Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the FAQ and the About page?

Excellent question. Honestly? There probably shouldn't be one. We could have consolidated all of this into a single page, but apparently we have a lot to say about a concept that can be explained in two sentences: "Pay money, get ranked. Higher rank = more humble." Somehow that turned into two separate pages of incoherent rambling.

Think of the About page as the "grand vision" page — what The Humble List is, how rankings work, Clout, etc. The FAQ is here to answer your specific questions.

In practice? You'll probably just end up reading both and wondering why we didn't just make one really long page. We apologize for nothing.

Do I have to pay to be on the list?

Well, technically no. You could just share your link and rack up Clout without contributing a dime. But let's be honest. If you're not willing to put your money where your mouth is, how humble are you really?

Clout alone won't get you on the leaderboard unless you're some kind of social media genius. So yes, if you actually want to be on the list, you'll need to contribute. But hey, it's your call.

How are ties handled?

For monthly leaderboards, ranking is determined by:

  1. This month's contribution amount (primary)
  2. All-time contribution total (tie-breaker #1 — so past contributors stay visible)
  3. Clout Score (tie-breaker #2)
  4. Whoever contributed first ever ranks higher (tie-breaker #3)

For the All-Time leaderboard, it's simply all-time total → Clout → earliest contribution.

See How Clout Works and Tie-breakers on the About page for details.

Do I need an account to contribute?

No. When you contribute, an account is automatically created for you. If you already have an account and log in before contributing, your contribution is added to your existing record.

Can I stay anonymous?

You can use an alias. If you want the Identity Verified badge, you must display your real verified name.

Are contributions refundable?

No. All contributions are final and non-refundable, except where required by law.

Is placement guaranteed?

No. Only the Top 10 appear on each leaderboard.

On a monthly leaderboard, even $0 this month can earn a spot — if you've contributed enough all-time to outrank others who also haven't contributed this month. Think of your all-time total as a standing reservation that keeps you visible until someone with more hustle bumps you off.

Is this a charity? Are contributions tax-deductible?

No. The Humble List is not a charity, and contributions are not tax-deductible unless we explicitly say otherwise in writing. We're here to have fun and turn a profit. If that offends your sensibilities, there are plenty of actual charities out there.

Is this an art project?

Well, it's not NOT an art project. It's not for a grade or anything. Unless the amount of money we manage to earn from this ridiculous concept counts as a grade — in which case, we're operating at a solid C-.

But hey, Picasso didn't get an A+ on Guernica either.

Ok, some of you are thinking "What the FAQ is Guernica?" You can learn more about it here.

Why do you assume I don't know my art history?!

Come on. You're considering dumping your hard-earned cash into something called The Humble List. If you had any cultural sophistication, you'd be spending this money on something that actually matters. The fact that you're offended by this is adorable. It really is.

But fine. You clearly have exquisite taste. Our sincere apologies for underestimating your intellect.

Why would I share a link to this godforsaken list?

First off, calm down. You're taking this too seriously.

Secondly, you need to take this seriously. Spreading the word isn't just about boosting your Clout. It's the right thing to do.

So go ahead and create an account to get your personalized share link and earn some Clout.

Why would I get verified?

The Identity Verified badge doesn't give you a higher rank. It doesn't earn you more Clout. It doesn't grant you special powers, discounts, or a participation trophy.

What it does do is let everyone know that you, personally, with your actual legal identity, thought it was a good idea to contribute to a joke leaderboard about humility. And then you proved it was really you.

So why get verified? Because you're the kind of person who doesn't just talk about being humble. You document it with legal identification. Honestly? We respect that. Kind of. In a weird way.

How do I get verified?

First, you need to have contributed at least $5.00. Once you've crossed that bar, head to your Profile page and navigate to the Identity tab. Click "Start Verification" and Stripe Identity will walk you through uploading a government-issued ID and probably a selfie.

Once confirmed, you'll get the coveted Identity Verified badge. Display it proudly. Anonymity is for cowards. Or people with common sense. Probably both.

What am I waiting for???

Your humility isn't going to prove itself, and time is money. Literally, in this case.

Contribute now and secure your place among the humble elite. Or don't. We're not your boss. But we are keeping track.

Is the Humble Quiz scientifically validated?

Sure, let's say it was. Possibly by a team of researchers who prefer to remain anonymous for reasons that have nothing to do with academic credibility. The point scale was calibrated to three decimal places using methodologies we'd rather not disclose.

What if I get a low humility score?

First: congratulations on your self-awareness in clicking the button to find out. Second: a low score simply means you have more room to grow than others. Think of it as a compliment to your potential. Third: you can always retake it until you get a better result, which is itself very on-brand.

What if I get a perfect humility score?

Truly impressive. You are either deeply, genuinely humble, or you've cracked our scoring system. Either way, we're a little suspicious. Truly humble people rarely feel the need to take a quiz about it.

Can I share my quiz results?

Oh, please do. Nothing says 'I'm humble' quite like posting your humility score to social media.

Why does the quiz only give me 5 questions?

We respect your time. Also, studies show that after 5 questions, people start answering dishonestly to get a better score. (Studies conducted in-house. By us. Just now.)

Are the quiz questions different every time?

Yes -- 5 are drawn randomly from a pool of 100. So statistically, you'd need to take the quiz 20 times to see everything. We're not saying you should. But we're not saying you shouldn't.

What happens to my quiz answers?

They are recorded anonymously and used to compile aggregate data about which flavors of self-delusion are most popular. Your identity is safe. Your ego, however, is on the record.

Is there a way to 'win' the quiz?

You 'win' by contributing to The Humble List and locking in your score for posterity. Which means, yes, technically the most humble thing you can do is pay money. We are aware of the irony.

I still have questions. How do I get in touch?

Wow. Still not answered? How truly humbling for us. The best way is our contact form. We promise to read your message. Probably. Eventually.

Is the Humble Quiz scientifically validated?

Sure, let's say it was. Possibly by a team of researchers who prefer to remain anonymous for reasons that have nothing to do with academic credibility. The point scale was calibrated to three decimal places using methodologies we'd rather not disclose.

What if I get a low humility score?

First: congratulations on your self-awareness in clicking the button to find out. Second: a low score simply means you have more room to grow than others. Think of it as a compliment to your potential. Third: you can always retake it until you get a better result, which is itself very on-brand.

What if I get a perfect humility score?

Truly impressive. You are either deeply, genuinely humble, or you've cracked our scoring system. Either way, we're a little suspicious. Truly humble people rarely feel the need to take a quiz about it.

Can I share my quiz results?

Oh, please do. Nothing says 'I'm humble' quite like posting your humility score to social media.

Why does the quiz only give me 5 questions?

We respect your time. Also, studies show that after 5 questions, people start answering dishonestly to get a better score. (Studies conducted in-house. By us. Just now.)

Are the quiz questions different every time?

Yes -- 5 are drawn randomly from a pool of 100. So statistically, you'd need to take the quiz 20 times to see everything. We're not saying you should. But we're not saying you shouldn't.

What happens to my quiz answers?

They are recorded anonymously and used to compile aggregate data about which flavors of self-delusion are most popular. Your identity is safe. Your ego, however, is on the record.

Is there a way to 'win' the quiz?

You 'win' by contributing to The Humble List and locking in your score for posterity. Which means, yes, technically the most humble thing you can do is pay money. We are aware of the irony.