Can you watch this video without experiencing a knee jerk reaction that all positive thinking...

[Silent3]

Last edited Sun Dec 1, 2013, 12:23 PM - Edit history (1)

...is being dismissed?

I watched this video when it was posted on Upworthy's Facebook page, thought it was great, thought it said many things that badly need to be said... then sadly read the Facebook comments, amazed at the number of people who totally missed what Barbara Ehrenreich was saying.

So here are a bunch of preliminary disclaimers that shouldn't be necessary, but apparently are -- not because Ehrenreich's communication skills are lacking, but because I'd guess that "positive thinking" is such a sacred cow for so many people that when they think their sacred cow is being attacked, their defensive shields go up, and then plenty of important details of what's actually being said get lost.

1) Barabara Ehrenreich is NOT attacking ALL positive thinking -- just a very real fundamentalist brand of positive thinking that's definitely out there in the world.

2) She's certainly not recommending negativity, and explicitly says that excessive negativity and pessimism are ALSO delusional forms of thinking.

3) She's not confusing "what positive thinking is all about", as if the the fundamentalist form of positive thinking that she's denouncing is the only form that exists.

4) One of the most bizarrely stupid misinterpretations of what's being said in this video is apparently triggered when Ehrenreich criticizes a common pop culture mangling of what quantum mechanics means. A bunch of viewers/listeners somehow walk away from this thinking that the stupid version of QM that Ehrenreich criticized is her own view of what QM really is.

Of course, if you really do believe in a magical thinking version of "positive thinking", if you treat the idea of the "law of attraction" as if it were a proven scientific concept and/or physical law of the universe... well then, yes, go ahead and get upset and defensive, because that's definitely, and rightly, being attacked in this video.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

1. These RSA clips are quite good,

I use them in the classroom from time to time. I like the message here, that of critical thinking. She notes a coupe of times that thinking on one extreme or the other is considered delusional. The main point here. There are no such things as absolutes, the optimum position often floats somewhere towards a center. This idea of all positive thinking resulting in unicorns, rainbows flying from one's arse, etc. may be achieved through all positive thoughts is antievolutionary, as Ms. Ehrenreich noted. I have a sign above the desk here, it notes "got science?" That's all.

[annabanana]

2. Anyone here remember EST?

major blame the victim crap

[Voice for Peace]

6. EST is now Landmark, I believe

and still going strong.

Lots of people tried to get me to sign up but I felt
allergic to it, the whole shazam of it. But in fairness,
I got some second-hand benefits from the friends
who went through the training.

[Silent3]

7. This Landmark remake sounds less insane and dangerous than the original EST...

...but it still smells of scam and woo to me.

[Voice for Peace]

9. I believe it did some people a lot of good

but they do suck you in and get you to keep enrolling
in new levels, making commitments to them,
and of course, investing and investing.

[JNelson6563]

3. I agree completely.

The most serious case of delusional positive thinking I have seen is my neighbor across the hall. When I first met her and hung out with her, went into her place and saw her "style, I got a strong sense that she had been "institutionalized". It turns out I was right. The biggest clue? The inspirational slogans she had up on the walls and everywhere, including a "Failure is not an option" bumper sticker on the back of her laptop. She's a big fan of bumper sticker style inspiration. It's rather sad to see, really.

Julie

[Silent3]

4. For a while my fundy tea party sister had been posting a bunch of that "motivational" crap...

...to Facebook. Not realizing this was as touchy a subject as religion and politics with her, I made a comment just to add a little sensible qualification to a pithy slogan (I don't remember exactly what it was)... and she'd have none of it!

That's when I discovered that she's a fundamentalist not just about the Bible, but positive thinking too.

[Voice for Peace]

5. love it.

I know there is great value in having positive
attitude, which means focusing on solutions
and not problems.

The animation as always is outstanding and it's
such a brilliant way to hold the attention to
what's being said.

Thanks for posting!

[Silent3]

8. Compared to how this video was greeted when posted on Upworthy...

...presenting it with a few disclaimers first seems to really help with how it gets received.