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Saturday, March 24, 2007

Love that Bob!

Last night, ABC News Nightline attempted to tackle The Secret. Since Secret creator Rhonda Byrne is apparently interview-shy right now (goodness, I hope she’s not too brokenhearted over the disappointment about Tilak)*, Bob Proctor graciously agreed to sit down and talk to Cynthia McFadden about the criticisms leveled against The Secret and the Law of Attraction.

As you probably know, Bob, who is identified as a "philosopher" in The Secret, was one of the Three Amigos at the helm of that now-infamous $1,995 MLM briefcase scheme, The Science of Getting Rich. When I clicked on the web site just now, however, there only seemed to be Two Amigos; missing in action is the Reverend Beckwith. I certainly hope the guys didn’t have a fight or something. I don’t see why they would; after all, the Universe is a fount of endless riches, and there’s enough for everyone!

In fact I was all prepared to fork over $1,995 to get in on the briefcase scheme myself,** but alas, the SGR site seems to be closed down for the moment, with this explanation: "We had what is termed a ‘soft launch’ for this SGR program and we gathered a tremendous amount of feedback; data and information that is going to improve the program for everyone involved. In order to implement these changes, we have shut down all of the sites down for the next 24 to 48 hours to do the work that is necessary."

I'm thinking that at least some of that work would involve satisfying the demands of attorneys for Rhonda and gang's company, TS Productions, LLC. Just a wild guess. In the New-Wage world it always pays to read between the lines – you almost have to – and I'm thinking that "soft launch" is internet hustledork-speak for "Oops!"

But never mind that. Let’s focus for the moment on Bob Proctor, who has met the criticisms against The Secret head on and has come out on top.

"I find it amusing that anybody would criticize it," he told Cynthia McFadden. "Do you know, it's always been around? The law of attraction is always working. That's like saying the sun's not shining. The sun's always shining. You may not see it, but it's always shining. The law of attraction is always working." He went on to explain LOA to Cynthia, and gave an illuminating example:
CYNTHIA McFADDEN
And the law of attraction is…
BOB PROCTOR
Well, the law of attraction is based on a law of vibration. You’re, you’re a mass of energy on a high speed of vibration. And the vibration you’re in is controlled by the images that are in your mind, that are fixed in your mind or the thoughts that you’re thinking. And the controls the vibration you’re in. That dictates what you’re going to do. It also dictates what you attract to you. You’re not going to attract something to you that you’re not in harmony with.
CYNTHIA McFADDEN
Now, do you mean literally attract?
BOB PROCTOR
Absolutely, just like a magnet. You felt – well –
CYNTHIA McFADDEN
[OVERLAP] But I thought, I thought magnets attracted their opposite.
BOB PROCTOR
Well, magnets complete a chain.
CYNTHIA McFADDEN
Okay.
BOB PROCTOR
It, it keeps a circle going. And, but if a person is very positive they’re not going to feel comfortable around people that are very negative, are they? They’re going to be repelled from them. They’re going to be attracted to other people who are very positive. Like attracts like. You’ll find poor people all living in the same neighborhood. You’ll find wealthy people all live in the same neighborhood. They’re attracted to situations.
CYNTHIA McFADDEN
Yeah, but poor people can’t afford to live in the wealthy neighborhoods and the wealthy don’t want to live in the poor neighborhoods.
BOB PROCTOR
[OVERLAP] Well, that, that’s, that’s the obvious answer but that isn’t the real answer. You’re going to find that almost all people in poor neighborhoods are fourth, fifth generation welfare recipients. And that is because this thinking has been passed along in the genes. It’s a genetic conditioning. It’s not only genetic. It’s environmental. When you arrive on the scene why do you think you look so much like your relatives? Do you think it’s an accident? It’s all programming. It’s genetic programming...
Well, I don’t know about you, but that clears a lot up for me! Now I know why there are so many poor people on welfare. It’s not just environmental; it is also in their genes!

In researching Nightline story, ABC spoke to several experts on medicine, physics, finance and religion. One of the medical experts was Dr. Richard Wender, president of the American Cancer Society, who was concerned about the implication that we can create disease or heal ourselves with our thoughts. He told Cynthia, "I want to be very clear that there is no evidence that people attract cancer by their thoughts." When Cynthia confronted Bob with Dr. Wender's remark, he declared that the doctor was "not well informed in this area."

