[JoeAltmaier]

So the type depends upon the initial values, which might not be representative of your full intent? A list of strings doesn't guarantee you won't want later to put something else in there.

I guess you'd just have to declare it explicitly in that case.

[laumars]

But you could explicitly declare the string table and still try to put an integer into it. Your example isn't an issue of type inference, it's an issue with the developer not properly tracking what variables store what types in his/her own code.

[dnissley]

Yep, like if you wanted to put a list behind an IEnumerable interface or something like that, instead of an actual list. It's just a very useful shortcut for the thing you want to do 90% of the time.

[jpatte]

Why would you want to put anything other than a string in a list of strings ? That's just looking for trouble IMHO.