On what compulsion must I?

The Guardian has published a list of "1000 Novels Everyone Must Read". My first reaction was to class it as yet another of the pointless supplements they insist on publishing: wallcharts of plants and animals, pamphlets of poetry, free DVDs, which I assume are aimed at boosting circulation in some way. But on reflection, I think it's a corollary of what rushthatspeaks has called the 'I Like Cheese' problem; it may be frustrating thaat people are more willing to comment on a throwaway statement of preference than on a reasoned argument, but it does mean that if all you want is to generate commentary then, in life, as on LJ, a throwaway statement of preference will do the trick. 'I Like Cheese'; 'You Must Read These 1000 Novels' - as cherylmmorgan says, "Please note, the whole point of such lists is that people should disagree with them." Logically, then, I shouldn't comment at all, because it only encourages them - but berhaps if I put it behind a cut, they won't notice.

( Behind the cut, then, some random thoughts about this exercise )

I could go on. But in fact I have already gone on. I'd rather go to bed and read a book (but not a novel).