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Imagine the headline read, "Gas up to $8.23 a gallon" and only upon reading the article did you discover that the "gas" they're talking about is 110 octane race gas. Yes, race gas is a type of gas(oline), but the headline is still quite misleading, as the common definition, without qualifiers, is the pump variety.

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In this case, I don't think your analogy holds, because I don't see it as any different than a doubly linked list -- one of the common types. It is just a generalization case of doubly linked list honestly. I see it as about as misleading as finding out the headline gas price was about the premium grade standard pump gasoline rather than the low grade standard pump gasoline, which is maybe a bit tricky, but not rant-worthy.

function_seven's analogy is extremely apt.

What you're experiencing right now is called cognitive dissonance or cognitive disequilibrium. You've found that the argument you've been making is at odds with the facts. Claiming that you see no difference between a multiply-linked list and a doubly-linked list is an attempt to shrug off a legitimate point with a nonsensical argument. (Or alternatively you are not skilled enough at programming to understand the topic at hand).

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