The Secret

Ever heard of the book that's seemingly all the rage lately titled The Secret?
I myself am surprised how well-known it is. Even my friends who don't really read that much know a whole lot about it.

I hate that.

The book is apparently a self-help book. While I don't have a problem with self-help books generally, (people sometimes need a motivational boost and some good advice) it's books that all full of nonsense like the secret that annoys the fuck out of me.

The whole basis of the book is like this: Apparently, the whole secret that is so hyped up is the law of attraction. What is this law of attraction, you ask? Well it essentially works like this: you know how you want something really really really bad? Like that girl(or boy) you've been crushing on for months? Or that new iPhone that you can't afford? Or maybe a million dollars? Well, if you want it that badly, simple. Ask for it! Who to ask from? Well, the Universe of course! Because you know, every whim and desire of yours is so important that the ENTIRE FUCKING UNIVERSE just has to give a crap enough to give you what you want. Because you know, you're just that fucking special.

Pardon the language, but stuff like this really really gets to me. Of course, books like this sell because of their enormous psychological appeal and their very convincing (although complete bullshit) points. Imagine of course, if you confront someone who believes in this crap and ask them: Hey, I've been asking the universe and believing that that girl will give a shit for months but nothing seems to be happening. The answer? You don't believe HARD enough. The unfalsifiability of the claim is what makes it so convincing to so many. If it sounds convincing to you, then consider this. There is now a invisible pink unicorn behind you watching you read this blog. It's invisible and intangible. Prove me wrong.

Why am I so bothered when people use misinformation and mislead people with false beliefs? Probably because I value truth more then most people. But it's also because people that write crap like that are, in fact, taking hard-earned cash from people who can't know any better. Imagine if I sell sugar lumps to a tribe of people who has never seen it, tell them it gives them magical properties and sell the lumps to them for an absurb amount of gold. Yes, people like that are indeed con artists, only instead of selling fake jewelry or magical pendants that increase your health as long as you're wearing it, they are selling false hopes and beliefs.



Well, at least The Chasers got it right.