You tell 'em, Doctor Bob!

To address those burning quantum questions, Nightline went to Brian Greene, Ph.D. a renowned physicist at Columbia University. Dr. Greene said, "If by law of attraction, they have this notion of having a thought and it attracts like thoughts, I can assure you that quantum mechanics has nothing to say about that." He also added that even though he’d never met Plato, Edison, Galileo or Einstein, "I have zero evidence that any of them would’ve held on to any fundamental secret about the world and not shared it." When Cynthia mentioned all this to Bob, he answered that having a doctorate*** doesn’t necessarily make a person knowledgeable about these matters.
Knock ’em dead, Scientist Bob!

I could go on and on, but I’d rather let Bob speak for himself. Only a small snippet of the lengthy interview made the cut for the Nightline segment. (And, to be fair, Bob did say that he personally would not recommend that people who have cancer refuse medical treatment. Yet when Cynthia confronted him with the point that The Secret appears to be telling folks to eschew medicine, he insisted that anyone who got that message from The Secret was misunderstanding it.) Anyway, for a complete transcript of the interview click here.****

* OK, she's probably over the heartbreak by now. Bob Proctor speculated she's probably just a little overwhelmed by all of the negativity that now surrounds The Secret. Shame on us critics!
**Not really. Do you really think I am that stoopid? Wait, don't answer that.
***He could have qualified that and said, "Even if it’s a real doctorate, like Brian Greene’s."
****Note: It is a 107-page PDF file, so it may take a little while to load.

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31 comments:

  1. Hi, Connie!

    Wow! What a complete and utter idiot. A buffoon. I've never read such ass-hattery as I did when I read Kneelandbob's answers. Just because one has a Doctorate doesn't mean he knows what he's talking about? Man, if this 'tard wasn't serious, I'd find it more funny; but he IS serious, and that makes it scary. Terrifying actually. And he calls himself a philosopher? He says he knows that quantum physics proves his absurd notions, yet he's never heard of Dr. Greene?

    What this interview proves is that Kneelandbob, while he may be an energetic and spry 73 year old, is also showing some serious signs of Alzheimer's. I mean, let's thank the stars that he has an assistant lest he forget his pants one day.

    Have fun ... Tony.

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  2. "if a person is very positive they’re not going to feel comfortable around people that are very negative, are they? They’re going to be repelled from them."

    Thankfully, the wonderful folks who work in shelters and other non-profit charitable organizations must not adhere to the LOA doctrine. Both Buddha and Jesus taught compassion, not avoidance. Are we to assume that the Secret's promoters feel they're more in tune with the laws of the Universe than the role models for every major spiritual ideology? I personally think that calling Proctor and his ilk arrogant would be giving them too much benefit of the doubt.

    Now... I have no more time for this... damn deadlines! :-)

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  3. LOL, Sean. I think Bob and the whole "Secret" gang are "out to launch!" :-)

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  4. LOL, and hi right back at ya, Tony! (Blogger was acting funny; I actually received Sean's comment before I received yours, even though yours was sent first.)

    ANYWAY... to me, Bob doesn't sound any more wacky than the much younger Secretrons so I don't think we can blame Alzheimer's.

    On the plus side, I love Bob's Canadian accent. I just love what Canadians do with the letter "o."

    But that's about the only supportive thing I can say about Bob.

    Thanks for writing, and thanks for your continued support!

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  5. I agree with everything you said, Ron, including the deadlines... so it's back to work for me too. :-)

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  6. Connie,

    When Bob Proctor said that having a doctorate doesn’t necessarily make a person knowledgeable about these matters, maybe he was basing that statement on his personal experience with one of his colleagues in The Secret.

    If so, I can see how he might make such an assumption. After all, as we both know, not all doctorate degrees are created equal.

    Know what I mean, Vern?

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  7. Yup, "Ernest," I know exactly what you mean! ;) I'm still trying to decide which doctorates (witch doctorates?) to buy, but I guess I need to buy some master's degrees first. But I know where to go to get 'em!

