Random Selection, Contrived Reading, or "Like" in B/R

Recently, there was an article with more than 1600 hits. The day I read it, no "likes" were posted. How can that happen?

Years ago, I considered myself an advocate for certain causes or issues. In this article, my personality from the 1960's is awakening.

It was near the time of the national tragedies of Jack Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy, a type of "research personality" rose up to spur deeper thinking and growth in our national community.

Ted Kennedy just made his transition. Perhaps, this is causing an old "persona" to rise up and to analyze the climate in local, national, international, and even in the B/R community.

Growth is a sign of life. More growth may be needed in our B/R community in order to continue to be a healthy community.

Now, the questions:

What is the probability of getting very high "read numbers" and very few, if any, "like votes"?

I noticed that there have been occasions when an article has less than 200 reads, and gets enough votes in a 24 hour period to get recognition on the front page.

Again, what is that probability?

Questions come to the mind of the researcher:

1. Is the read population for a given article "random"?
2. Is the read population for a given article a "selection process"?
3. Is the read population for a given article somehow "contrived"?
4. Is the read population nonmembers of B/R who do not bother to vote, in many cases?
5. Do readers join B/R so that they can vote on an interesting or quality article?
6. Is the community designed for professional sports writers or for amateur writers with high aspirations and the courage to practice the skill or art in the public domain?
7. I do not have the answers. Are you, the reader of this article, candid enough to answer a few of these questions since a couple of people asked similar questions recently in a debate at a coffee shop?

Thanks. This is homework. The due date is open.

Afterthought: The "like" vote is like a cheerleader, encouraging the writer to continue honing (improving) his or her skill.

Your comments are invited.