Everything is a popularity contest. How you choose to participate says a lot about who you are.

Innovators start them.
Influencers continue them.
Conformists join them.
Contrarians oppose them.
Individualists avoid them.
Capitalists monetize them.
Artists express them.
Writers document them.
Revolutionists end them.

It doesn't matter how you choose to participate, just as long as you are aware that you are participating (even by not participating).