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  8. Don't worry, I'll just wear a hazmat suit. Or I'll just focus on not getting &%#-ed. :-)

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  9. While it appears many of those in The Secret are distancing themselves from the more bizzare claims made in the movie, Joe Vitale is poised to take a giant step in the opposite direction with his Ho’oponopono system.

    It'll be interesting to see if the public can stomach any more "miracles" after they're done gorging on The Secret.

    But then, if someone adds enough colored sprinkles and whipped topping to the message, I suppose the public willl always make room for dessert.

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  10. Connie,
    I believe it is Tilak that is heart broke. Ronda has gone into hiding because every time she opened her mouth more of the real secret came out in the form of pure bull*(&@.
    She shafted the real teachers of Law of Attraction (Ester and Jerry Hicks) and now she is cowering in fear of what is being attracted to her. Hey maybe it (LOA) does work?!
    I do give her credit for pulling the rug out from under Tilak. She has exposed him as a money hungry, angry, buffoon. The repercussions look devastating.

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  11. Blair Warren said...
    "While it appears many of those in The Secret are distancing themselves from the more bizzare claims made in the movie, Joe Vitale is poised to take a giant step in the opposite direction with his Ho’oponopono system."

    Yep, that's what it looks like to me too, Blair. And now you've gone and done it. That SONG is going in my head again... you know, the one to the tune of Mele Kalkikimaka...

    Thanks a lot! :-)

    I think you're right about the dessert analogy. Even if the people have to do a little purging, they'll be ready to binge again before we know it!

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  12. Oops, Blair, I meant, "Mele Kalikimaka." I misspell that song title as often as I do "Ho'oponopono."

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  13. Anon, you're probably right. And actually, I was kind of rooting for Rhonda in this affair, if for no other reason than that she doesn't have the long history of abusing others that Tilak does.

    She is, however, earnestly engaged in building up her own notorious history. Whether one believes in the veracity of channeling or not (I don't), Rhonda did use Esther and Jerry and then spit 'em out. So no telling what she's "attracting" to herself. It could be that that coveted number-one spot on the bestseller lists carries with a pretty big price.

    Regarding Tilak, one wonders how much damage he left behind in the LOA community. According to Marcy From Maui, Joe Sugarman was the one who brought Tilak to Maui and got a lot of the LOA-ers all excited about him. If you go on Marcy's Powerful Intentions forum and type in "Tilak," you'll see at least ten active members who have listed Tilak as one of their "connections." Maybe they'd all better go back and edit their profiles.

    Thanks for writing, Anon (and don't hesitate to keep me posted about the latest on Tilak)!

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  14. Hi Connie,

    I am so sorry I missed last night's show. Sounds like Bob made an ass out of himself and The Secret.

    What a surprise...

    These yo yo's are starting to cook in their own oil.

    I read your other post too about the once three, but now two amigos.

    Gee, I wonder if the negative flak they've been getting lately had anything to do with Beckwith no longer being associated with SGR?

    It should be obvious to anyone with half a brain that The Secret is a big, fat farce.

    I'm certain we'll see more unraveling in the days ahead.

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  15. Hi, Calista! Tony M. just sent me a good link to a blog that might give a little bit more insight into Beckwith's absence. I added it at the bottom of my most recent post, "Jack and Bob...the show must go on." Could it be that the Rev. Beckwith has some integrity? Or is it just that ol' time religious guilt at work?

    In either case, I think the unraveling has just begun!

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  16. Hi Connie!
    I love your site! Thanks for continue to share the truth about THE SECRET.
    By the way, I can't wait until more folks go after James Ray and expose him for being the Tony Robbins wannabe that he is.
    Of all THE SECRET teachers, his program is by far the most money grubbing. I did the math and if you engage in his entire "program," you'll be out $60,000 in less than a year! It's pitiful! He's such a scam artist who claims to run a multi-million dollar company. But how come when you call him, there's no one to answer the phone live and it takes weeks for people to get back to you.
    I also got a copy of a contract you have to sign before you go to one of his "weekend events" and basically if you read the fine print, you cannot EVER take legal action against him as you give up all your rights to attend the workshop. Isn't that special...

    I can't wait for the many middle-aged women who got sucked into this because of OPRAH...they will force her to retract her endorsement and you know what happens when you TRY to make OPRAH look bad...you get spanked on television, right Mr. Frey!
    I can't wait for the GREAT COME UPPANCE!!!!

