In which I am frustrated by wishful thinking

[jan_andrea]

There's a discussion going on at The BabyWearer about "The Secret" -- that money-making enterprise that basically says "wishing makes it so".

Argh.

If I hear "If you believe it, it's true for you!" one more time, I will scream. There are things that are objectively true, and objectively false. The world does not rest on the back of a tortise. The sun does not revolve around the earth, and there are no epicycles. The Virgin Mary does not miraculously appear in your grilled cheese to bring you a Sign. Believing these things doesn't make them happen!

I don't know why I bother :P Except that pseudoscience (someone brought up "What the Bleep do We Know" which is full of stupid) and magical thinking make me crazy. The universe is what it is, people! Just thinking about it -- no matter how strong you think your brain is -- doesn't change one damned thing about it! You have to *act*. And if you don't act, then you can't expect anything to change.

But I know, people will believe stupid things no matter how great the evidence to the contrary. Someone, please tell me to unsubscribe from the thread.

Comments

[ounceofreason.livejournal.com]

This is just the sort of talk I would expect from someone who doesn't even believe in Rainbow Bridge.

[lovestohateyou.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU! When I heard about this I was all WTF and girl was all OMG it's truuuuuue. I wanted to stab myself.

[rudbekia.livejournal.com]

Heh. Unsubscribe, Jan!

[joy-disaster.livejournal.com]

I have heard this kind of thing all over the place. Honestly? I think it is just another way to blame people for their hardships by claiming they don't have the right attitude.

[meadowrue.livejournal.com]

Oh my. I find myself becoming increasingly cynical the more I read about this kind of thing. It seems that there is an unending supply of new groups ready to exploit the pocketbooks of the hopeful and trusting. And when the skeptics speak out we are the ones that are reviled for spoiling the 'fun'. After all what fun is there in taking control and responsibility for yourself and accepting reality? Did you hear that Peter Popoff is back? Is his 'reality' true if you believe it as well. Aaargghh! We should be teaching skepticism and critical thinking in schools. It is apparently much needed.

[alabamadragon.livejournal.com]

Goodness, what an absolutely massive amount of total crap. There's mental power...yes, you can affect things like your health if you're positive about the outcome (placebos, anyone?) , and being depressed will make you physically ill. BUT - Just thinking about the winning lotto ticket isn't going to make it appear in my wallet.

If things like this were true, everyone would already be doing it, no one would work for a living, and the state of Texas/Bushworld would encompass the entire world.

[kmgwinegal.livejournal.com]

I just read that whole thread. Gar! I was particularly appalled by M's assertion that "science" is whateverthefuck you want it to be. It's that same jaw-dropping ignorance that makes 2 out of 3 Americans deny evolution.

The other thing that boggles my little rationalist mind is: why the heck would the universe care whether or not I got [a new job, designer handbag, nasty lump in my breast] anyway?

Do you know what is driving this to become such a cult phenomenon? The level of evangelizing that surrounds "The Secret" is really impressive (in a scary way).

[pudgybudgie.livejournal.com]

I don't know of this thread of which you speak, but this reminds me of the "there is no right or wrong,just different perceptions" people...what a bunch of bullshit.

[pudgybudgie.livejournal.com]

http://skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/2007/02/the_secret.html

[oscarmama.livejournal.com]

I'm not a member of TBW, but it sounds an awful lot like the argument I got into on Usenet with a UU who wanted to fight about a tautology and drag in Heisenberg to back herself up. So yeah, unsub now. :-)

[kris1225.livejournal.com]

Drives me nuts. I don't have the stomach to go over there and look at said discussion, but I am sure I would agree with you.

People always ask me what my secret is and I say, "I work my ass off and borderline neglect my family and home." But that's not as easy/sexy/fun/cool/mystical as wishing/visualizing.

And I think positive thinking is definitely a mindset and that if you are positive and think about your goals, you are more likely take steps to achieve. I believe the same thing about prayer. Prayer 'works' because when you pray you are setting goals and then go off to make things happen. It's not divine. Did you ever see that study they did on prayer and hospital outcomes? There was no difference in outcomes between those who were prayed for and those who weren't.