July 30, 2002 | 9:40 AM

So I was thinking today about Diaryland Favorites.

I was thinking about what makes people choose someone else as a favorite.

I have some �love at first sight� favorites�diaries where I was captivated right away upon first glance and had to read the whole damned archive that very moment.

(Sleepygirl and Hangover and Central-Red come to mind)

And then there are others on my favorites list that I grew to love over a long period of time�diaries that were acquaintances of mine and then became good friends.

Another question is why do people take someone off their favorites list?

I�ve done it. You�ve probably done it, too.

Do you just wake up one day and say,

God, I�m sick of yer bitching

or

You aren�t the person I thought you were?

There are diaries I read religiously that I haven�t put on my favorites list for whatever reason, and some that I listed hastily and had to take off when I realized that it was a fling more than a love affair.

(I�m not referring to anyone currently listed)

How much of someone�s diary do you read before you list it as a favorite?

I actually try to read the entire backlog, or at least a good three-quarters of it.

Now I actually know in Real Life many of the people listed on my favorites page�either I knew them previous to the whole Diaryland debacle, or I met them afterwards.

Diaryland has far more importance in my life than it probably should.

I think of it as an actual place and I have dreams about it.

A year ago, I would have laughed at anyone who had an online diary�the very thought of it seemed absurd to me.

And now here I am, baring my soul and my neurosis, striking up net friendships, being enchanted and captivated (and occasionally irriated or disgusted) by the words of people I have never met. And participating in the day to day life of this odd little community.

Diaryland.

You can check out any time you like but you can never leave.