Steve Pavlina advocates being a total jerk...

[Viridian]

...in the name of "raising awareness".

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/03/bear-bombing/

I'm beginning to wonder why I ever admired him.

[Phil Steinmeyer]

Wow, and this guy is an expert on personal development?

[PoV]

Funny, it looks like he's expanding in to humor.

[Savant]

Yeah, wake those bears up! Because anyone not living life the same way you are is obviously asleep at the wheel.

[Bmc]

I predict 1 wifeless Pavlina if he keeps that up ;)

[AnthemAudio]

I have no idea what he's trying to say. Is he some kind of self help guy?

I don't know about bear bombing, but I do like to surprise people in bathrooms by throwing a frightened cat on their laps. Just for fun...and I'm a jerk.

[Viridian]

Yeah, wake those bears up! Because anyone not living life the same way you are is obviously asleep at the wheel.

While I understand the need for self-improvement, for some people it seems to become the reason they exist, and it looks like Steve has fallen into that trap. That seems kind of silly to me, like continually repairing and sharpening your tools but never using them to actually build anything.

[Savant]

I think you can do whatever you want to yourself but once you start disturbing other people during your quest for enlightenment you need a reality check.

[cyodine]

I figure bear bombers need to be bear bombed themselves to snap them out of their a-hole mentalities.

[electronicStar]

I can imagine this will finish with a rabid crazy Pavlina holed-up in his suburban house with his wife and kids held hostage,then shot dead by a swat team.
Thanks Polyphasic sleep (and reading too much of that motivational crap : the guy basically thinks he is a superior eagle and the rest of the world should be harassed because they are untermeschen bears :mad: )

[Ricardo C]

Next stop: Steve Pavlina: Televangelist.

He could be a suitable replacement for Gene Scott.

[GBGames]

While I can understand the basic idea, that we can be asleep at the wheel and should raise our awareness, I think his methods need work. Weekly comments like the ones he suggests would be called harrassment, not encouragement. Those bear bombs are just short of calling someone names and hoping that it will make them change for the better. Maybe they can be effective, but I know that there are better ways.

I am not going to call you fat or stupid and expect you to take it constructively. When someone is living with a low awareness, the last thing they need is a reason to get defensive about their lifestyle. You want them to analyze themselves and their own situation, not focus on fighting your attacks off.

Steve likes to be honest, which is fine, and he likes to be blunt, which is fine. Still, there is a difference between being a jerk and being honest. It can be a great feeling when you raise someone's awareness of their life. How great can it possibly be to make someone feel belittled or insulted? A lot of people think that they don't have a choice, such as with weight, or love, or smoking, or whatever. When you can get a person to realize that they can take responsibility, that they have a choice to make things better, they can be surprisingly creative with solutions and motivation.

It's isn't unheard of for people to "hear" what you didn't say. They like to read between the lines and feel sorry for themselves. Insinuating that a person is fat by saying that they've never heard of a gym or exercise? How successful can that bear bomb be? I imagine most people will get defensive and withdraw into themselves. Congratulations. You've just made an enemy, no matter how noble your purpose.

On the off-chance that they do start thinking about their situation, how many will decide to ask "How can I do better?" rather than "Why me?"

People have a tough enough time dealing with bombs like, "I love you" or "Can't we be more creative?" that we don't need to be jerks. That isn't hitting them with a brick to knock some sense into them. That's burrying them in concrete.

[Ricardo C]

The problem is that he's designated himself as judge of who's "awake" and who's "asleep". Which is another way of being "asleep": So consumed by fanaticism that you can't conceive of other worldviews.

[AnthemAudio]

Sorry...who is this guy again?

[Savant]

Some simple searching would reveal the mystery for you. Take some initiative.

[Andy]

Sorry...who is this guy again?

Love you bud!!! This says really A LOT...

[Savant]

Not really. He has 54 posts. I'm guessing Steve P is way before his time.

[Phil Steinmeyer]

Pavlina is sort of one of the originators of the concept of indie-development of casual games.

Years ago he had a successful business making small casual games and selling them from his website (free demo, aggressive in-game upsell). He was successful. He also ran popular forums that were the precursor to these forums.

Two or three years ago, he slowed and then stopped making games (though I believe he still sells the old ones), and switched to his current 'personal growth' thing.

[AnthemAudio]

I just thought we were having a discussion here. I just asked a question, albeit smarmy.

My laziness in discovering who he is stems from my prejudicial review of him and the ONE blog I read of his. I just wasn't interested in finding out more about him except maybe through people here, who seem to know him.

I know of a fair amount of motivational speakers and self help/empowerment people, is there any reason why I should know this one above others?

