Hi everyone,

Don"t know about you guys but here in Australia everyone is obsessed with thinking positive....................just as seen on those trashy American soaps :dump: .The book stores are full of self help books and nobody wants to hear any complaints ,even when warranted.

Its almost like if you have a problem or something isn"t right it must be your fault......................so that way you can"t critisize the govt or anything else so nothing changes and the people benefiting don"t even have anyone to annoy them.

To me,this is not positive thinking but a form of denial.And it serves a practical purpose for those who promote it.

Also recently I read that some studies concluded that forcing oneself to be positive lowers the immune system.

Its good to think postive about things but the way it is encouraged seems denial to me.

What do you guys think?

If one can come to the conclusion that this "continuous adaptation of the self" is promoted by someone who doesnt obey to this force, then we might very well speak of a purpose-driven decision by those that impose this rule or "way of seeing things", since one might seek factors that lead to a certain situation and attribute inappropriate developments to his own incapacity.

The crucial element might be whether this attitude governs the whole society or only parts of it, especially "weaker" parts.

Living in Australia, a multicultural nation its interesting to note how fragmented society is.............that is even people from the same religious or ethnic background often find no commonality.

Successfull people attribute their success to ability and positive thinking while so called failures are told they lack ability and shouldn"t complain and be more positive.Shopping is the new religion were you can have anything you want except, what you really want.

Self adaptation is a very good way to put it.Marketing people have a field day in this enviroment.

For me ,this type of positive thinking is a reaction and rationalisation of undesirable events,where rather than actually taking "positive steps" to change things one is encouraged to accept "the present reality" ,look on the bright side,it must be your fault,go out and shop.

We might rapidly approach a "desired societal status quo" discussion.
We might start judging behaviors and thoughts, based on our basic thoughts.


Before that, one question:

Do you have the fundamental belief that mankind should follow a certain path ?

The path to wisdom,self expression and mutual co-operation.

That can only come with access to information and the freedom of everyone to express their unadultared will.

And why do you see these general ideas as appropriate ?

If possible, define them.

You gents raise some very valid points. Socrates your initial conclusion is logical and I would agree with it:

Makes sence...

I've seen that Aussie lady with her "positive" self-help books, and she sells millions of them! And you look at the people, and some are genuanly happy by changing thier mentality - because they never knew how to be happy (as paradoxical as that sounds). Others are most certainly in denial as you say.

So the question your stasis brings up, is: what is the equilibrium/balance point between complaining about ones ailments and external roles in them - and taking responcibility for those shortfalls and blaming noone but yourself?

I think the balance point is always shifting.

Everthing affects everything else.

If say ,one is not happy with the transport system which is controlled by the govt you can"t change it.The govt can be positive about it and act but you can only decide whether to use it or not.

Say for example high rates of immigration are lowering your career prospects by creating competition.Well the powers that be who claim to be democratic have conciously made a decision which may not be in ones interests.Then one is told it is your fault the pay has diminished in your field and don"t complain.Obviously the powers that be can make a positive difference,you can"t.

And by promoting the view that its all up to you your encouraged not to complain so the status quo remains.

Its very usefull in silencing the disenfranchised elements who then remain ununified.

Referring to your last phrase. You think that former unity that was build upon the principles of national, religious, ethnic or racial unity is replaced by enforced/apparently independent thoughts whose goal is to build a consumeritic unity?
So to say, on the one hand, everyone is told to have his very own opinion and to insist on it and on the other hand to invigorate possibly the most important consequence of the former, namely the continuous strife to be seemingly different, which can be achieved through consuming.


An absolutely right way of being is something a bot cannot see since a bot can only evaluate and try to be objective.
Additionally, balance doesnt exist for a bot either since a right way of life doesnt exist.
There is only the ability to see something as right.

Positive thinking is fine, but the most important attribute to success in any endeavor is hard work and refusing to quit when things get tough. At least in my experience. :drink2: