Tuesday, August 19, 2008

I hate Postsecret

I'll be honest with you. I used to love postsecret. The idea that people were actually sending in their secrets and the fact that some were so strange was wonderful to me. But now, now I just hate postsecret. I hate it because this bastard named Frank is actually selling books with the secrets. This guy didn't write a book. He's selling other people's secrets! Just the thought that this guy MIGHT be making a living off of these books drives me insane. And to be honest sometimes I don't buy the secrets either. Like when I read something so ridiculous I just feel like going "really? you really enjoy doing that?" cause yea....Oh and sometimes the secrets are just so overdramatic and retarded. Like when I read the usual "I was gonna kill myself but I wrote this instead"...hmm...maybe you should have gone to see a shrink...perhaps? I mean, there are ads for the books and for the facebook everywhere on the damn thing. Okay so maybe you relate to some of the secrets. Maybe they touch you in some way. But don't dive into a pool of pity and despair. Geeeeeeez.

9 comments:

TitanThirteen said...

lol thats funny! lol I like Post secret, but i only take a look every so often. Some are a bit mundane.
I don't know how much the books are, but authers [yea i know he's not an auther]only get a couple of dollars per book, so he's not getting rich off it. I mean seriously, who's going to pay for for something they can get at his blog for free?
Feel a bit better deary? lol

Chai said...

yes, thank you! phewww ^_^"

R.Duke said...

Actually, that's bullshit. Post Secret is a BRAND. And the books are published and sold by a publishing house (William Morrow, owned by Harper Collins) just like any other book.

And just like any other book they have revenue.


Frank Warren OWNS Post Secret as a property. I couldn't just go and do ANYTHING else that says "Post Secret" on it without permission because I would get SUED.

For what? Losses. You don't see that happen with other free art projects like Post Secret claims to be.


Further, the fact that this little project, which if you ask me is more suited to a one-off sort of format, done once and never repeated, is now plagued with popularity and with popularity comes the flood of people seeking fame and attention.


I will bet you every penny I'm worth those outrageous secrets like "I have a fetish for electrical outlets" or "I steal my grandmother's shoes and bury them in the backyard for others to find" are completely UNTRUE.

Not that that fact matters. Who cares, right? But the fact that an art project based on honesty is now quite probably plagued with blatant lies and claims from deprived, hormonal teenagers dumping their suburban angst (boo-hoo) onto the world wide web.


As to who would pay for something they can get on the blog for free? Well, Mr.Warren there SELECTS postcards, with a god-like demeanor I imagine, to put in the books, so those postcards aren't found online. That explains the throngs of scenesters and shoegazers lining up at the local borders to purchase it.


And that's not Frankie boy's only source of income, mind you. He prides himself on not having any ads on his website.

But those lectures he gives at colleges across the country? I doubt he does that for free.


If you know about his day job, by all means inform me, but as far as I know Frank Warren is making a living off of the depression and troubles of others with a medium that encourages only pity and stagnation, wading deeper into a pool of communal self loathing and miserly one-upmanship.


Needless to say I agree completely with Chai here.



P.S.

Cactus... it's author. With an O. Unless you were trying to say Auteur.

Li'l Turtle said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Li'l Turtle said...

I am a professional freelance writer. Last week, I interviewed Frank Warren. I advise you to check your facts before spouting off immature ranting.

Mr. Warren does not live off the misery of others. In fact, he does not depend on PostSecret to buy him bread, milk, or anything at all. He lived wisely before ever beginning the PostSecret project.

PostSecret is not PostPerfect. It is entirely possible that some of the secrets are fabricated. That in itself is a cry for help.

Despite its imperfections, PostSecret is an attempt to promote communication between people. So get off his case, please. What have you or any of the other indolent posters here done to try and help humanity get along better?

Anonymous said...

I used to read and like it. Then it began to bore me. Now it makes me insane. The tipping point? Watching Frank, on video, solicit secrets on a particular topic (God, I think it was).

For a book. He needed to "write" a book and already had a title ... without others' content, though? No book.

Utter bullshit.

Unknown said...

yep, I agree. there are so many secrets now with the phrase "x saved y", "this song saved me," "you saved me," which is really annoying and dangerous - being dependent on something or someone other than yourself for happiness is signing yourself up for suicide. and if you´re really upset, you´ll eventually do it anyway and not have to tell the internet about it. EEEEEEMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
very glad to see this post.

Anonymous said...

100% right what a load of shoe gazing pricks. I just looked at the site then googled 'i hate postsecre' in disgust - then i found you, YOU SAVED MEEEEEEEE!

Anonymous said...

I like postsecret. I have liked it since the start of it. I think the large majority of the secrets aren't fabricated, and so what if some of them are? You can choose not to believe them...

I think it is one of the most beautiful projects I have had the privelige to witness. I have not, myself, sent in a secret, although I have a few I would like to--but don't have the time and don't necessarily feel the need. Postsecret does, however, help me realize that I am not the only person in the world carrying something around that makes me feel guilty, lost, sad, etc. I am not an "emo" high school adolescent--I am a premed student that works in the ER of a hospital and a fully functioning adult. But, I do, in fact, have things that I cannot just tell me "friends" or coworkers, and postsecret would be a great way to relieve that tension of having something weigh on your until your grave. It also helps you look at people who are seemingly successful in a different light. Nobody is perfect. Everyone has seen things they don't want to see or shouldn't have seen. Everyone has to learn to cope in this world. And postsecret does a great job, despite its RARE shortcomings, of helping people see each other as human beings and treat each other accordingly.

I think, in my opinion--you have a stick up your ass.