So I thought I'd ask the people here, who within the 54 posts of mine so far I have placed some trust, and since the topic is up, I'll rephrase...

Does anyone mind filling me in some more personal observations about him, why he means much to those here, and why this particular blog is such a departure from those who to some degree are his fans?

55 posts!

*edit* Thanks Phil!

[Nexic]

Hes definitely an elitist ass now, oh well.

[BantamCityGames]

Very strange... I never realized Steve had a twisted, sadistical side... it doesn't really mesh well with his current image.

[papillon]

This is what lack of sleep and eating only fruit does to your brain! :)

[Jim Buck]

Wow, am I the only one that saw this for what it is - a joke? He's made similar postings in the past, and I believe even explicitly said he was joking in one of them. He is about to do a standup comic show, so this could very well be some of the material.

[mahlzeit]

He certainly struck a nerve. ;) I think Steve saw the Seth Godin video too. :)

[illume]

"Hey Steve. Have you heard of this funny thing called sleep? We figure that your sanity will increase by a factor of 10 if you try it out. Get some sleep because you are going insane."

[soniCron]

On the other hand, nobody seems to think twice about telling you, "Smoking's bad. You know it's gonna kill you?" So why should this behavior stop with other, euqally dangerous behavior? "Stop eating those burgers -- you could butter bread with all the gunk clogging your arteries." Of course, telling someone they're killing themselves rarely works. But I'm not fond of the double standard.

And to all the folks making jabs at his polyphasic sleep and vegan lifestyle: Congratulations! You just implimented his advice. :)

*mocking voice* You don't have the right to say those things to people, you sleepless vegan!

Who's the joke now? :D

[Savant]

And to all the folks making jabs at his polyphasic sleep and vegan lifestyle: Congratulations! You just implimented his advice.
For that to be true, Steve would have to be reading this thread.

[soniCron]

For that to be true, Steve would have to be reading this thread. Well, with almost 400 referrals from a single page (and counting), I suspect he may notice the activity and truck on over here to see what all the fuss is about.

Nevertheless, your point is sound: Without telling him to his face, the once noble purpose is lost and all we're left with are a bunch of juvenile and rude remarks that serve literally no purpose but to mark the anals of history with our ignorance and cowardice.

Does that count as a "bear bomb?" ;)

[GBGames]

On the other hand, nobody seems to think twice about telling you, "Smoking's bad. You know it's gonna kill you?" So why should this behavior stop with other, euqally dangerous behavior? "Stop eating those burgers -- you could butter bread with all the gunk clogging your arteries." Of course, telling someone they're killing themselves rarely works. But I'm not fond of the double standard.

And to all the folks making jabs at his polyphasic sleep and vegan lifestyle: Congratulations! You just implimented his advice. :)

*mocking voice* You don't have the right to say those things to people, you sleepless vegan!

Who's the joke now? :D

You have a good point. Still, I think that there are better ways to get someone to convince themselves that smoking is bad for them and that they have a choice than to tell them that they are going to die.

I like Steve Pavlina's articles. Generally, I've become more conscious of my choices in life because of what I read from him. I always question what I read, but rarely do I ever come to the conclusion that he is just plain wrong. This post along with one along the similar lines of sticking dynamite in bear caves rubs me the wrong way. His wife's blog deals with more spiritual topics, but her approach to waking up bears is probably going to be more effective in the long run: http://www.erinpavlina.com/blog/2006/01/welcome-to-erinpavlinacom/


My job is to help you remember. If you’ve come here from Steve’s site you’re used to his methods, which are to light fireworks in your dark cave and watch you scramble to figure out what’s going on. I’m not like that. I like to turn the light on at the mouth of the cave and let the curious venture towards it to see what it is. Steve’s method works for some people and I believe my method will work for others.

And if his latest post is really supposed to be a joke, I guess I don't get it. I believe he was serious about what he wrote. I've been reading his blog since it started, and I think this post was written with the spirit of "I'm not going to mince words. I'll tell it like it is and I won't sugarcoat it. Let's see how many people I can disturb today". Normally the idea is to make someone uncomfortable, then ask them why they feel that way.

If I tell you bluntly that you have a choice and can give up cigarettes or lose some weight, you might feel discomfort at being confronted so directly. I can then follow up with, "You're feeling uncomfortable, and that's a good thing." In this post, Pavlina seems to be encouraging people to be confrontational, but he doesn't talk about follow-through. Being confrontational for confrontation's sake isn't going to wake up many people at all.

Don't pull the blanket off of your sleeping girlfriend on a cold morning if you want to get her out of bed. Turn up the heat instead. Yes, you can read that in multiple ways. B-)

[HairyTroll]

[Deleted post]. Bah. Shouldn't have bothered.

