represent a negative

[unpakwon]

The following in red is confusing. Would you please paraphrase it more easily?

Positively stated. Take a few moments to not think of a green giraffe. I said to not think of a green giraffe. The mind can only represent a negative (not) by making it a positive. If you go around telling people what not to do, don't be surprised when they end up doing precisely what you wanted them to avoid doing.

Thank you.

[5jj]

Your mind can imagine a negative only by turning it into a positive.

[TheParser]

[QUOTE=unpakwon;815772] The mind can only represent a negative (not) by making it a positive.


NOT A TEACHER


(1) If a teacher shows me that the following is nonsense, I shall immediately delete it:

Mona: You seem to be adding some weight.

The Parser: I know. I've been eating a lot of ice cream lately.

Mona: Why?

The Parser: It's my favorite comfort food. While I am eating it, I forget my worries.

Mona: Well, do not eat ice cream!

The Parser: I didn't hear you (my hearing aid is not working). Do not WHAT?

Mona: Eat ice cream.

The Parser: Well, that's what I have been doing: eating ice cream.

[TheParser]

[QUOTE=unpakwon;815772]If you go around telling people what not to do, don't be surprised when they end up doing precisely what you wanted them to avoid doing.


NOT A TEACHER


(1) Here in the United States, we once had the wife of a president advise young

(and not so young) people to "Just say NO" to the smoking of a certain illegal

substance.

(2) Some people felt that such negative advice would just encourage some

non-smokers (especially the impressionable young) to try smoking it.

[unpakwon]

Thank you all for the explanation.

So could I rewrite it as follows?

"Your mind tends to respond to an advice telling you not to do something only by trying to do what people tell you not to do." Or "Generally the advice telling you not to do something only makes your mind want to do it more."

[5jj]

So could I rewrite it as follows?

"Your mind tends to respond to an advice telling you not to do something only by trying to do what people tell you not to do." Or "Generally the advice telling you not to do something only makes your mind want to do it more."

Yes.