Everybody’s trying out this “positive psychology” thing. Basically, positive psychology is the attempt to change self-defeating, negative thoughts, like, “I hate myself because my thighs touch and hers don’t” into more positive ones like, “My thighs might touch, but my calves sure do look hot in heels…and I bet she’s anorexic anyway.” Or whatever.

Well, somebody thinks we’re doin ‘ it all wrong.

According to Canadian researchers, “just thinking positive” can actually have the opposite effect. It can make people realize just how miserable they truly are.

The study started by highlighting old research that if people get feedback they believe is overly positive, they just feel like more sh*t than they did originally. Like when my boyf grabs at my tummy fat and a minute later tries to tell me that I have “such a nice stomach.” You better believe that as soon as that boy is out the door, I’m gorging my face with Peanut Butter Passion ice cream in shame.

The article in TIME, which reported this research, states that, “If you tell your dim friend he has the potential of an Einstein, you’re just underlying his faults.” And no matter how dumb that person is, he knows it, you jerk.

So, what do the Canadians suggest we do? Accept our shortcomings, obvi. Embrace that extra pudge! Celebrate your low IQ! Know your faults and live with them. Fighting off those negative feelings will lead to failure and make things worse. But knowing what you’re dealing with – and being realistic – will make you feel a whole lot better.

Um, so we should be HONEST with ourselves and others? Who woulda thunk?

But hey, I’ll take any excuse to be a cynic.

[Photo source: craigharper.com ]

Well, someone wants to put a stop to all the preaching.

Coolest Girl in School, a “mobile phone based game” (a term which makes me feel old, since I have no idea what it is) is about to debut in Australia, and parents are pissed.

“Game developer and producer” Holly Owen, the (no) brains behind this new game, says that the point behind Coolest Girl is to “”lie, bitch and flirt your way to the top of the high school ladder“, a description that makes me think Owen has “cool” confused with “total asshole”.

“It’s not about glorifying bad things, it’s about giving young girls the opportunity to play around with high school.” Owen says about her horrible idea, going on to muse “It’s a pretty ironic game because things that might seem obviously cool like taking drugs and smoking might work against you because you have to go to rehab or have stinky breath when the captain of the football team comes to speak to you.”

Right. So in Owen’s world, it’s not cancer that should dissuade you from smoking, it’s the chance the captain of the football team might think your breath stinks.

What fantastic morals.

Besides opting to smoke or not to smoke, players in Coolest Girl “must choose whether to experiment with drugs, alcohol…skip school, spread rumours, [sic] bully and even fall pregnant in their effort to win the game.”

Now, I may not be anyone’s mom, but I’m appalled. What kind of crack addict idiot thinks teenage girls need any more glorification of negativity in their lives? Holly Owen must have had one boring high school experience—why else would she think getting pregnant and experimenting with drugs is just fun and games?