Internet obsessive lists outside of fandom
November 10, 2024 4:56 AM   Subscribe

I'm fascinated by people who obsessively catalogue information about specific topics and share it on the Internet, especially when the subjects are in the "real world" (i.e. not fandoms of media works or famous people). Do you know of any good showcases of this phenomenon? Examples below the fold.
posted by Yiggs to Education (18 answers total) 25 users marked this as a favorite
 
Ian's shoelace site is an absolute master work. From lace materials and construction to mathematical theory, it is the only place you ever need to visit for the "fun, fashion & science" of shoelaces! You can get real useful help there too, with several custom lacing designs to aid in various foot problems or shoe fit issues.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:15 AM on November 10, 2024 [9 favorites]


You might be interested in this thread from January: Obsessive single-topic review sites! That question was specifically interested in reviews, but there are definitely some obsessive informational catalogues in that discussion.
posted by Hellgirl at 6:11 AM on November 10, 2024 [2 favorites]


You’ll find quite a few at the Dull Men’s Club.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:46 AM on November 10, 2024 [1 favorite]


This might not quite fit - it's not structured as a list in the same way - but even if it doesn't scratch the itch for you, someone else reading this might like it, so: The Virtual Tea Towel Museum contains many, many tea towels. Also, advice on uses for them other than the obvious, and (further down the same page) how to look after them.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 7:23 AM on November 10, 2024


Carabiner Collection. Exactly what it says on the tin.
posted by mochi_cat at 7:34 AM on November 10, 2024


The Condiment Packet Gallery (previously)
posted by teraflop at 8:49 AM on November 10, 2024




I recognize a little of my own parlor games website in this, especially the list of parlor game sources before 1800. I noticed just the other day an edge case I will probably add, but in the couple years I've been gathering it, I haven't run across another bibliography as comprehensive. Similarly obsessive but less complete lists also there include lists of forfeit collections, lists of games for generating absurd / surreal nonsense stories, etc.
posted by Wobbuffet at 9:25 AM on November 10, 2024


This is similar to a previous question, which has some answers you might enjoy.
posted by adamrice at 9:27 AM on November 10, 2024


HORG.

Train chimes.
posted by novalis_dt at 9:51 AM on November 10, 2024


Ethnologue has a wide variety of data about the languages of the world.

There are quite a few calculator enthusiast pages in this category, such as The Old Calculator Web Museum.

The Internet Movie Car Database (IMCDb) is not quite “real world” but it is also not quite “fandom” in the usual sense.
posted by mbrubeck at 1:30 PM on November 10, 2024


The Sea Slug Forum is a very earnest and scientifically useful example.
posted by All hands bury the dead at 2:29 PM on November 10, 2024 [1 favorite]


Adams's Apples

Apparently I live in the same town as Adam, have seen his posts in the local email list, but have not met him.
posted by sammyo at 3:29 PM on November 10, 2024


I think sport fits the bill. Cricket for example has a history of cataloguing what feels like every conceivable statistic, have a look at cricinfo.
posted by Lucy_32 at 3:45 PM on November 10, 2024


Kate Monk's Onomastikon, a dictionary of names
posted by capricorn at 3:49 PM on November 10, 2024 [1 favorite]


The Iroquois Theater Fire website is amazing. Hundreds of pages of information about the events of the fire, the aftermath, and people connected to the fire.
A warning- it's a very sad story, about a tragic fire in which many people died in awful and entirely preventable ways.
posted by Adridne at 7:10 AM on November 11, 2024


Hmm... does the periodic table of tools (previously on the blue) suit your needs?

I also note that "iceberg memes" such as in your third link are available for basically any field of inquiry, although of course with variable quality and usually without a dedicated website.
posted by dick dale the vampire at 10:40 PM on November 11, 2024


A-Z photo dictionary of Japanese Buddhist Statuary. The site is older than Metafilter by four years, still being updated.
posted by Hactar at 1:55 AM on November 13, 2024 [1 favorite]


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