately groove with, nor the songs we all know and love, but really ask the question, "Are You Experienced?"

An expert example of this "Experience" portion of the album for me is "Third Stone From The Sun", Hendrix's view of Earth from the perspective of aliens exploring Earth. As much of a guitarist he is, Jimi also proves that he is a songwriter, tying space imagery and science fiction together with psychedelic accompaniment. The rhythm section, once again, shines in this track. Mitchell explores jazzy rhythms while Redding trails behind in his own melodies. Tracks like "Third Stone" are really what sell the album for me. 

I think out of the three albums in The Jimi Hendrix Experience's short discography, Are You Experienced displays all aspects of his genius. Sure, Axis: Bold as Love or Electric Ladyland have more concrete concepts, but Experienced provides a good bunch despite being more loosely tied together. Through his first album, Jimi gave out all he had on his mind: his eclectic lifestyle, his thoughts on space, and his technological aspirations. For listeners in 1967, it must have been the backwards playing, odd effects, and ear-splitting feedback that really stood out. 

Though Are You Experienced is far from a gentle invitation, it is a letter filled with angry yet pleasant metal whining that captivates us to read from beginning to end.