When I started this blog not long ago, I made a mental note of topics to avoid. High on my list were subjects like politics, religion, current affairs, serious issues and topics I have no desire to discuss on any blog. We all have our reasons for blogging and sharing our thoughts or lives with the world, mine include escaping the humdrum and tedium with which the media bombards us.

Another topic I wanted to avoid was blogging itself. Yet I have been observing an interesting phenomenon of late on certain blogs where I occasionally lurk, especially those who garner a lot of comments and I can’t help but wonder what makes a blog gains popularity.

The blogger may be an interesting writer who draws a lot of attention or they may be on a mission to conquer the blogosphere through excessive commenting and thereby bring a lot of traffic to their sites. Regardless of the reason, it is often the study of the comments that proves more revealing.

If we believe popular culture and the celebrity hype that paper and online magazines feed us, people are drawn to popularity, often worshipping the famed as higher beings they wish to emulate through fashion, appearance and lifestyle. Popular bloggers may share a similar status, drawing lesser known readers to their web of fame.

Like the adage that the rich become richer, blogs with a lot of comments seem to attract even more comments. Yet for me, quality over quantity remains the dictum to which I relate.

At school, I’ve never been the girl who collected friends, always preferring a close few over a large number to boast. Popularity didn’t cross my mind, though I was the quiet/pretty/shy/studious type, I forged friendships based on connections or some shared interest.

My site is testament that when it comes to popularity, I am not that different to the Cléa of those early school days. I could go on a commenting spree hoping to attract the masses but that would not mean I would get the audience I desire. For now, I am content to have a small group of visitors whom l enjoy receiving in my home as much as I like visiting.

I guess our core personalities and values don’t change that much when we grow up.