The Secret?!?!?! :bull:

[KChiChi]

Who's read the book?? I got through a couple of pages and stuffed it. It's basically* saying stuff we've all heard before:

'if you say you can, you can'

I've never believed that in my life. I doubt anybody who's faced all the unfairness of life knows that believing sometimes can't. I'm not saying that I know the secret in life 'cause I'd do whatever to know what the hell it is and who's keeping it from the world. But who else had heard all this insipirational shit the world is giving us?? Well?? Do you agree with people always being so damn optimistic about everything?
Take 2012. What if it does happen?
Global Warming: Where I live is due to be under water in the next 50 years...

If you're going to defend this, please do. I'm in the mood for a serious arguement against optimism. If you agree, please do. Comment.

btw, i don't think i'm making much sense anyway. sorry it's mostly a raving.

[Aspiringanonymous]

I'm a cynic down to my bones, so I won't be arguing against you here. While I personally could never see myself take on an optimistic world view, I certainly don't have anything those who do.

Life is a difficult journey, and everyone is just doing what they can to make the experience a little less unbearable. Many people find that comfort through adopting a positive outlook. Even if optimism and naievty often border a fine line - if it works for them, then each to their own.

Believing is difficult, but it can be worth a try.

[AllThatIsLeft]

Are you talking about the Law of Attraction?
If so, what's wrong with believing in it?
Optimism and positive thinking hurts no one, some may be annoyed but that's the none of their problem.
Personally, I like the Law of Attraction, believing in it may be the one single thing that gets people to their goal. May be false or it may be true, what matters it's what it does to the mind: Gives purpose and determination. No one said it was going to come wrapped in a box, with a pretty bow tie on top. But a determined mind can accomplished anything if they really want it.

[AgusCO]

But a determined mind can accomplished anything if they really want it.

Pretty much my thoughts, with words I wouldn't have found.
I don't really believe in the law of attraction but to me convincing myself is the first step to get anything I want.
One of the reasons I listen to pop music(other than loving the sound) is that they all are so "Just go for it" or "Nothing stops you".

[Jean Poutine]

here's another "motivational line" for you :

a man only goes as high as he cares to.

optimism is daring to reach high and hope to attain that point. pessimism is wallowing in cesspool after cesspool of self-depreciation or other self-(bad term), whether or not you include the whole of society, humankind, insert another faction against which you disagree, is not relevent.

it is only up to you to seize your potential. i am an autistic man studying in education ; once your mind has grasped the sheer irony of a social alien aiming to teach in high school, you'll realise that it is true that you can do whatever you want, and that pessimism is merely a material boundary set forth by yourself and your perceptions of your inadequacies, or the world's inadequacies. they're hardly insurmountable.

pessimism is when i used to think i would never be able to work with my diagnosis because everything seemed to take more social skill or courage than i could muster. i honestly thought i had no other choice but welfare, in the end.

we are the best armed yet to face life's challenges. we are not coming out of a destructive world war, we are not disillusioned, estranged, disintegrated, or anything of the sort. on the contrary, we're backed by a limitless font of information (hint : you're using it right now), a parenting culture that, for good or bad, forbids limits and encourages experiences, and a much better understanding of about every field, scientifical or humanitarian.

pessimism these days is misplaced. it was in vogue in the fifties, and it rightfully belonged there then. now? the possibilities of our generations are limitless. may i hypothesize that it is these limitless possibilities that make you feel insecure about your worth?

if soo, boo hoo hoo, too bad, so sad. get your mind out of the well and look up. i did it, for the love of god, and i don't even feel like i belong among humans 90% of the time because of my brain condition.

newsflash : 2012 won't happen. y2k didn't either.

[Perseus]

Pretty much my thoughts, with words I wouldn't have found.
I don't really believe in the law of attraction but to me convincing myself is the first step to get anything I want.
One of the reasons I listen to pop music(other than loving the sound) is that they all are so "Just go for it" or "Nothing stops you".

The reason I do not like the phrase "anyone can do anything if they put their mind to it" is because that's not true. If I want to step out of a freaking space shuttle in the middle of space without a helmet and expect to live, then that would be silly. That is why I do not like those kind of phrases.

But, I do believe if you keep a positive attitude, most of the time you can get the thing done. But not all the time, keeping a positive attitude won't always help you.

[Sage]

I myself am a rather optimistic person, though I do think The Secret is a stupid and pretentious money grab.

[Camazotz]

I dislike the idea of the "Law of Attraction" (which is dogma, not a scientific law) because it gives people false hope. Just because you want something, does not mean you get it. Why are there so many starving, impoverished people throughout the world? Do you honestly think they don't want food or a home hard enough? Life is unfair. We have to make the best of what we have to achieve what we really want.

[Shadoukun]

Ignorance is bliss only when the ignorant try to stay that way. You are attempting to grasp concepts which escape you and are unhappy as a result of your ignorant conclusions on them.

2012 won't happen and global warming will never effect you. Live in your bubble and do not tread into territory of which you are not suited.

[AgusCO]

The reason I do not like the phrase "anyone can do anything if they put their mind to it" is because that's not true. If I want to step out of a freaking space shuttle in the middle of space without a helmet and expect to live, then that would be silly. That is why I do not like those kind of phrases.

But, I do believe if you keep a positive attitude, most of the time you can get the thing done. But not all the time, keeping a positive attitude won't always help you.

Of course.But I was talking about more realistic stuff and I actually didn't say that you "can do anything if you put your mind to it" it was more like "Okay, if you want to go for something, have confidence", I mean why should anyone think you are good at whatever you are doing if you don't believe it yourself?

[Perseus]

Of course.But I was talking about more realistic stuff and I actually didn't say that you "can do anything if you put your mind to it" it was more like "Okay, if you want to go for something, have confidence", I mean why should anyone think you are good at whatever you are doing if you don't believe it yourself?

I quoted you, but I forgot what I was going to say. :P

[overcome.]

If you're a determined mind, you can get anywhere you desire, or anything. You'll find a way. I've heard a lot about The Law of Attraction before, I do agree with a lot of it. I certainly think it's interesting. It's also known as 'The Secret', but when it turns more into self-help packages and seminars that you have to pay money for, in theory to end up getting what you desire and getting rich, then I think that's where it becomes over the top and stupid.

[AgusCO]

I quoted you, but I forgot what I was going to say. :P

You were going to agree with me? :D

[Perseus]

You were going to agree with me? :D

No..., I'm sorry. :P