There’s nothing wrong with failing—it’s one of the best ways to learn and grow. But let’s be honest, some mishaps are just plain hilarious. And with the internet always watching, if your slip-up makes it online, there’s a good chance it’s already landed on the subreddit ‘There Was An Attempt.’
Don’t worry, though—these things tend to blow over quickly.
Well, except for today, because we’ve put together a compilation of the best posts we’ve ever featured from this community. Enjoy!
#1 To Give The Worst Land
"In 1913, Sarah Rector, a 10-year-old black girl received a land allotment of 160 acres in Oklahoma. The best farming land was reserved for whites, so she was given a barren plot. Oil was soon discovered there & she became the country's first black millionaire."
Image credits: RodyBlano
#2 To Make Speaking 2 Languages Sophisticated
Image credits: reddit.com
With over 7.2 million members, ‘There Was An Attempt’ (TWAA) is one of Reddit’s largest communities. To understand what makes it so special and why it’s beloved by so many, Bored Panda reached out to the moderators who run the subreddit and keep it thriving.
“TWAA is a place that collects all the best attempts from across the globe. If it’s been attempted… you’ll find it here,” says u/PlenitudeOpulence, the lead mod. “There’s an innate joy in watching fails, and TWAA has that by the boatload.”
#3 To Insult Women
Image credits: MoroselyBrowse446
#4 To Give Motivation
Image credits: iushdulal
#5 To Make A Funny Boomer Post LOL
Image credits: El_Vali-de_Michoacan
In the grand scheme of things, TWAA’s popularity doesn’t just rely on people’s love for watching others’ fails. There are plenty of places online for that, but TWAA has really cemented itself as an iconic community on Reddit.
“I think people love TWAA because it captures the full spectrum of human experience,” says u/Sabbah. “Sure, it’s funny to watch failed attempts, but these posts often bring out a mix of emotions—from empathy to curiosity. People can see relatable struggles, and that blend of laughter and reflection keeps it engaging for a broad audience.”
#6 To Ask Informed Questions
Image credits: BruceInc
#7 To “Help The World Become A Better Place”
Image credits: chikitty87
#8 To Trick The Allied Forces
"During WW2, the Germans built a fake wooden airfield with wooden aircraft, vehicles, and hangars in order to trick the Allies. The RAF, having known of the secret project for months, patiently waited for them to finish and then dropped a single fake wooden bomb on it"
Image credits: DrugInducedBeard
Second-in-charge mod u/BlueberryBubblyBuzz, who also goes by u/Kumquat_conniption, believes TWAA stands out because it shows humanity in its rawest form, something we often miss in today’s digital age.
“With social media making everyone’s lives look perfect, there’s something refreshing and real about watching people fail,” they share. “Most of what we see online is carefully staged, but watching a fail? That’s real. It reminds us that we’re not the only ones messing up, even if it happens more often than we’d like.”
“Maybe when we’re constantly comparing ourselves to seemingly perfect lives, it feels good to see someone else fail. Like, ‘Hey, at least I’m not having as bad a day as that guy!’ That could be why TWAA is so appealing.”
#9 An Attempt Was Made To Listen To A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
Image credits: Bawonga
#10 To Be Immune To Yo Momma Jokes
Image credits: cyrobite-
#11 To Say Jesus Didn't Use Pronouns
Image credits: TXVERAS
Of course, it helps that the subreddit has a catchy name. “‘There Was An Attempt’ just rolls off the tongue,” says mod u/OhhYouKnow. “The phrase itself sticks in your head. Personally, I love the content because it shows a very real side of humanity. Plus, our userbase is made up of some pretty cool people.”
#12 To Get Drinks
Image credits: kleo_patraa
#13 To Give Reasons For Not Using Facial Recognition
Image credits: cyrobite-
#14 To Be An Animal Activist
Image credits: Kdial2002
What really makes TWAA stand out, however, is how its followers find a certain inspiration in the fails. There’s a sense of camaraderie in seeing people genuinely try, even when things go wrong.
