The Secret (2006 "self help" film) - Bullshit or not?

[Dory]

So some girl I met at the coast (as I'm working as a coast medic) who we seem to have developed a little crash on each other (or whatever) told me I should watch "The Secret". I guess she thought I was too shy or something, and this movie talks about the Law of Attraction. I'm watching it but I'm getting a "bullshit" vibe despite the quantum physicists that are featured. I mean, it's nice and all in theory-- "think positive and you will attract positive and your positive will become your world"-- that's basically what this entire film is saying, but it's just overplaying a theme and making a movie out of it. Life is more complex than "think positive" if you ask me

This is just a 20 minutes preview. You don't have to watch the entire thing clearly. But I need your help in forming an opinion since I can't think for myself since I think I got a girlcrash...

[Chinaski]

It's bollocks.

[pErvinalia]

It's most definitely bullshit.

[Animavore]

Bullshit of the most pungent, putrid, diarrheic kind.

[Dory]

*sighs* I know it's bullshit but it's hard to admit it since someone I like thinks it's awesome. Damn it. Why are always the stupidest ones are also the hottest ones?

[Dory]

Watching it back with a sober mind (trying to pretend I don't have a crash) I'd have immediately said it's bullshit myself... god, I'm such a disappointment to myself.

[Rum]

I think the word you are looking for is 'crush' Dory.

Also - you don't have to agree with everything a person believes in to jump into bed with them..or develop a relationship for that matter.

[pErvinalia]

True dat! And a lot of these people who believe in this shit and stuff like crystals are pretty damn harmless. And often they are very caring people. As long as she doesn't try to preach or convert you, maybe it's something you can live with.

[normal]

According to the secret the problems in Africa is because of bad thinking. If only they would FOCUS a bit and think positive they would all be driving around in Lamborghinis and eating hamburgers every hour while waving to all their successful neighbours.

That movie and the whole concept is revolting and utterly stupid

[pErvinalia]

you're such a negative thinker...

[Adenosine]

Here's everything you need to know about The Secret, brought to you by The Chaser.



Just because woo merchants tack "Quantum" into their description they think that makes it scientific and real.

[PsychoSerenity]

I think it's a shame that this has so much nonsense in it, because there are some interesting and useful concepts related to it.

There's a philosophical concept, I'm not sure what it's actually called, kind of like The Matrix, that rather than assuming there is a physical world that is real and that our consciousness is just part of that reality observing it, you take the position that consciousness comes first and the physical world is created by the consciousness observing it, like some sort of collective dream, or perhaps just YOUR dream. - But the point is it's unprovable, it's a different basic assumption about reality that would give the same results. Any test you did to try and find out, would give exactly the results you expect. - So it has no real value as a scientific concept.

Then there are some real testable and practical ideas related to "positive thinking", that do make a difference, and serve as part of the basis for people believing in things like this "secret".

- Firstly, obviously, there is confirmation bias and that sort of thing, as an explanation for why people notice and pay more attention to the things they are thinking about.

- Secondly, when interacting with people, there is a natural sort of social attraction to people who are happy and acting positively - and while it obviously won't work on inanimate objects, having friends in the right places can massively change your opportunities to then affect the inanimate objects.

- Finally there is the way that you make use of your mind - in that if you are thinking about something you want, rather than waisting time dwelling on things you don't want, you are more likely to think of, or notice, opportunities to get that thing you want. - but of course all of this only works within the boundaries of reality; if you're living in a gutter, with nothing and nobody, and no skills or education to change it, then dreaming that things are better might make you temporarily happy, but it won't magically change your situation.

[Feral_Punctuation]

I think it's a shame that this has so much nonsense in it, because there are some interesting and useful concepts related to it.
There's a philosophical concept, I'm not sure what it's actually called, kind of like The Matrix, that rather than assuming there is a physical world that is real and that our consciousness is just part of that reality observing it, you take the position that consciousness comes first and the physical world is created by the consciousness observing it, like some sort of collective dream, or perhaps just YOUR dream. - But the point is it's unprovable, it's a different basic assumption about reality that would give the same results. Any test you did to try and find out, would give exactly the results you expect. - So it has no real value as a scientific concept.

I think solipsism is what you were thinking of.