by H.G. Hess

Created on: April 19, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

Hundreds of amateur celebrity blogs have popped up over the last couple years. Some, such as Perezhilton.com and Pinkisthenewblog.com have not only become popular, but their bloggers have even become virtual celebrities, rubbing noses with the likes of Paris Hilton and going to the hottest clubs. But why have these blogs suddenly become so popular, and why are we seeking the information they provide on celebrities?

Some of these amateur blogs attract millions of visitors a day. This is partially because the genre of celebrities they write about is so vast that it's hard for anyone to NOT find some tidbit of gossip they find interesting or entertaining. Also, these blogs appeal to our funny bones by making silly jokes about celebrities, showing less than attractive pictures of them, and pretty much mocking their every move. The average person gets a total kick out of making fun of these celebrities, who the media has pushed on a pedestal. We are more than happy when bloggers push them right off.

Another reason people flock to these blogs is because they are updated regularly throughout the day. This means you could be sitting at work when some huge celebrity news story breaks out, and literally be one of the first to know even though you're not glued to your tv set. For some reason, this brings many people a great sense of satisfaction, and the ability to break a story to coworkers or friends, which gets people talking.

But what happens when the information is too much? Though these blogs remain popular, the line between what is appropriate gossip and what is total invasion of privacy is blurry, which means you'll find pretty offensive topics in some of the content. For example, Perezhilton.com will forewarn a reader when something may be offensive content (which can't help but make you curious). One of these items was a link to the body of Daniel Smith, Anna Nicole Smith's son. This was a bit too much for me to bear. At the same time, the site did give fair warning, but I'm naturally curious ie nosy so that didn't do much good.

In essence, amateur blogs are quickly taking over the gossip scene online, becoming big competition for Web sites for the National Enquirer and The New York Post's Page Six. This is because they provide so much information on celebrities, and create fans/addicts out of visitors. They do often cross into territory that is offensive in nature. But really, it's our own fault for pursuing too much information, and we can't be angry because we wanted to see an upskirt and got a little more than we bargained for.

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