Top Topics of 2010

If there is one thing I hate it is end of the year top 10 lists. I can't explain why, but I hate them with a passion. With that in mind, I don't blame anyone who refuses to read this post. I don't even want to read it and I'm the one writing it. Call it a lack of imagination, but I decided to identify the 10 most popular topics posted in the DCUM forums in 2010. The list will be familiar to DCUM regulars, though there may be a few surprises. This list probably says something profound about DCUM, but I'm not sure what that might be. On the other hand, what it says about us might not be particularly flattering.

First, this is a list of the topics started in 2010 with the most views:

10. "African-American Name for White Child?" — 10,780 views. While race is generally a hot button topic that can generate a lot of discussion, name-related topics were one of the surprises of 2010.

9. "What private school did Mary Schmidt Amons attend?" — 11,577 views. I am proud to say that I've never even looked at this thread and I don't even know who Mary Schmidt Amons is.

8. "Most common (overused?) names among infants & toddlers in this area?" — 12,273 views. As noted earlier, name-related topics were popular this year on DCUM.

7. "Common baby names you dislike" — 14,538 views. This topic grew to 29 pages of responses. Just about any name you could imagine was disliked by someone.

6. "do you think getting a happy ending at an asian massage parlor is 'cheating'?" — 14,678 views. There weren't a lot of responses to this thread, but there certainly was a lot of interest.

5. "What's the Most Obnoxious Thing You've Heard a Parent Say at Your DC's Private School?" — 15,151 views. With 23 pages of responses, this thread suggests that parents at private schools say a lot of obnoxious things.

4. "Sidwell football article in post....what are the parents saying?" — 17,363 views. The Washington City Paper called it the "prissiest flame war imaginable". That was a very polite description.

3. "Maureen Dowd column on Landon" — 23,647 views. Discussion of Landon got so out of control this year that for a few months I set up a special forum for it.

2. "Share your 2010 results and only your results" — 24,552 views. DCUM just wouldn't be DCUM without private school admissions angst. Soon, someone can start the 2011 version of this thread.

1. "A word game" — 41,829 views. And people say that DCUM is a waste of time with little informational value. What can they be thinking?

This list, with much overlap with the above, is the 10 topics of 2010 with the most responses:

10. "SAHMs - what made you decide to SAH? Question from new SAHM" — 315 responses. You probably think this turned into a SAHM vs WOHM fight, don't you? If so, you're right.

9. "Most common (overused?) names among infants & toddlers in this area?" — 316 responses. Repeat from above.

8. "wake up fat women" — 317 responses. You could expect any thread with this subject line to proceed respectfully with multiple legitimate viewpoints expressed and tolerated. In an alternative universe that is.

7. "What's the Most Obnoxious Thing You've Heard a Parent Say at Your DC's Private School?" — 331 responses. Repeat from above.

6. "Any Parents Privately Disappointed with College Placement?" — 337 responses. A summer box office hit. All of these responses occurred between July and August.

5. "Geography word game" — 415 responses. The word game thread has spawned progeny.

4. "Common baby names you dislike" — 432 responses. Repeat from above.

3. "Sidwell football article in post....what are the parents saying?" — 523 responses. Repeat from above.

2. "Maureen Dowd column on Landon" — 585 responses. Repeat from above.

1. "A word game" — 6103 responses. Repeat from above.