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  17. Thanks for the support and for the additional insight, Jim. For a while it seemed that every time I turned on my TV, James Ray was on some show representing "The Secret." I guess that's because he's one of the most photogenic of the bunch. He does have such a camera-friendly little smirk, doesn't he? I really didn't realize he had such an expensive scam going... but then again, I guess I'm not surprised! Thanks again.

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  18. "Of all THE SECRET teachers, his program is by far the most money grubbing. I did the math and if you engage in his entire "program," you'll be out $60,000 in less than a year!"

    Jim, this is interesting. What exactly is he charging so much money for? I mean, what justifies, in his mind, such high fees? This kind of stuff curdles in my stomach.

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  19. Good question, Moi. Jim, give us details if you have 'em. Thanks!

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  20. Hi, Connie

    I've been AWOL from this subject for a week or so - great to catch up on the latest events. Definitely looks like it's hit the fan.

    Keep up the good work.

    Blessings 'n' stuff.

    Bob

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  21. Thanks, Bob, and it's good to see you here! Yes, it's hitting the fan now, and unfortunately it's hitting the fans of The Secret pretty hard too. Some of them are desperately trying to keep the faith; many are in various stages of disillusionment and disappointment. It's not a fun place to be.

    Not that their disillusionment is really cutting significantly into the bottom line of The Secret franchise. The money's still flowing. Disillusioned Secret fans are just collateral damage.

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  22. Hi Connie,

    Great site you have.

    They have completely missed the boat on the secret and left out valuable parts to manifesting.

    Proctor has also mislead people in many ways with his get rich quick scheme.

    Though I won't get into that part.
    The secret itself, the movie has also left out important parts to manifesting.

    Keep up the great work.

    Cheers, Jordan genesismine@gmail.com

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  23. Thanks, Jordan! "The Secret" apparently did leave out a few important things. Now the promoters are backpedaling and saying that the DVD didn't cover THE Secret; it just covered *A* Secret. Which leaves the market wide open for The Sequel, of course. :-)

    I appreciate your support, and hope you'll keep coming back.

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  24. Lost credibility!!! Never get it back Bob, Jack and the Rev! $1995 for more info and tools for the info junkies. Just like Dr.Phil who has a shelf or two at my bookstore, Dr. Wayne Dyer who supposedly had a public indiscretion years ago, I will not buy their books ever again because they are so blatantly in it for the money. I am so disappointed that the Secret (loved the movie though) has become a pig trough for these affiliate marketers. I won't buy into the next episode if these greedy pigs are in it!

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  25. Thank you for your comments, Ryan. The thing that turned me off about "The Secret" from the beginning was that it seemed to be so blatantly about making big bucks for its producers and stars. The finer points of the message (e.g., gratitude, positive thinking, etc.) were eclipsed by the big egos of the hustledorks. (It also didn't help that LOA was touted as a scientific "law" on the order of the law of gravity.)

    Knowing the background of several of "The Secret" stars, I wasn't surprised to see the flood of MLM schemes, affiliate programs and other means of exploitation that rose in the wake of the DVD and book. Nevertheless I feel sympathy for the fans who were truly moved by the message of "The Secret," only to be hit in the face by the flagrant greed of some of the DVD's stars.

    At least Michael Beckwith (apparently) backed out of the big MLM deal with Proctor and Canfield... but that may have been because he was "guilted" out of it by some of his congregation.

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  26. Did you all see the David Schirmer interview on A Current Affair in Australia? Food for thought...

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  27. Thanks, Anon. I saw the segment... very revealing in more ways than one. I realize that if your Internet searches brought you to this post first, you probably haven't had time to make your way around the entire blog, but I wrote about the Schirmer affair in a couple of the more recent posts. And I'm getting ready to write about it again as "the plot thickens."

