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There's a Twitter account (that can now also be found on Facebook) which offers people the chance to anonymously reveal their secrets, and with 535K followers, it has become a viral online sensation.

Titled Fesshole, the account is the brainchild of Rob Manuel. Those of you that are well-versed in internet culture might know him from creating 'B3ta', a meme design website that famously sued Coca-Cola after they ripped off one of its viral animations for a TV ad.

Anyway, the "sins" on Fesshole range from the clumsily awkward (messing up a handshake) to the hilariously outrageous (hiring someone because they share your love for pro-wrestling), and, I guess, their popularity shows that in the age of social detachment, a little gossip can go a long way.

Continue scrolling to check out Fesshole's latest content, and don't miss out on the chat we had about secrets with Dr. Michael Slepian, the Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. Associate Professor of Leadership and Ethics at Columbia Business School, spread out in between the pictures.

However, if you go through the entire thing and your curiosity wants more, fire up our earlier publication on Fesshole.

More info: Twitter | Facebook

#1

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Trisha Howson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see nothing wrong with this at all. They wouldn't take care of her give her to someone that can and will

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To begin with, Dr. Slepian said when we keep a secret, we often mean to protect something. "Perhaps we believe that it protects our reputation, or our relationship with someone. And yet, our secrets tend to harm our well-being, and can harm our relationships too," the author of The Secret Life of Secrets: How Our Inner Worlds Shape Well-Being, Relationships, and Who We Are told Bored Panda.

"When we choose to be alone with something, especially something important, we tend not to develop the healthiest way of thinking about it. It often takes another person to get the help that we need. Even a short conversation with a trusted person can offer so much. Emotional support and fresh perspectives can easily be offered by your confidant, but are hard to find on your own. This is why we often want to bring others in. We know that another person can prove helpful, and that having a conversation about the secret would be a healthy thing to do. To have a secret from everyone is to be alone with that thing, and we don't like to be alone. Your desire for help and social connection is in battle with your fear of how others will respond. When we let fear win, we hold the secret tight."

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April Caron
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a 6 year old foster kid who was obsessed with wanting glasses like her older sister. Alas, she didn’t need them. :/ While her older sister walked around trying on various frames for her new glasses, she was trying to be supportive. I couldn’t bare to see her disappointed, so I told her to pick out whatever frames she also wanted. She was over-the-moon elated! We bought her “glasses” as-is without a prescription… just a clear lens. They were a hideous pink cat eye style. She wore them EVERYWHERE! And anytime she would get complimented on them, she’d tally up those compliments, “See? Another compliment!” It was ridiculously cute! :)

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James Morris
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always want to ask Alexa to end the simulation {like the Matrix} but don't. I'm afraid if it does life might be worst then it is.

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With Edy Moulton-Tetlock, a doctoral student in management studying organizational behavior, Dr. Slepian asked more than 800 online participants to describe their personal secrets, using his list of 38 common categories of secrets as their guide.

The participants described more than 10,000 secrets, including both those they had shared with someone ("confided secrets") and the ones they had kept all to themselves ("total secrets").

The data revealed that confiding a secret predicted improved well-being. That's because the participant received social support and because the act of revealing the secret seemed to minimize the amount of time the person spent thinking about it.

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Dr. Slepian's research suggests that someone who is more secretive tends to be less extraverted and less emotionally stable, but more conscientious.

However, we also need to be aware of what it means to be "unloaded" on.

"When another person confides in us, this can be a boon but also a burden. When someone trusts us to the point of revealing a secret, we understand this is an act of intimacy, and often feel closer to the person as a result."

And yet, Dr. Slepian explained that if the secret is something we find troubling or surprising, we might find our thoughts returning to it again and again.

"The secret can weigh on our mind. And if the secret implicates someone you know, then you'll have to keep the secret from them, which will bring its own burden," he added.

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While Dr. Slepian thinks it's possible for people to live like an open book, sharing everything with the world, he wouldn't advise it.

"There is a class of secrets that most everyone agrees is okay to keep. People often call these 'white lies,'" he clarified. "If you are just arriving at the party, and your friend asks you how their outfit looks, but it is too late to change, then most people agree that saying something positive is the kinder response ('You look great!'). If the truth needlessly hurts someone's feelings, holding back is often the more compassionate choice."

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DuchessDegu
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't like the taste of beer, wine or spirits, I'm more than happy with a soft drink or juice. I've done it to stop people asking "but whyyyyyyy?" I don't drink and "just try this one".

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Aroha
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cute idea, I'll do the same! *remembers that she has never been asked out* Oh... 😐

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Paul C.
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The company I worked for supplied free vend coffee machines. I put fake price stickers on the machines. It went ballistic. HR had to put out an Email assuring everyone it was somebodies idea of a joke. I think I got away with it.

