Comments on: I’ve got a (not-so-private) secret

By: Sarah Reinartz

Sarah Reinartz — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 22:22:10 +0000

I think that Post Secret is a really cool idea because it may be the first time that someone shares what is on their heart. Having the anonymity to share it and see what people say in response may give them the confidence to say it out loud to someone else so that they can begin working through whatever it is. Without having that outlet there may be many people that would never find the strength to share their secret with anyone else. However, there have been cases with the APU post secret which I don’t find to be particularly healthy or necessary. Oftentimes, people respond with love and offer help and prayer to those struggling with different issues. Although there have been entries in which I have seen people respond with such negativity and aggression that it is frustrating to see. There are many times that someone may post something that I fundamentally disagree with as a Christian, but I don’t think that ever makes it okay to respond and pour hatred onto someone. Aside from that, I also think it is shocking and heart breaking to see what students at our school are going through or have gone through in their lives. It is even sadder to know that you could read something and the person who wrote it could be someone you talk to in class or sit next to in chapel.

By: Brandon France

Brandon France — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:42:07 +0000

I knew about Post Secret when the All American Rejects wrote the song, Dirty Little Secret. Then a few months later someone showed me the book that it was based on and I couldn’t believe some the things I read. My initial reaction to it was one of shock, but I saw that some people might see this as being therapeutic. They are actually getting their secret off their chest without revealing who they are. When it came to APU and a site was made on Facebook again I was shocked. I wasn’t shocked about the Post Secrets, but the actual secrets. I realized that we all have our own crosses to carrying. As you mentioned there was support for those with troubling secrets. I was happy to see that and I glad that community is alive and well at APU.

By: Jim Willis

Jim Willis — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:36:21 +0000

Shannon, thanks for the post and thanks for your work in creating the APU Post Secrets site. I know it took a ton of work. As long as it was drawing encouragement for those posting secrets, it served a great purpose. Sorry to see it’s gone, though I knew some “secrets” were moving away from the intended purpose of the site. It was a good venture while it lasted, though!

By: Shannon Galford

Shannon Galford — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 04:41:54 +0000

It has been interesting reading how others have reacted and been impacted by PostSecretAPU.

I am the one who started the site last semester for APU.
I left this semester because I couldn’t afford to stay and i decided that because I had gotten so much positive feedback from it helping people that I would pass it on to someone new.

The problem was, I was spending probably a minimum of 5-6 hours a day just monitoring the site in the fall. I wouldn’t put up with debates or negativity and the person i passed it on to, despite being wonderful, didn’t realize just how much time it took to monitor the website.

I saw some really great life changes come out of that and I had to deal with a lot of flack from a lot of people who didn’t understand it. In observing it this semester I decided it has served it purpose and contacted the person running it now and told them I thought it was time to shut it down. It was no longer being the encouragment it was designed to be.

It was always just made in hopes of being a stepping stone. A guide so people could see there ARE others who wont judge or condemn them.

Anyways– I appreciated your support Jim Willis and it was lovely to read everyone’s thoughts. I just thought I would chime in

Shannon

By: Jim Willis

Jim Willis — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:37:20 +0000

Tegan, I agree PostSecrets offers a good outlet for students to vent their issues that are plaguing them. Seems like a lot of positive support comes back to them in terms of comments on the site.

By: Aisha Hendricks

Aisha Hendricks — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:47:48 +0000

I kind of have mixed feelings when it comes to these sites. The postsecret site is controlled and only post responses of those who have experienced somethings similar or encouraging to say, which if you are one to have a secret posted the positive feedback could be life changing or even saving. When it comes to the APU postsecret facebook page, this is not the case and I have seen positive and negative feedback, which to the one posting their secret could really hurt more than help in terms of getting something off their chest or bringing something to the light for others. It seems to start debates that really seem to get no where. In terms of specific “secrets” or opinions that come out about APU itself, I feel as though it is a safe way to really let out some truths about students, profs, campus life and college life in general here at APU that really seem to be overlooked, unknown or simply ignored. Being a Christian campus I could see how it could be hard to express some opinions or self secrets and I beleive the APU postsecret facebook page really sheds light on some truths of the campus and takes away the stigma of the “perfect APU student.”

By: Tegan Pitt

Tegan Pitt — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 03:03:51 +0000

Parts of me really like Post Secret APU and a part of me does not because it makes me so sad that people are feeling so many things and feel as if they cannot share them. I think a lot of people feel they have to be a certain person here and I think the school plays a large role in that. There are chapels that tell people how to be and classes that students are required to take with a Biblical emphasize. It makes sense that students are afraid to verbally share their secrets. I also think though that is a good outlet and it does make people feel less alone at this school. It may give people courage to actually speak up and share what is on their mind and know that they are not the only ones struggling with a certain issue.

By: Jim Willis

Jim Willis — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 17:41:17 +0000

Ashley, it is sad people feel so cut off from confidants that they have to resort to a post secrets site, but it’s nice to know at least that venue is available for someone needing to vent a frustration, secret desire, or a guilty feeling. Some supportive messages do flow back to them, and that always helps.

By: Ashley Harper

Ashley Harper — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:02:28 +0000

Before reading this article I had never heard about Postsecrets. I have mixed feelings about this site. I think it is good that people are willing to share their feelings on a site. However, if the comments are very private, then they may later on regret posting their innermost secrets on a public site. I find it sad that people feel alone, and feel that they have to share their secrets with a website instead of seeking help from an actual person.

By: Yi-Fan (Arthur) Shih

Yi-Fan (Arthur) Shih — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 06:00:44 +0000

I have to say that I like to read the comments that posted on the secret sites. It helps to remain myself because I can be one of them, too. We are not always happy and we are not always having friends around us to share with us. Therefore, the secret sites help us to have a place to talk about our sadness, happiness, or angry. It gives people chance to relieve our pressure. However, in the other side, we can discover how many people are living in the bad situation or even worse. I am also feel sad to read about those comments, but it remains me that the world not only have good side, but also have bad side. I just have to deal with it and keep out faith.