ARGH! Will The Secret EVER go away???

[Lisa0825]

I just had a heated online argument with a net friend who I have not talked to in several months. The more we discussed things, the more red flags went off, and then I said, "It sounds like you believe in some BS theory like The Secret." He said, "Yes, I have been practicing it for a long time now, since before we met."

He wouldn't quit, and I didn't want to be converted, so I finally just told him I was signing off and goodbye. Good thing I hadn't invested much in the friendship, because I am sure he thinks I am a lost cause now... poor negative me.... I'll probably die a horrible torturous death after going bankrupt and losing all my friends.... all cuz I didn't think right.

[TZ]

1. Yeah..well I have a sister who likes that kinda thing

And told me obviously it wouldn't work for me since I don't have the proper "attitude".
But hey I know its really "working" for her cause she and her husband had to quit their independent job doing bookfairs (of which they had invested by BUILDING A STOREHOUSE and buying a truck) in order for him to get a real job so they could pay the mortgage..Yeah its working well....

[enki23]

2. only in this incarnation. this bullshit will crop up under different names till humans are extinct

.

[realisticphish]

3. everyone wants the easy path to success

they don't want to hear that it's pretty much hard work and luck

[Name removed]

4. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Lisa0825]

5. Yeah, this was almost identical to the craqsh and burn friendship I had

with another guy about 10 years ago, only the flame out was over the Celestine Prophecy.

What really pisses me off is that I have spent half my career working with people who are at or below the poverty level, and most of them probably will be there the rest of their lives... not because they were negative, but because of the luck of the draw of being born with a certain set of chromosomes, or into a family that didn't have the urge or ability to promote education, or to someone who drank or did drugs while pregnant.... these folks can't just lift up by their bootstraps and forge ahead as easily as someone who was born into a vastly different world than them.

You know what he said when I tried to point these things out to him? "Forrest Gump was based on a real person."

:banghead:

[CanSocDem]

6. I guess....

...if you don't believe in something, it can't hurt you. It's risky, but it is why I don't pray to Jesus.

" People who are easily offended, or who are not accustomed to having their opinions (including deeply personal convictions) challenged may not feel entirely comfortable here."

.

[Random_Australian]

8. Hah! So I said ...

... "don't come down the ladder, mother dear, I've taken it away"



"Do not post messages that are entirely in capital letters, unless you are trying to indicate yelling or intense emotion. "

We can all take words from a wise one, but can we eat them? I think it's fear.

[TZ]

9. lol.

I'm so sleepy I think I can actually understand that....I guess thats the real "secret"...too tired to apply logic to stuff thats eminently illogical...:rofl: :thumbsup:

[onager]

7. "The Secret" to losing your house...

Just coincidence that I found this. But as we all know, there are no coincidences... (Cue creepy music from any M. Night Charlatan movie...)

I was bouncing around the web today reading (grim) stories about the U.S. economy.

Came across this on the SHAMblog ("Exposing the scams, shams, and shames of modern life.")

The Secret to losing your house? (April 17, 2007)

A regular contributor tipped me to a female Georgia SHAMpreneur whose outgoing answering-machine message is as follows:

"You have reached <.....>, where we believe in doing well by doing good. I appreciate your call. Unfortunately, I'm unavailable, out building leaders and changing lives by Empowerment through self-care and wellness. If it suits your destiny, please leave a message. Until then, be well, and do good."

That's bad enough on its face—especially delivered as it is in the sort of dulcet, hypnotic tones we've come to expect from Rhonda Byrne herself, if you've heard her.

But what makes this truly classic is that this message of Empowerment speaks to us from a phone that is located in a house that is presently in foreclosure. That's right: The same guru who's out empowering leaders and changing lives can't seem to ensure the wellness of her own mortgage. In fact, the person who tipped our SHAMblog contributor to the message was a buddy of his who buys distressed properties.

He quips: "I guess Citibank doesn't take positive energy as payment."

Labels: empowerment, hypocrisy, Rhonda Byrne, The Secret

It's a shame for anyone to lose their house. But as one Comment on this board points out: if she gets to keep the house, she will no doubt credit it to The Secret or some other wooery. If she loses the house, then that was "destiny."

The SHAMblog owner also gets in a good crack about McCain trying to solve the Wall St. meltdown:

Secondly, what does he think he's gonna do in any case? Saddle up one of the elks Sarah would ordinarily shoot, ride in like some hybrid of Sir Galahad and Jesus, lay his hands upon the Lazarus that our economy has become, and make it all better?

:rofl:

http://shambook.blogspot.com

[cosmik debris]

10. You always come up with interesting links

Thanx

[onager]

12. Thanks!

:hi:

Glad you liked it. That blogger seems to have some funny ideas about race and "reverse racism." e.g., he had kind words for William Shockley's racial theories, which surprised me. AFAIK, few people do.

One of the tragedies of Shockley is that racists can claim their ideas are supported by a Nobel Prize winner. But he won the Nobel for co-inventing the transistor, not for anthropology. As I remember, almost everyone (including his Nobel co-winners) denounced his ideas on race.

I always keep him in mind as a very intelligent person who happened to have some very dumb ideas. That's not so unusual. And at least the blogger allows disagreement with his opinions. I spent quite a bit of time reading them.

[Deep13]

11. I think I figured out what the "secret" is.

People will believe and buy anything.

[Evoman]

13. Maybe if you envision The Secret going away, and hope for it strong enough, it will.

:evilgrin:

[uriel1972]

14. However it's very important

that whatever you do, don't put any real physical effort in or the whole thing will be spoiled.