Why'd Ya Do It, Frank? (Post Secret Lecture)

I have a secret for you:

I was creeped out by tonight's lecture by author Frank Warren.

The author, who has now created five books (best-sellers, as he frequently reminded us) from the project , was a bit confusing (or maybe just confused) on the intent of his project. Initially, and most obviously, his intent was to "collect secrets". Why? Because it's fun to know secrets. Somewhere between the music video and the book deal, however, the project became one intended to both bring the world closer together, as well as prevent suicide, a topic touched on repeatedly, but whose connection was only explained peripherally.

The questions of ethics and intent surrounding this project were so apparent that my sister and girlfriend were both kind of creeped out by Warren. The three of us (my sister's boyfriend seemed ambivalent) seemed to be the only ones, however. Warren's claims about the big idea behind the project, sharing secrets with the ones you love, no matter how small, to improve your relationship with them, seem to be contradicted not only by the content of the slides presented, but also by the project as a whole. People don't visit Warren's blog and read his books to better connect with the people sending in the postcards; they look at the postcards to see secrets that go near and over the line of taboo. They are in it to see some weird, wild stuff. Call me cynical, but I find it hard to give real consideration to Warren's supposed philosophy when the "big event" of the lecture was being allowed to see postcards that were "too controversial" to be put in his books. The sizzle of sensationalism is enough for me, but evidently Frank and his creepy cult of personality need bigger reasons to be interested in people's dirty laundry.

After showing us the cards we'd ALL BEEN WAITING TO SEE, there was an even more awkward Q&A&C session, the C meaning confession, where fine folks from the audience told their "secrets", to resounding applause from the audience and a vigorous round of Frank telling the person they were courageous, and then telling us as the audience that we are courageous for accepting and supporting the person, and then we, as the audience, applauding for Frank, for his courage in making this all possible, and WE ARE ALL GOOD PEOPLE YAY.

As the lecture ended with a video advertising Warren's FIVE BESTSELLING BOOKS and directing me to the booksigning in the lobby, where I could buy any or all of said books, I again questioned Warren's ethics. Even if I buy that the reason that Warren is sharing the secrets is to make the world a better place, the overt marketing behind the Post Secret phenomenon leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I imagine the that the artists creating the postcards would probably put a "Non-Commercial" license on their works, if they had the mind or means to do so. No one, however, brought up the fact that Warren is not merely collecting secrets (and works of art), but is trading in them.

The picture from the poster, looking like a gangsta.

The real Frank Warren. Selling your secrets because he cares.