“I steal People magazines from my doctor’s office” (from Flo in Tallahassee)

“I went to church drunk last Sunday” (from Heathen in Lake Tahoe)

“I secretly fantasize about having two husbands who will do all the cooking and the laundry and satisfy my every need” (Palindrome on Open Salon)

OK, so what secrets are you willing to reveal about yourself? Everyone has something to hide, right? Did you try to murder your uncle? Are you considering marrying a 13-year-old because you got God’s blessing to do so? Have you fathered 42 children? Most likely your secrets are little more pedestrian than these. But then again I might be assuming too much.

Secrets are an appealing part of the human psyche. And apparently this is the theme of the ad campaign for Big Love, the HBO Emmy and Golden Globe nominated show whose third season began on Sunday night after a long break.

In an effort to out-do themselves and set off maximum interest piquing, the ad campaign involves interactive exhibits in LA and NYC that play on everyone’s desire to be naughty (God, I hate that word, but I had to say it). Under a rolling billboard headphones are placed for passers-by who might be interested enough to put them on and listen to people revealing their secrets. Not people from the show. Just people. Like you and I. Doesn’t that sound like fun? Sure it has gimmick written all over it.

FYI: If you ever noticed the little link at the bottom of my page, you will notice Post Secret. It’s a crafty little website in which people can anonymously post things they can’t bring themselves to tell anyone. Take a look. It’s delicious. Maybe it’s the poet in me, but I love the idea that there are things that people will tell no one. Sources say the ad campaign and the Post Secret website are not related in any way.

But why not get people aroused by secrets? At the heart of the show lies so many secrets. Spying, inappropriate flirting and cheating, plans of revenge, and big, big, lies. They’re what keep people like me watching and waiting for more. Here’s just a couple of budding secrets on Big Love this season:

1. Bill might be “cheating” on his three wives.
2. Barb might be dying, and not telling anyone.
3. Nicki, raised on an FLDS compound to think of material things as vulgar, the daughter of a Mormon prophet, might have a shopping addiction, and she might have just taken a job at a law firm to spy on her imprisoned father’s case.
4. Barb’s daughter Sarah might be plotting to leave the “cult” which is her polygamous family.
5. And my personal favorite: Alby, who is trying to take over the Mormon compound while The Prophet is in prison, visits cruising spots for men. I can’t tell you what he actually does because this is a new and somewhat abrupt plot twist, but we find him in some awkward positions in a dark and forboding men’s bathroom.
6. I hesitate to call this a secret. It may be the most grandiose plot point and obvious to everyone, but Roman Grant, a.k.a. the Prophet, is plotting his big revenge from his cell.

You, too, can go to the Big Love website and post your own secrets anonymously. As an ex-Catholic, I encourage you to do it. Post your secret, say a couple of Hail Marys, and go on about your day. You’ll feel better.

Or share them on OS. You trust us, don’t you?

Meanwhile, for those of us who love the idea of being a voyeur to a suburban polygamist trying to hide his lifestyle from his conservative neighbors, wives garnering their power and revenge in secret, God-fearing religious zealots surrendering to their humanly desires, teenage girls needing to rebel against their parents, people trying to get what they want without the support of anyone, let’s keep watching. I’m gonna.