One-third of a year has gone by since March 28th when Plateau PostSecret was duplicated from the original, and the creators could have infinitely multiplied their posted number of secrets and ended with the same, pitiful number.
Zero.
Now, this editorial is not to mock just how little fruit has been borne from the squandered project, but rather to question just where the “several dozen” postcards have ended up.
PostSecret, a project in which a myriad of anonymous social complainers and seldom a deserved societal mourner display their whims in front of many, has a simple procedure: first make your card, second mail it to the blog host. Not difficult.
However, one of the primary components of the service is in fact the public posting, as it gives the frightened sufferers of anonymity a sense of publicity and ease in that others know their secret, despite not knowing them. But when this part of the service is taken away, it turns into something much different — a unwarranted seizure of personal, sometimes traceable secrets.
Frank Warren, PostSecret’s founder, likely created the name as it contained a double entendre as “Post” both refers a postcard and the posting onto the blog. Heck, Frank (or whoever runs the blog now) posted tens of postcards just last Sunday. Sure, his site is more populated than the Plateau-specific one, but both sites have enough postcards to put up on a semi-regular basis.
Regardless, the lack of a postcard post is disturbing. We can all trust that the authors are not in this for manacle or senile purposes - but with the lack of what they have shown us with these several dozen postcards, one is left to wonder. Would they ever abuse the privilege of receiving some of the area’s secrets?
I’d say no. But I know if I was in the same situation, I would be quite tempted. On that envelope you stupidly sent your postcard in, you accidentally left your address. One internet reverse-lookup and your anonymity is forgotten.
Or what about the simple fact that cards were handed out to people at local festivals? Theoretically one could write down all of those who received cards and then identify them later. Frankly, that isn’t the case, but the possibility of it is unsettling and as one coincidentally anonymous critic said, “the whole thing is a little sketch.”
But the fact of the matter is, thirty or more “secrets” lie somewhere in the hands of the creators, all yearning for the possibility to be revealed to the Plateau any day now.
A key principle in business is that an entrepreneur has to spend money to make money. Think of the postcards as money, and the spending as posting to the site. Couldn’t Plateau PostSecret receive an innumerable rise in popularity by posting, say, one or two postcards at the minimum?
Then again, what do I know? Maybe we should be looking forward to a book “kind of like Frank’s” before actually seeing a submission.
Comments
I get the feeling they are blackmailing everyone who sent in a secret. It’s a big scam.
I also find that our localized version of PostSecret differs greatly from the original. I don’t care much for the concept in general (how are you revealing a secret if nobody knows it’s you?) but sharing the cards with the community is the only way for them to have an impact. Otherwise, they are just thoughts lost in the mail.
I forgot to mention that I suspect the issue may be technical (e.g., lack of scanner).
The idea of a “Plateau Postsecret” alone is unoriginal.. Its already been done, thanks to Warren. I’ve always viewed this little project as someone’s way to build his or her resume. It also obviously a failure. The reason that they haven’t posted any secrets is because no one has sent any in…
Worthy of note is what seems to be the first postcard to be posted online. Bill linked to this article in his post, but it was only recently updated with an actual photo.
The use of black and white lends credence to my “technical” issues hypothesis.
But they got it up - which makes things quite fishy. Though I don’t believe any malice is involved.
I think I’m going to send in a few stating my love for the female body.
Anonymous, if you think the project is just a way to build someone’s resumé, what do you think The Plateau Times is?
If you are going to give résumé one accent mark, you might as well throw in the second.
Like with PlateauPostsecret, Anonymous here is unwilling to display their own name — a true act of cowardice.
Anyway, as clearly stated about the site, The Plateau Times is an alternative to the constricting and foolishly exclusive The Forum at Skyline High School. It is an outlet for prospective journalists (or those interested in the field, or just writing in general) to express themselves in a professional manner. Though I will admit the professionalism and potential harbored by the site could be a valuable asset to a college or work application, that was not the original intention.
The fact of the matter is: Anonymous took a cheap shot at PlateauPostsecret, The Plateau Times did not. Now, a new Anonymous, and likely a close supporter (which means they would have to be involved) of PlateauPostsecret took an unwarranted shot at us. Alex and I, as well as the other writers on the site, have the guts to express themselves instead of hiding behind a cowardly and sickening disguise.
I would like to add that The Plateau Times was conceptualized by Bill, and the website was designed by myself. There are exactly two founders and, therefore, two people who gave the project its initial direction.
To call The Plateau Times a résumé-padding endeavor ignores the genuine interests that prompted its creation. Bill is very much into journalism—see his writings for The Bleacher Report. Likewise, I am ridiculously into computers, and have a web design background dating back to the ninth grade (see Apex Radio, which Bill and I were both part of).
It will look good on our college applications. That won’t stop us from doing it.
I don’t see anything wrong with someone being anonymous. What’s more important is what they say, even if you don’t think they have a legitimate reason to keep their identity unknown.