It is really easy to become popular. Its getting out of the popularity that is difficult. As soon as you are in, you are in, you can't just get out of it when you want to. Reputations get broken. Expectations of you as an A-Lister gets disappointed and looked down upon. Basically, popularity is a competition. It can get pretty brutal. But, the privileges are endless and that's what keeps someone IN the group. Personal experiences??? maybe