The Secret

It's bullshit. Get over it. Stop telling me about it. Go back to peddling Amway.

Is anyone else rather disturbed by this snake oil?

if it helps some people live happier lives, good for them. i fail to see why anyone would get riled up about it.

They're coming to git ya!

I watched the documentary for free when it had been pirated on Google Video briefly.

I really like the basic idea behind it: be more positive. Hopefully I'm not speaking for myself when I say that I'm really fed up with the overwhelming negativity I see in people these days, especially on the web. This thread is a perfect example; it's already poised to be a total snarkfest.

Aside from the message of positivity, though, I really can't stand pretty much anything else about The Secret. I have too many complaints to list, but to try to sum it up, it's really just your standard "if you give us money, we'll tell you the secrets of the universe, and not only will your life be changed forever, all your problems will resolve themselves instantly, you'll get rich, famous, people will like you, you'll have an incredible love life/sex life, you'll get a great job, etc., etc."

It's bogus.

What upsets me is the fact that, when you strip away all the mumbo-jumbo nonsense and get-rich-quick stuff, the basic message of being more positive is actually a really good idea, and while I think that you may not experience miracles, you really can improve your quality of life that way.

It's not some mystic "secret of the ages." It's common sense. The fact that it's presented otherwise, and the fact that they've put a price tag on it, really ticks me off.

While I appreciate the whole "your attitude is the only thing you can control" stuff, I absolutely hate the theory that people don't have what they want because they don't want it bad enough, or because they aren't projecting the right thoughts out into the Universe.

I am pretty sure the starving people in third world countries are only thinking about food; imagining eating food; and wanting nothing more than to feed their dying children and yet somehow they are not attracting food. Do people honestly believe that positive thought is going to change their fucked up situation?

A few years ago I was caught off guard and ended up walking barefoot along a really long and hot stretch of sand when I saw a pair of thongs ( I don't know what they're called in the US; they are shoes you can just slip into) exactly my size lying in my path. I slipped into them and walked in comfort the rest of the way.

It was a fucking coincidence. I have a whole bunch of them.

Yes. It disturbs me.

I pretty firmly believe that the "self" described in most typical self-help books is not the person who picks up and reads the book.
It's the author. They've help themselves.

I never thought anything would make me long for how much less annoying scientology or The DaVinci Code are

Exactly. I'm no fan of snake oil, but there are more important battles to fight.

I've totally been visualizing myself winning Bluefly.com's designer handbag giveaway. I am still without a designer handbag, but the giveaway isn't over just yet.

I'm also currently visualizing myself being less hungover than I am right now, but what I probably should have visualized was myself not drinking that last tequila sunrise last night.

says you....

I know for a fact. And knowing is half the battle.

I once had a friend whose response to any kind of negative emotion, to anything bad that ever happened to me was that I chose to feel that way and I didn't have to if I didn't want to. That was probably the most infuriating result of people who believe in this type of thing.

You should have socked him and told him that it was his choice to have a bloody nose.

That's what I would have done.

Actually I lie. I wouldn't have punched him in the face.

then the terrorists have won...

Yay! What do we get?

the secret may be bullshit, but the secret is akin to mysterious hidden truths eminating at a high volume from Oprah's privates.

I think something has to be born before it can die.

I can agree with that.

just another in a long line of get rich quick schemes where the only ones getting rich are the ones selling the books, seminars and audio's
no different from real estate or anything else
if these folks were truly altruistic they would be giving these away for FREE

uhhhh....spam!?!

Yeah, but that's because they're doing it wrong.

If only they would each by this wonderful book for the low, low price of $29.95 thay could all turn their lives around. Call now - operators are standing by!!

+1

If you decide clearly on what goals you want to achieve - and, most importantly, work very hard on them - with some luck you might be able to 'attract' the results you want to achieve.

There you go. There is no Law of Attraction, it's not a Secret, and you don't have to pay me thirty dollars.

I understand why so many people would feel drawn to an ideology that promises they can 'attract' anything they want without having to work for it, but that really won't happen. Sometimes you might get lucky and daydream about something good happening to you, and then it does happen. But, it's just a coincidence. Only honest hard work can move you to where you want to be in life. (I learnt that the hard way.)

Only honest hard work can move you to where you want to be in life if you already live in a priveleged society (and even then there can be many barriers).

I do agree with you for the most part but all the hard work in the world isn't going to yield anything if you are living in third world poverty or are slaving your ass off in a sweat shop for pennies. At the end of each day, those people are exactly where they were at the beginning of the day.

What you say is quite true but entirely dependant on where you live.