[DangerCode]

Wow, am I the only one that saw this for what it is - a joke?

No, I think I got it too. :D

Hey guys, what's with the venom?

[Sean Doherty]

Deleted Post! ...

[steve bisson]

this guy sounds like a mix between a motivational expert and a sectarian guru.

Most bears will not take kindly to bear bombing; however, once a certain frequency of bear bombing is established (at least weekly), the bear will find it increasingly difficult to return to full hibernation. And ultimately the bear’s newfound consciousness may lead the bear to make some genuine changes to improve the bear’s living conditions. This has the net effect of improving the conditions for everyone, since a conscious, happy bear is a sight to behold.

wake up all the un-englighten to the almighty powers you have discovered on my webpage... ho and click the links so i can make money from all those adds i deliver with my all so enlighten message... or simply send me a donation. Dont forget to refer other "bears" to my webpage ! so they can make me richer too.

?? bunch of bullcrap , why even bother about what this guy thinks ?

Blogging for personal growth ? more like wealth growth ! you dont need cheesy motivational nonsence... . He sounds nothing more than some sort of modern day televangelist to me. I dont even think non of is "real life stories" are real.

I mean the guy is selling sleep meds from a website that advocates sleeping 15 minutes every 4 hours ? learn how to earn 10 000$ in one hour ? 30 days to success ?

get enlighten ! ;)

[george]

Next stop: Steve Pavlina: Televangelist.

He could be a suitable replacement for Gene Scott.

whoa i had to comment on this one!

firstly, Dr. Gene Scott is no televangelist. secondly, he was one of the most intellectual bible and historical scholars ever. sure he was kind of weird, but he was great.

http://www.drgenescott.com

[george]

my thoughts about pavlina... he is a smart and sucessful guy. and i think you could learn a lot of good things from him. i mean, he succeeded greatly at what most of us are struggling to do...

my only criticism of him is that he seems like he is trying to be too "optimized" for a human being, as if he was a computer program. this seems just too unatural, seeking such perfection, i.e. using means such as polyphasic sleep. i dunno if he has fallen into a self-righteous mentality, but i can say he seems like a really genuine and nice guy.

by the way, don't forget that none of us is perfect so... :)

[steve bisson]

I predict 1 wifeless Pavlina if he keeps that up ;)

my worry is more towards all the victims of the brainless people that are going to take is advice and insults everyone this week because they dont fit this concept of "ideal" person steve pavlina is advocating.

this is nothing more than some other publicity stunts... think about all the noises people will be making for is website this week from this blog entry ?

weither its people being offended by it or brainless morons who are going to insult people to later explain they did it because steve pavlina this wonderfull expert about self growth suggested them too.

This will generate buzz and mouth to ears... as clearly proven here :(

[steve bisson]

Welcome to the home of the Million Dollar Experiment. The goal of this experiment is to attempt to use the power of intention to manifest $1 million for each person who chooses to participate. It is 100% free, and there are no costs of any kind. You can even participate anonymously. If you haven't already done so, please read the Million Dollar Experiment blog post and the Million Dollar Experiment - Version 2.0 post for the full background and details

think about all the interest this guy is going to make from it... its a scam from A to Z ... people are falling for it instead of seing the ridicule of it all... sad.

edit : sorry i read very quickly and thougth he was asking everyone 1$ for "the power of intention " haha sorry. Maybe i got thrown off my all those power blenders , psychic readings and meds advertissements ;)

[Tertsi]

Yes, he definitely went over line with that one, however I doubt he was that serious. I think you of course should not follow him blindly (his posts are becoming more mad) but that blog definitely has improved my performance in many aspects of life, especially work.

[DangerCode]

think about all the interest this guy is going to make from it... its a scam from A to Z ... people are falling for it instead of seing the ridicule of it all... sad.

I don't get that Million Dollar experiment thing. Can you explain it to me? How is it a scam?

[Andy]

So I thought I'd ask the people here, who within the 54 posts of mine so far I have placed some trust, and since the topic is up, I'll rephrase...

Fisrt of all this is pretty correct to ask the questions when you want to know the answer.

My ( stupid ) comment was addressed to Steve Pavlina person - not to you.

I think such question should bring cold shower to the heads of some developers from here. Who supposes that we all are so great and well known. :)

OKi?

PS Phil has already explained you the basics about the person. Thanks Phil!

[steve bisson]

i think the fact that he links to this gizmo rigth here at the bottom of is article explain is weird blog entry.

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/search.do?productCode=SONGRE

associate sales anyone ?

ho sure someone kindly sent him the link... how convenient ;)

[Mark Fassett]

Despite the fact that IndieGamer.com wouldn't be around were it not for him starting his forums on Dexterity.com, gossiping about him isn't indie related.