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Bet Larry King Didn’t Ask Him . . .
It really was a simple question and as such, it should have been afforded a simple answer.
Instead, “Mr. Fire” burned me to distract from his (yet) unproven and (probably) false claim. So to help instant karma fulfill its destiny, I sent the question he dodged to Larry King for their interview. But more on that in a moment.
And I’m having a bit of a hard time with it because I used to have a lot of respect for self-proclaimed marketer/metaphysician Joe Vitale. Well, actually I respected his marketing acumen more than his woo-woo stuff. But when I asked him a perfectly reasonable question, not only did he dodge it, he slammed me for it in the process.
Wonder why?
Here’s what happened.
In response to Vitale’s frankly incredible claim that the movie he’s promoting (”The Secret”) inspired a study that “proved” (his words, not mine) that by watching “the movie just 7 times, that your brain would be transformed. Just seven times and The Secret is part of your life forever.”
No, seriously. He made that claim. Publicly. On his blog. And he claimed a “study” proved it. Don’t believe me? Read it below for yourself.
As a safety measure against revisionism and for your convenience, I’ve copied his post, my question and his response into the body of this post.
Now, never mind just how any scientist or credible researcher could “prove” transformation in the brain. Heck, I’d just like to see them quantify “transformed.” And furthermore I’d like to see the data that documents the tipping point from viewing #6 where there’s no transformation to viewing #7 — instant transformation!
But hey, maybe I’m just a dumb “left-brain” and don’t know any better.
So I asked him to source the study. That’s reasonable, right? If someone makes a big claim and then states that someone has done a study that supports that claim, we should fully expect him to produce it, right?
In fact, it was bad form to not source it when he claimed it.
But I suspect, given the tenor of the other comments on his blog, that our Friendly Neighborhood “Mr. Fire” is unused to the tough questions.
So he’s going to be on Larry King soon and he’s telling the world about it (and he should, I’m happy for him that he got the national acclaim. Really, I am). And just to help Larry a bit, I sent the question “Mr. Fire” dodged to Larry.
So what do you think the chances are that the King Of Softball Interviews will ask “Mr. Fired” that question?
Yeah, bet you’re right. Historically, if you’re a public figure and you want a platform to spew all sorts of nonsense from, Larry will let you do it — unchallenged.
In chronological order, here is “Mr. Fire’s” original claim, my question and his dodge-and-dance response.
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Monday, September 11, 2006
7 x The Secret
Last night we had an inspiring dinner with Rhonda Byrne, the woman who created the hit movie The Secret www.thesecret.tv
She’s hiding to get some rest, just like me. As it turns out, we discovered we were on the same island at the same time. We quickly set up a time to visit.
The evening was magical. Rhonda told me one person watched The Secret 200 times in 2 weeks.
She also said that a recent study proved if you watch the movie just 7 times, that your brain would be transformed. Just seven times and The Secret is part of your life forever.
The evening was rich with insights. Nerissa caught some of them on video, which we’ll post later.
If you haven’t seen the movie yet, get over to www.thesecret.tv
Ao Akua
Joe
www.mrfire.comPS - We’re headed out to shop for an island property. Magic lives. What’s your dream? The Secret can manifest it for you.
** Sent via Wireless E-Mail with Blackberry **
(I could be anywhere)
Source: Beyond Marketing: September 2006
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Here’s my VERY reasonable request in the Comments section:
Joe,
I’d certainly like to see the source of that study. Could you cite it?
Seems to be a tremendously-wasted opportunity to just mention it!
Think of how much more popular The Secret could be if there were documented proof that viewing it repeated changed the mind.
How ’bout it, Joe?
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And last but not least, ”Mr. Fire’s” tap dance and totally uncalled for slam:
As soon as I get details on the study, I’ll share them.
But details are for left brains. The idea is to get into your heart and TRUST.
Watch the movie.
Seven times.
See what happens.
Joe
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And yes Joe, we all noticed how you avoided the question while impugning me in the process. Nice. I guess the “get into your heart” bit goes out the window pretty damned quick when you want to duck the question.
But I gotta tell ya, I was a bit saddened by the cheap ploy of ’suspend all thinking for yourself and just let your emotions run you.’ That’s one of the oldest tricks in the book, to disparage the way someone thinks when they ask you a question you won’t or can’t answer.
No, the key step in critical thinking is that incredible claims require equally incredible proof to back them up. As of this writing, over two months have passed and no further details on the “study” have appeared.
“Details” are for people to accurately assess the validity of a claim, rather just getting taken by the latest snake-oil salesman running through town. And didn’t Hans & Franz urge us to “”Hear me now and believe me later …”?
This insistence on our willing suspension of disbelief sure sounds like something they would say.
Now I’m not saying Vitale is a snake-oil salesman, though I am saying his handling of this matter from claim to dodge has all the hallmarks of a “fast one.”
And that “get into your heart and TRUST” riff? That’s best done after we have assessed whether there’s validity to the claim or not.
And that can’t be done until you produce the “study,” Joe.
How ’bout it?
By Walter |
Topics: Here's Your Sign, Pet Peeves, Pro Analysis |
November 17th, 2006 at 1:08 am
This interchange with “Mr. Fire” reminds me of the TV “faith healers” who diminish their failures with statements such as, “Well, you know, if you had enough faith, you’d have been healed.”
I actually like the message of “the Secret” and would welcome a documented study proving just how it works and why. My experience is that the Law of Attraction appears to work, that one does create his own reality and “get what one expects.”
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Walter writes:
Just for the record, I have nothing against “The Secret.” What I object to is playing fast and loose with the facts, if not the outright fabrication of alleged “proof.”
I think the scientific community is a decade or two from a documented study of how the Law Of Attraction works. Right now I’d just settle for getting to the bottom of Vitale’s elusive snipe hunt.