“Fails can be inspiring, as they remind us that everyone stumbles and grows from mistakes,” explains u/Sabbah. “Seeing others face setbacks and bounce back can motivate us to be more resilient, take risks, and keep going. Sometimes, the funniest fails hold the most powerful lessons.”
#15 To Be A Smart Cop
Image credits: Sweaty-Bandicoot3289
#16 To Cancel Alcohol
Image credits: therizinosaurs
#17 To Complain About A Child Selling Hot Dogs
Image credits: TheRealNah
“I think watching people attempt incredible things, even when they fail, can be very inspiring,” agrees u/BlueberryBubblyBuzz. “When you see footage of someone doing something perfectly, like an Olympic performance, it can feel like you’ll never be able to do something like that. But when you see others failing, it reminds you that behind every success is someone who failed over and over. It’s a great reminder that setbacks are part of the journey and not a reason to quit.”
#18 To Comfort A Foster Kitty By A Deaf And Partially Blind Pup
Image credits: tyw7
#19 To Make This Student Think Before They Ink
Image credits: MrStepSisterFister69
#20 To Start Cat Racing
Image credits: reddit.com
Running TWAA is no easy task. The mods hold the posts to a high standard, and not everything makes the cut.
“We do get a lot of posts that don’t exactly fit, and we’re working with the community to report those so we can keep the subreddit focused on the best failed attempts,” says u/BlueberryBubblyBuzz. “We’re also putting more effort into making sure unclear or off-topic posts are filtered out, so we can showcase everyone’s favorite content.”
#21 To Sound Literate
Image credits: reddit.com
#22 To Secretly Use Grindr
Image credits: TXVERAS
#23 To Give The Dog A Pool
Image credits: NickWrightData
Lately, the mods have faced another challenge—bots filling the subreddit with spam. They’re committed to keeping the community as genuine as possible.
“We’re hoping for more admin support to deal with spam and interference,” says u/OhhYouKnow. “Bots can be tricky to spot, but when they start taking over, it drowns out authentic content.”
“We want the community to continue enjoying the original vibe of the sub,” adds u/Sabbah.
#24 To Fire A Cat
Image credits: cloudtdaz
#25 To Look Dangerous
Image credits: reddit.com
#26 To Build A Cool Looking Electric Truck
Image credits: Eugene0185
At Bored Panda, we’re rooting for the TWAA team to keep bringing us the best fails, making the world a little funnier and brighter with their posts, so that not only we can enjoy them but also bring them to you. Until next time!
#27 To Prevent The Homeless From Sleeping Here
Image credits: reddit.com
#28 To Scare Your Boyfriend
Image credits: i-shot-the-sheriff
#29 To Help
Image credits: THE_VOLK87
#30 To Stop A Vegan
Image credits: chiefrish
#31 To Make Mommy Look Like A Hard Worker
Image credits: Quiet-Luck
#32 To Eat A Muffin
Image credits: psychocalcifer
#33 To Clean Up After Himself
Image credits: reddit.com
#34 To Sleep Peacefully
Image credits: faelapis
#35 ...to Photograph Birds
Image credits: reddit.com
#36 To Scare Away A Prankster
Image credits: Koochiman
#37 To Act Like You Belong
Image credits: Sunlight_Sword
#38 To Say Hello To A Ghost
Image credits: SketchesbyBoze
#39 To Be Responsible And Uber Home
Image credits: flyoverthemooon
#40 To Relax A Bit More
Image credits: verbaltastic
#41 To Collect Rent On A House You Live In For Free
Image credits: ClapBackBetty
#42 To Understand Depression
Image credits: RelatablePanic
#43 To Make Things Complicated
Image credits: Go_ask_quan
#44 I Tried
Image credits: messydepressy6
#45 A Dollar A Day
Image credits: TXVERAS
#46 To Discipline A Non-Employee
Image credits: BirdRespecter
#47 A For Effort, Kiddo
Image credits: MightyBooshX
#48 To Prove Your BF Is Cheating
Image credits: NC_liv3
#49 To Relate To A Girl’s Photo
Image credits: Trumps_Cum_Dumpster
#50 To Build A Nest
Image credits: L00k_Again
