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 Insult Women

Image credits: MoroselyBrowse446

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 An Attempt Was Made To Listen To A Sherlock Holmes Mystery

Image credits: Bawonga

#4 To Make Speaking 2 Languages Sophisticated

Image credits: reddit.com

#5 To Ask Informed Questions

Image credits: BruceInc

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 Give Motivation

Image credits: iushdulal

#7 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

#8 To Say Jesus Didn't Use Pronouns

Image credits: TXVERAS

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 To Make A Funny Boomer Post LOL

Image credits: El_Vali-de_Michoacan

#10 To Give The Dog A Pool

Image credits: NickWrightData

#11 To Be An Animal Activist

Image credits: Kdial2002

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 Give Reasons For Not Using Facial Recognition

Image credits: cyrobite-

#13 To Comfort A Foster Kitty By A Deaf And Partially Blind Pup

Image credits: tyw7

#14 To Get Drinks

Image credits: kleo_patraa

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 Make This Student Think Before They Ink

Image credits: MrStepSisterFister69

#16 To “Help The World Become A Better Place”

Image credits: chikitty87

#17 To Cancel Alcohol

Image credits: therizinosaurs

“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 Be Immune To Yo Momma Jokes

Image credits: cyrobite-

#19 To Be A Smart Cop

Image credits: Sweaty-Bandicoot3289

#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 Stop A Vegan

Image credits: chiefrish

#22 To Look Dangerous

Image credits: reddit.com

#23 To Secretly Use Grindr

Image credits: TXVERAS

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 Help

Image credits: THE_VOLK87

#25 To Act Like You Belong

Image credits: Sunlight_Sword

#26 To Sound Literate

Image credits: reddit.com

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 Say Hello To A Ghost

Image credits: SketchesbyBoze

#28 To Eat A Muffin

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#29 To Complain About A Child Selling Hot Dogs

Image credits: TheRealNah

#30 To Build A Cool Looking Electric Truck

Image credits: Eugene0185

#31 To Make Mommy Look Like A Hard Worker

Image credits: Quiet-Luck

#32 A For Effort, Kiddo

Image credits: MightyBooshX

#33 ...to Photograph Birds

Image credits: reddit.com

#34 To Relax A Bit More

Image credits: verbaltastic

#35 To Scare Away A Prankster

Image credits: Koochiman

#36 To Sleep Peacefully

Image credits: faelapis

#37 To Prevent The Homeless From Sleeping Here

Image credits: reddit.com

#38 To Fire A Cat

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#39 To Clean Up After Himself

Image credits: reddit.com

#40 To Understand Depression

Image credits: RelatablePanic

#41 I Tried

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#42 To Build A Nest

Image credits: L00k_Again

#43 To Scare Your Boyfriend

Image credits: i-shot-the-sheriff

#44 To Discipline A Non-Employee

Image credits: BirdRespecter

#45 To Relate To A Girl’s Photo

Image credits: Trumps_Cum_Dumpster

#46 To Be Responsible And Uber Home

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#47 To Prove Your BF Is Cheating

Image credits: NC_liv3

#48 A Dollar A Day

Image credits: TXVERAS

#49 To Make Things Complicated

Image credits: Go_ask_quan

#50 To Find A Good Excuse

Image credits: Crimsonslash1352

#51 To Win

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#52 To Stop Allie From Sitting On The Cake

Image credits: Scaulbylausis

#53 To Face Swap

Image credits: Lazar_Kracken

#54 To Collect Rent On A House You Live In For Free

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#55 To Be Prepared For Parenting

Image credits: reddit.com

#56 To Start A Deep Conversation On Social Media

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#57 To Take A Family Beach Photo

Image credits: MadamFuzzyPants

#58 To Be A Good Kitten

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#59 To Use A Pickup Truck

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#60 At Going Outside

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#61 To Argue With An Adult

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#62 To Remain Anonymous

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#63 To Accurately Represent Anatomy

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#64 To Escape The Vet

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#65 To Hide A Parcel

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#66 To Get A Girl To Send You A Sexy Pic

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#67 To Spread Anarchy

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#68 To Be Body Positive

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#69 To Create A Chat Bot

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#70 To Steal Snacks

Image credits: Gabriel_illusion

#71 To Understand Basic Data

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#72 To Make Sure Everyone Knew They Were Religious

Image credits: suckmydicktracy

#73 To Get Out Of A Zoom Class

Today one of my 4th grade students renamed himself "reconecting ..." on our Zoom call and pretended that he was having internet issues to avoid participating in our lesson.

Image credits: reddit.com

#74 To Cook Smiley Buns

Image credits: samir391

#75 To Rob A Store

"On April 19th, 1995, a man robbed a bank disguised with lemon juice on his face. Since he knew lemon juice could be used as invisible ink, he thought it would make his face invisible on camera."

Image credits: iamrahul3

#76 A&w Created The Third-Pounder

"A&W created the third-pounder. It was the same price as McDonald's quarter-pounder. It bombed massively. When they tried to find out why, it was discovered that Americans thought they were being cheated because three is a smaller number than four. A&W — realizing they can't explain grade school fractions to fully grown adults without coming across as condescending assh*les — quietly took the burger off the menu"