Blog founder creates avenue for people around the world to share secrets
By Emaan Baqai
Jan. 30, 2015 1:17 a.m.
Frank Warren, creator of popular blog, PostSecret, has seen it all, but none as often as the most commonly kept secret: peeing in the shower.
Warren, who discussed his blog and experiences on Wednesday at Royce Hall, created PostSecret as an outlet for people around the world to share their never-before-told secrets. In encouraging readers to anonymously reveal their secrets, Warren created a forum for senders to allow others to find entertainment and comfort in others’ secrets. The postcards, sent to his home address, are posted on the blog in weekly increments of 10, and expose secrets ranging from embarrassing habits to histories of abuse.
In his continuing tour, PostSecret Live, Warren shares the profound realizations and experiences he encountered as a result of his blog, the six books he’s written and the live events he has hosted. Alternating between light and emotional material, Warren analyzed the common thread of being confined by our secrets and finding relief in divulging them.
Initially allowing the audience time to peruse the countless student-submitted tales hanging in the reception area of Royce Hall, Warren began the event by depicting tales of dark roast coffee sent to his home along with postcards and In-N-Out bags with secrets scribbled onto them. The audience, many of whom had experienced their teenage years with PostSecret by their side, broke into laughter. Warren’s endearing ability to poke fun at himself and human nature could be appreciated by all, including members of the audience who were less familiar with the blog.
With Warren initially dipping into seriousness before twisting secrets to take on lighter notes, a tangible silence filled the hall as Warren began to share more emotionally substantial secrets. Although PostSecret frequently displays secrets containing sensitive content, Warren’s earnest delivery of the hardships he has read, the intimate experiences he has encountered and those he has undergone himself as a result of PostSecret created a genuine quality unparalleled to reading secrets from a screen.
Particularly striking about his storytelling style was Warren’s ability to transition between serious and jovial. Warren avoided the awkward moments after a particularly moving story by candidly discussing traumatic experiences and emotional reflection, making the discussion of the emotional impact more natural. Although for less seasoned veterans of PostSecret, the emotions and material discussed may have been somewhat unsettling, Warren’s ability to find appropriate humor in darker subject matter smoothed the bumps in his transitions from light to heavy.
Withholding judgment upon any of the secrets delivered, Warren shared his own conclusions as to why he, like so many others, finds relief in sharing secrets through finding those kindred in their struggles.
Warren said the second most shared secrets are writers’ desires to meet someone who truly understands and accepts them for who they are.
His words, which created a comfortable forum for reflection, were complimented by visual and auditory supplements. The collection of final voicemails left by deceased loved ones, while charming, ultimately left the crowd in a thicker, somber silence.
At the end of the night, Warren invited the audience to come up and share a secret, many of which involved highly personal experiences that speakers had not shared before.
Warren’s onstage presence was capable of drawing in those averse to inspirational speakers, despite the comforting, but somewhat homogenized, feel-good theme of the night. His clear concern and appreciation for all those who had contributed to his project on a more intimate, individual level reflected genuine care for humanity and interest in the positive benefits regarding the psychology of secret sharing, qualities difficult to ignore.
In his heartfelt commentary and delivery, his words delivered comfort and emphasized the theme that prevailed throughout the night – that secrets isolate us in ways often unknown to ourselves. Although some aspects of the night were mildly cliche, in a manner that inspires briefly and then is quickly forgotten, the effect that his words had on long-time readers of the blog reflected an ability to deeply touch listeners and readers through his work.
