tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post5180143025946999151..comments2024-01-26T10:20:37.836+00:00Comments on Diary of a Goldfish: The Cult of Self-ImprovementThe Goldfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15213378454070776331noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-50507928215758791152014-01-25T17:21:37.257+00:002014-01-25T17:21:37.257+00:00PS That relates to a post I did for the F-Word her...PS That relates to a post I did for the F-Word here: <a href="http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2013/10/sex_tips_deepen" rel="nofollow">Sex tips: Deepening the Divide</a> - I honestly suspect that a lot of sex and relationship advice is designed to make these subjects more mysterious, to make men and women seem almost completely incompatible, so that people won't talk to one another and there'll always be a market for this advice. The same goes for many areas of self-help.The Goldfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15213378454070776331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-13422960833262399352014-01-25T17:18:30.149+00:002014-01-25T17:18:30.149+00:00Thanks for your comment, oh unknowingly wise one. ...Thanks for your comment, oh unknowingly wise one. ;-)<br /><br />I know not all self-help is bunkum - there's of course a massive spectrum of material which could be classed as self-help including philosophical or spiritual texts, informative and educational materials on psychology or health, as well as the "Find Love, Wealth and Personal Happiness in 3 Easy Steps" type advice. But I do have a great loathing for the latter kind, which I really do think give vulnerable people more problems and pressure in order to keep them coming back for the CD and the seminar and the set of healing cutlery... The Goldfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15213378454070776331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-80728416554554693722014-01-25T00:22:20.479+00:002014-01-25T00:22:20.479+00:00Aw, thank you! Agree to disagree about how good I ...Aw, thank you! Agree to disagree about how good I am at life, but I'll take "unknowingly wise" ;) <br /><br />I have mixed feelings about self-help, I guess, in that I don't think it's universally unhelpful. But I do think the worst thing about a lot of new year recommendations is how nothing can be leisure and fun but has to be about being productive — I've written before (and might do so again) about how the "bucket list" phenomenon favours having experiences and ticking them off over actually, like... enjoying yourself. Dianehttp://nohumiliationwasted.com/noreply@blogger.com