MFT: Reddit r/wordcount

Wordcount is probably one of the greatest subreddits second only to r/place. What is it about? It is what it says on the tin - a subreddit dedicated to posting numbers of words that users claim to have written over some period of time.

Why? Because why not? Bragging, etc. It is not really a sensitive information of any kind. In fact - it doesn't even matter whether those numbers are rooted in reality or not. What matters is the fact that these particular numbers are taken out of context and documented on their own. Because of that they seem awkward and rather unassertive. However, they manage to sneak past the fence of consciousness that particular stodgy filler impression. And it is spanking perplexing.

Wordcount is pointless. Documenting the number of written words is ultimately a futile activity. Word count means a lot when you are on a payroll, but otherwise it means little. The number of words looks tedious without proper background. It is devoid of sense to the point that it turns into pesky vacuous cannonball that bounces off surfaces erratically - drawing non-existant knot of lines craving to turn into a wrecking ball.

Part of subreddits charm is in the lack of context. There are no explanations or comments on the nature of texts or even mere explanations of writing intensions - there is only a number of words written. Sometimes it is supplemented with a "total number" of written words which hints to a bigger albeit still nondescript project. Some posts even have comments - mostly generic congratulations for "significant achievements".

If you want, you can deduce what kind of writing user performs by judging from the Reddit profile activity - but that is not exactly conclusive and rather stupid waste of time. Plain fantasizing on the possible context is much more intriguing.

In some way Wordcount is a piece of processual conceptual art - a collaborative affair in which community delivers dry and dire statistical numbers that make nothing except for documenting the number of written words. These numbers are just there for all to see and overthink.

Despite being a little less than nothing - Wordcount is incredibly engaging and somewhat addicting. Once you have started to post your own word counts - you are tempted to add more and more and more, you start looking at the other peoples word counts, comment them, engage in highly awkward generic conversations.