anchor: I suppose you could argue that a best-dressed list encourages women to dress more beautifully or that a list of the greatest works of journalism of the 20 th century will motivate those who didn't make it to try a bit harder during the next 100 years.
positive: A list of the best of something makes people want to try harder.
negative: A list of the best of something is discouraging for people who don't make it.