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There's no exact formula that tells Rob Manuel which submissions he needs to feature on Fesshole. His choices are based on simply going through the list and reading them. Everything depends on his judgment of what he thinks is funny or interesting. So if you send Rob something and it doesn't appear on the account, don't sweat it. There are other online "priests" you can share your secrets with. Like the subreddit r/confessions.

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April Caron
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why I have a Furbo camera… so I can talk to my animals. My cat is too smart! When he wants my attention… he triggers the camera, so I’ll check on him and have a little chat with him. :)

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Paul C.
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brother-in-law, who is a right know it all, fitted his fridge freezer into his kitchen work tops. For years my sister-in-law complained nothing was ever cold and the freezer took an eternity to do basic freezing......he'd left the Styrofoam encasing the whole of the back.

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Trisha Howson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well you told him. It on him should of listened sometimes that is what it takes and you can have a laugh about it

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Elizabeth Elliot
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shame on you! Think of all the jobs you're stealing from people with REAL interpretive dance degrees! :)

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WordWeaver
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a sad comment on the world when kindness and generosity can be mistaken for pedophilia.

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Doggo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@WordWeaver Yes, but it’s always kind of weird when a random person is giving another person’s kids stuff. People always get suspicious

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wv10014
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So sweet. Sad that gross men out in the world have made it impossible for nice men to be friends or mentors to kids these days

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V Bingham
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1 year ago

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It sounds like he knows that what he's doing is wrong But the only way he can still do what He wants is to do it this way. If he was honest and genuine it wouldn't need to be a Secret!!

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Deep One
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm 57 and always wanted a family. When I take my nieces for the day I pretend they are mine.

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V Bingham
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's different, you are not a stranger and the parents know and approve what's happening. Now put secretive action from a stranger behind the parents back?..see, totally different!👍🌹💜🤗🙏

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J-Yogi-Temp-Mom
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Our neighbor used to put plastic dinos in their front garden area specifically for our kids to play with on our walks. they don't have children themselves. it was so sweet and my kids still bring it up now and again.

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hyj (she, her)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is sweet, but you might want to just chat with the parents instead and tell them you enjoy having kids in the neighborhood. Let them get to know you a bit.

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DuchessDegu
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's even worse, I wouldn't give kids some random sweets that came in the post!

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Urbangirlatl
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it came in a sealed Amazon box or direct from a verifiable retailer, you'd be fine.

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Rachknits
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe ask the parents what they think...? I'd be really creeped out if my son received occasional sweets from an anonymous sender on a regular basis

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NicNor5560
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are you sure they eat the candies? I wouldn't give them to my kids. No way.

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clairelise@pacific.net
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On the other side of the tracks, I'm a woman in my late 30s and everyone and their dog sits their kid with me when I'm out: "wait here with this lady. She'll take care of you til I come back." Um yeah no I won't. I don't like children, and even if I did, it wouldn't give strangers the right to use me as free babysitting. I've literally had men scream at me "where's my child???" And had to say "Sir, we do not know each other and if you continue to attack me I'll call the police."

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C Lawson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why on earth does this happen to you? I'd would be really freaked out!

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Random Anon
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never truly accepted this suspicion among neighbors. I understand why it has come to this but it just feels messed up. I grew up at a time when the world is, quite frankly, quite f*cked up. Our area had prostitutes, gambling dens and shady characters every direction you look. But the no one ever suspected their neighbor would harm their kids.

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PenguinQueen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why not just give them Easter Eggs or Christmas selection boxs, when it's appropriate to be kind to strangers and make children happy... Its stranger to recieve anomynous sweet parcels because you would be wondering who is watching your kids who knows where they live and wonder why they are doing it and whether or not the sweets are laced 😳

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Yayheterogeneity
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please do a bounty hunt with them and some hints that it's you!!! How awesome if they had a cool uncle like you to hang around with just across the street! They need to find out!!

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LongCoolWomanInABlackDress
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or he could just talk to the parents to asl them if they are okay with him spending time with the kids. If I cought some guy sending my kids sweets, adding clues as to where to find them, I'd have some serious questions for him.

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Cydney Golden
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It would less creepy to just give the treats to the parents to give to them.

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GramDB
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry you don't get the credit … only the pleasure of giving.

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Rob Williams
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just talk to the parents! Say that you don't want to seem like a creep but think they have lovely children and would like to treat them occasionally but will give the sweets to them (parents) so they can check for allergies, control consumption, etc. I honestly think sending unsolicited, anonymous sweet parcels is way more suspicious and, if I were the parents, they'd go straight in the bin the first time and to the police when they kept coming.

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V Bingham
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you feel that being secretive is better, STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!! Put yourself in their position if they knew, now what do you think the parents reaction would be??? Look at finding Somewhere else to live, Stay Away From Kids!!!

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Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Smart way to make a nice gesture like that without looking like you have bad intentions, especially when it concerns children. Just keep it that way, and go about your own business.

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Paul C.
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good thinking, can't have somebody with a different opinion than yourself can you? Sarcasm alert.

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