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  28. A Wonderful Life! Coach Weblog
    Blogging about life coaching and living A Wonderful Life! Well is the Secret True?
    December 16, 2007 at 5:48 pm · Filed under Essential Texts, Self-improvement, book review, life coaching and tagged: book review, books, Law of Attraction, life coaching, Self-Empowerment, Self-improvement, The Secret



    That is the question isn’t it? Sure there are skeptics, aren’t they all skeptics? Unfortunately, that’s the problem, people tend to listen to them.We tend to allow the negativity and pessimism of others to seep into our subconscious. So much so, that we are unable to imagine something wonderful entering our lives even if it walked right through our front door. That’s how I view The Secret. If you were unaware of it, and someone revealed it to you through the book or DVD, it could feel as if something wonderful just walked right through your door. In fact, you may feel an insurmountable strength and joy once you know The Secret. You may realize that the world is yours. You may feel empowered to conquer some of the road blocks in your life.You may literally feel healthier mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.On the other hand, you may not feel a thing. You may not believe in The Secret at all. Maybe it’s all a farce, tricking innocent victims into thinking that their doctors and modern medicine are not the cure for their illness. That this illusory theory is the answer for their cancer or whatever ails them. Instead of working to earn a living, believers are bamboozled into thinking they can merely attract the wealth they need with positive thoughts. Maybe the thought of that alone, bothers you. I have seen articles discrediting The Secret using those exact arguments. There concern is that it is leading people down a path that may prove unhealthy or harmful to them.If these are the two prevailing opinions and reactions to The Secret, where is the middle ground? Is there a middle ground? Or is it an “all or nothing” situation. Is it that you are a true believer or a skeptic?I liken the responses to The Secret to how people perceive life. There are some who see life as an opportunity and are energized by the thought of it.

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  29. And some are perpetual skeptics that wouldn’t know a great chance if it hit them in the head.So when one asks whether The Secret is true, unfortunately, all that I may offer you is that it is whatever you choose for it to be. For me, it is true. I have seen many instances in my life where I have attracted positive or negative events or people to me with my thoughts and words as the Law Attraction in The Secret indicates may occur.I have set out to accomplish things that I put my thoughts on. A specific example occurred this past summer when my basketball team the Phoenix Mercury won the 2007 WNBA Championship. I had set my mind on accomplishing this task, in this season, with this group. I spoke of winning a Championship. I had done it before in 2005 with the Sacramento Monarchs using the same methods. I convinced them of the reality of such a possibility. I spoke of ‘winning it all’ as if it were the only goal we should have. I thought and spoke of it so much that others on my team began to hear me. They began to think winning thoughts, speak winning words, and act as winners also. In the end, we had attracted a World Championship. It was great! And I believe in my heart that we created it together. And that we have the ability to continue to attract such success again.Now the skeptic would say that winning was a function of luck and having a really good team. I would agree. But, I would argue that I define luck and a really good team in ways that are far more definitive than the way in which you are using them. I am stating that I was always told that luck is when preparation meets opportunity. And we were prepared for the opportunity because where some see obstacles, others see opportunities. We saw only opportunities. We also committed to each other because we understood that this is the only method by which a group becomes one and therefore is capable of accomplishing goals in the face of insurmountable odds. So what made us good, in essence was this commitment. That was stronger than all the skills, 3’s, rebounds, assists, or any other stats, could ever offer. So I think we knew the secret. And that was our secret, and we will continue to believe in its power, even if that belief is only by default, due to the massive evidence towards it.If you believe in the potentiality in all of us to attract that which we desire, just as I do, then “May the force be with you!” Tags: the secret, law of attraction, self-improvement, life coaching, success, phoenix mercury, 2007 WNBA Championship, WNBA

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  30. Anon, thanks for copying and pasting someone's more-than-two-year-old blog post on my blog. I'm sure it added a lot to the conversation and made both "The Secret" AND "Scientist Bob" much more credible. (I'm sorry; that was sarcasm. I'm in one of those moods today.)

    I suppose congratulations are in order to the Phoenix Mercury on that 2007 championship thing, though apparently they didn't do so well the following year. Then they nailed it again in 2009. So, were they not applying The Secret in 2008?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Mercury

    At any rate, I'm sure that someone like Steve Salerno over at SHAMblog would have something to say about the role of "winning thoughts," "winning words," etc. in a sports victory.

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  31. Someone should turn this scam artist into the IRS. I am certain his creative ways generated tremendous wealth that has never been properly reported to the Internal Revenue Service.
    Anyone with quantifiable information could claim a 10% finders fee. The finders fee would no doubt be at least a million dollars.

    Be positive and claim your prize!

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