A Blogger's Confession - I Steal Friends. I'll Show You How.

Now that I've been blogging a while, I've developed some sneaky habits. I love comments, so if people comment on my blog, there's a good likelihood I'll click their profile shots, get to their blogs and leave comments.

On workdays I can't always do this because we're not allowed to visit websites on the office computer, only check email. When I'm lucky, the network card on my laptop computer is working properly and I can access blogs on my breaks. Otherwise, I try to catch up while watching TV at home.

I digress - Back to the subject at hand.

You might say there's nothing unusual or underhanded about reciprocating comments.

What I do next is - I steal other people's friends, kind of like I do on MySpace. After I leave my comment on someone's blog, I look for other people's comments. If I see a likely target, I'll click on that person's profile shot, check out that person's blog and leave a comment there. Later that day or the next, often I'll receive a comment back on my blog from that blogger thanking me for visiting. If I'm lucky, and sometimes it happens, the blogger will like my blogspot and come back more to visit and leave comments.

This sneaky way of making friends has gotten me into trouble, but it's a good kind. Every time I do this, I've added another friend's blog to an already bulging list for me to go through when I can, check their blogs and comment. That's my reward and my punishment.

What about you? When readers comment on your blog, do you reciprocate? Do you take it a step further and steal their friends?

Please share or confess.