Be Happy with Exeter Confesses
How has Exeter Confesses transformed from an innocent forum for confession into a vehicle for some of our community’s most flammable, vitriolic debates? It began as a sketchy yet lighthearted way for Exonians to reveal their deepest secrets, but it was all in good fun. It then evolved into a school-wide entertainment forum, where all students turned to find the latest memes and jokes on campus. In the past few months, however, we have seen it metamorphose into an intellectual battlefield where some of the brightest conservative and liberal minds of our community compete for the attention and respect of their peers.
The page grew into such a craze that even faculty and administration have been taking notice of it—it was mentioned in Principal Lisa MacFarlane’s closing words at the last assembly, and prominent faculty, such as Reverend Thompson, provide input on several of its innumerable “confessions.” I can see why some wouldn’t approve of this anonymous confessional. It fosters a sense of secretness and a lack of responsibility for one’s words and actions (very anti-Harkness). Admittedly, it is very important in our community to publicly assume stances so that we can have face-to-face discourse. However, it is to my understanding that it helps some quiet, perhaps unpopular opinions surface for discussion, and this is why I feel that Exeter Confesses has a more positive impact on our community than a negative one.
How else can we get inflammatory opinions that go against the norm out there? Well, I mean, there is the age-old, tried-and-true method of talking. But that’s boring. Also, it’s much harder to go toe-to-toe with someone at the Harkness table than to violently push out opinion after opinion. However, some find that if they voice their unpopular (usually conservative) opinions, they will be attacked by those who hold the majority’s opinion. This leads to a climate of liberal, one sided discussions that also don’t perpetuate the Exonian idea of discussion and debate of two opposing viewpoints. Exeter Confesses does indeed encourage bipartisan discussion, which few give it credit for. It also allows for some lighthearted jokes and funny memes that you can’t find anywhere else.
However, it is strange to find confessions published one after the other, such as one confession praising the formerly pink ice cream at D-hall right below another so-called confession singing praises for amoral policies of Donald Trump. To be honest, it’s more than strange. It’s not the way it should be done. We need more than one place for people to discuss major issues. The nature of it makes whatever discussions occur seem petty and unimportant if they have the burden of being associated with “Exeter Confesses,” the Facebook public forum. Perhaps we are in need of a different, more politically oriented forum altogether. Perhaps it isn’t my place to say what the admin should and should not do.
The page is fun and exciting. It may have some flaws, but at the end of the day, we all still love seeing the latest battle or just want to relax with some prep drama.
Is it a perfect system? No. But is it an efficient and easy way to see what’s hip and new on campus? For the most part, yes. Exeter Confesses is here to stay—we might as well get used to it.