RSA Animate - Smile or Die

Great animation...
In a nutshell, Overly pessimistic or overly optimistic doesn't work realistic is the way to be. I don't agree entirely, I would say that the ideal approach to life is to be realistically optimistic. In this way you are not deluding yourself about what's really going on and you are still fun to be around.
In the book the author is fiercely critical and takes a rather ad hominem approach to Seligman's work on Positive Psychology and it is rather anecdotal. Little evidence is offered in support of the authors arguments and I think there is a great deal of misunderstanding of Seligman's work which is grounded in research. If this subject interests you I would take a look at Learned optimism to hear the other side of the argument.

Although not stated in the animation I think the take away could be positive thinking and smiling aren't targeted enough to realistically solve anything. It might be better to think about a bad turn of events more specifically with humor and satire. Humor and satire are the collision of incongruent thoughts. We laugh when we relinquish the tension set up by this incongruity. What remains is relief with insight and the energy to push towards are more reasonable solution. When a cartoonist or a comedian can craft a joke or metaphor about something it shows both a careful look at the many facets of a problem plus it is infused with a energy to move forward.

This storytelling approach is very innovative. I think opposing viewpoints would have a very hard time getting anyone of comparable innovative talent to do an opposing stop animation scribe because Truth and McTruth are magnetic opposites. Just look at the cheezy corporate graphics on conservative news versus so called progressive or liberal sources. Dedicated artists and or innovators are hunter-gatherers, not brainwashed over-consuming, corn-fed domesticated cows.

I completely agree with Barbara - its cruel to expect a 'happy, happy, happy' all the time and quite bizarre in so many areas of modern life - when I see the forced smiling-through-suffering in everything from hyping cheerful animals-with-disability to porn to political losers, it stinks of social coercion and brainwashing. Like, "You won't fit if you aren't this way."
As the Buddha said 'Life is suffering'; I think the first step to living it is to acknowledge that fact.
I don't think we can be cheerful through everything unless we're high all the time on drugs or alcohol. Maybe the positive ideologists are unconsciously pushing those addictions along with their philosophy.

(Love the animation though - awesome work!)

I agree she is missing the point of positive thinking. She ends with professing our collective power and yet how could we all come together to express that collective power if we do not learn how to express that power for ourselves first. Much like the airlines ask you to put thew oxygen on yourself prior to helping others, the human race must learn how to empower themselves and then we will be in a position to help other. In addition comparing the positive thinking movement with socialism is just plain silly. I find this video divisive and trying to push a point that serves no one. If we are truly going to create a world that works for everyone we must begin by thinking such a world can exist and that will only happen when we all think positively. The positive thinking movement is not about smile and get over it, rather it is change your thinking and you will change your life, not in a flash but over time, and we do not teach "Get over it" but rather get on with life in a new, uplifting, positive way. My 2 cents. peace and Blessings because "Life is GOOD" All the time.