50 Of The Most Hilarious Fails Following “An Attempt Being Made” (Best Of All Time)

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 Insult Women

#2 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.”

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, We 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 Make Speaking 2 Languages Sophisticated

#4 To Give Motivation

#5 To Ask Informed Questions

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 Make A Funny Boomer Post LOL

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

#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”

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 Be Immune To Yo Momma Jokes

#10 To Complain About A Child Selling Hot Dogs

#11 An Attempt Was Made To Listen To A Sherlock Holmes Mystery

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

#13 To Be A Smart Cop

#14 To Be An Animal Activist

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 Cancel Alcohol

#16 To Start Cat Racing

#17 To Give Reasons For Not Using Facial Recognition

“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 Say Jesus Didn’t Use Pronouns

#19 To Make This Student Think Before They Ink

#20 To Sound Literate

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 Look Dangerous

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

#23 To Prevent The Homeless From Sleeping Here

Lately, the mods have faced another challenge—bots filling TWAA with spam. However, they’re committed to keeping the subreddit 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 Secretly Use Grindr

#25 To Give The Dog A Pool

#26 To Make Mommy Look Like A Hard Worker

At We, 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 share them to you. Until next time!

#27 To Clean Up After Himself