RSA Animate - Smile or Die

Acclaimed journalist, author and political activist Barbara Ehrenreich explores the darker side of positive thinking.
Watch the full lecture here: http://www.thersa.org/events/video/ar...

The RSA is a 258 year-old charity devoted to creating social progress and spreading world-changing ideas. For more information about our research, RSA Animates, free events programme and 27,000 strong fellowship.
Find out more about the RSA at http://www.thersa.org
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Produced and edited by Abi Stephenson, RSA. Animation by Cognitive Media.

• Category

  Film & Animation

[Taobeth]

"quantum physics, for some reason, has become an excuse to mock all of science."

:D

[Antiks72]

It's the sign of a stupid country. Smart people are mocked.

[Adena Koslek]

When you know what you are, you bust your ass to meet others like you and you refuse to settle. "smart"? pft-

What's smart in one "quantum field" is utter idiocy in another. BRiDGEwurx.US is a wonderful way to consider living.

(free slave steps back down off soap box)

[CodenameBourbon]

Pretty much. LOL, she doesn't understand that the invisible hand isn't some "imaginary power". Its a description of human tendencies, assuming they are logical.

[AnalyticalChemist]

Agreed. I wonder how many people noticed the cognitive dissonance when she jumped from talking about artificial optimism as a tool for social control in the Soviet Union to the disparaging of "market fundamentalism" and the endorsement of government intervention in the economy. Perhaps she is confusing our current economic system of crony capitalism (or corporatism/soft fascism), which is a caricature of a free market economy.

[Patrice Hancock]

I was frustrated..

(about ready to die actually LOL)

chasing the "marketing method of the month"..

Today's children might be looking at "holograms" of marketing messages from beams blasting out of their smart phones..

While the methods of marketing and making money change..

The principles are the same..

Learn how? to "reap the profits" of using "secret stealth" marketing methods..

Combined with with timeless marketing wisdom that "inspires buyers to take action"..

Visit:

MysteryofSuccess(dot)com

[illfaptothis]

also, thanks RSA. whenever I try to read or listen to a lecture my mind starts picturing stuff vaguely related to what I am trying to understand, making learning pretty hard. This is very good for me.

[illfaptothis]

I have been thinking about this as well. I have been battling depression but for a very long time I was absolutely terrified of being sad or feeling negative emotions. I chased and chased after feeling happy again and of course, on many occasions, lied to myself about it.

[Hernan Chillie Caro]

you're*



[conman2317]

Hello, atheism is lack of belief in deity, it doesn't say anything about what the atheist believes.

Presumably you do not believe in fairies, or unicorns, or Zeus, or Allah,

Does that give me the right to say that since you lack a belief in those things, therefore you believe A, B, or C????

You cannot characterize an atheist in that respect.

Religion on the other hand, says that a particular belief is held, it is up to the Theist to provide justification and evidence.