statelessnfaithless
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Insta: @truthexplained. Check it out before the Man shuts me down for speaking dangerous truths they don't want you to know!
arumunus
It can be fun to talk about, but it's a party game kind of thing. Same with Tarot. Which, iirc, was just a card game initially- it can make for an interesting conversation. It can maybe even help with some introspection- but it's not "mystical/magical". It shouldn't be used as some kind of means to judge a person or a situation.
icurays1
wihskey
I wish they would just stop trying to appropriate Astronomical terminology. Mars is retrograde for two months every 2 years.
taez555
LespritDeLescalier22
Ooh ooh. Now do chiropractors
nonickname23
xenjamin
That scientist never studied astrology and therefore has no valid conclusion to offer. You are pushing incorrect science tactics to promote your own "beliefs." You are the bad guy in this scenario and you are no scientist at all.
JediTeacher
As a science teacher, I approve of this post.
Twinklepot
As a Scorpio, I'm ok with this.
ArcanisTheOmnipotent
Astrology is funny. Well, I should say that people who believe in astrology are funny. it's very entertaining to think that the configuration and orientation of light sources you can see from your home somehow have an effect on the dusting of matter around you. Brains are fascinating
indyliberal
Liberals won’t shut you down for this.
MachineInterface
*Astrology doesn't work in the way it claims it does, but apparently superstitious rituals often have psychological, cultural and prosocial benefits which should be aknowledged in an intellectually honest appraisal of these phenomena.
shyasen
Now do religion.
ChickenROAR
Do crystal medicine next.
hijindc
InTheBeginningWasTheNerd
It's a similar phenomenon to cold reading (where the com artist throws out a whole bunch of generic phrases and lets the mark provide their own meaning, allowing them to hone in on the ones picked by the mark) and the sharpshooter's fallacy (where you decide the meaning of a test after you get the results, as if you shot a fence and only then painted bullseyes around the bulletholes; although in case of astrology, it's the audience painting their own bullseyes).
PaulHavingABall
Peter says hi…
buttabuttabutt
Do crystals!
kerms
It's genetics.
MmmmmSoup
Grew up with a mum who did natal charts and stuff but it's just a bit of fun I don't take it seriously
Yellowchopsticks
It works by tricking people who do believe in it to treat you in a way that fits their confirmation bias.
FatboyRich
Wait- you mean a buncha rocks floating in the sky don't influence my life
FatboyRich
Well, I never
duktayp
Up until the 18th century, astrologers and astronomers were the same people https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrology_and_astronomy
igglebotato
Yeah, and we thought the Milky Way was the entire universe until sometime in the 1920s.
wihskey
People were critical of finding meaning in the stars long before the 18th century https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrology#History
treed240z
Astrology (in the sense of what time of year you're born) I do think can affect a persons personality, but it's 100% related to how old you are when you go to school and nothing to do with planets and stars. Being "older" in school can help confidence as you've physically and mentally matured more when young. Kids born in July are nearly a year younger than kids born in September and yet they start school the same year. This can have long lasting affects.
gastrocks
That's not astrology, that's just a head start advantage in growth and development related to when we arbitrarily divide school grades and cut off dates for sports. Malcolm Gladwell explained in detail in Outliers.
kerms
The level of personality that astrology tries to predict is most likely determined by genetics.
chut7
Sure, it may very be statistically significant, but can it predict it like Astrology tries to? No.
treed240z
Yeah Astrology is all bullshit. Freddy Mercury in Gatorade won't change if you get a promotion or should avoid a Ford Taurus or something.
Fifofu
In Brazil, being born around September carries the increased likelyhood that you were conceived unplanned during carnival or summer vacations, and as such, it is a bit less likely that you were raised in a structured and orderly family.
TheSwedishCryptid
wait so you have school like sept 2000 to July 2001 as the school class instead of all of 2000 in its own and all of 2001 in its own?
textilelover
Yes.
TheSwedishCryptid
That's feels so much more random than just picking jan 1 to dec 31st. But whatever, school years are random by default so ^^
treed240z
It's because of summer vacation. It's the largest break students take away from school, and they basically forget most of everything they "learned" the prior year. It's best to start fresh after that break than to somehow continue after being away for that long. It's not random at all.
MoeMoep
Cobalt1
TomBrokaw
I'm going to tag onto your comment to be a political asshole and remind people that President Reagan made policy decisions based on the recommendations of his wife Nancy who had consulted an astrologer. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/reagan-familys-trusted-astrologer-dies-87
MoeMoep
Tag along all you want. But that's like reading bird entrails.
SecondSince
Just when you think he couldn't possibly be an even bigger tool than you thought...
spaceseed83
It sometimes works as zero-stakes entertainment and definitely works as a meme
PartaVictoriisPax
but it isn't zero-snakes.
spaceseed83
Are...are there snakes in astrology?
cosinewave
The constellations are no longer in the positions they were in when the idea was created but no attempt has been made to adjust astrology accordingly. So yeah, it does not work.
DukeDarkwood
Precession of the equinoxes! Over time, the rotational axis of earth (the poles) 'drift' with respect to which stars the poles point at. While Polaris is and has been our pole star for a few centuries, other stars, such as Vega in Lyra and Th'uban in Draco, have previously been the closest stars to the North Celestial Pole. And as a result, both the Celestial Equator drifts as well. The Ecliptic - the Sun's path through the sky - is NOT affected by this, so we keep the same constellations, just
DukeDarkwood
with different start/end dates - they're a full constellation off from the star charts of 3000 years ago, when astronomy was emerging in Egypt, China, and Mayan lands! "But what about Ophiuchus? It wasn't ON the zodiac then!" Two things: First, it wasn't known as a constellation until the 4th century BC, and was first included on star charts in the second century CE. And second, the zodiac as used in astrology didn't strictly adhere to the exact boundaries of the constellations, even as they
DukeDarkwood
were then defined (the modern standardized map of 88 clearly-defined constellations didn't happen until 1922 CE) - it was basically a 20-degree-wide band of sky, centered on the Ecliptic, that was then divided into (roughly) equal, rectangular twelfths, each 20° tall and 15° wide. (Yes, I used the width of the band as the height of each segment; sue me for inconsistency.)
Eridianne
Oh is that the problem with it ahahah
cosinewave
Well, at the very least a red flag
TI99Kitty
The last Douglas Adams HHGTTG book had a B-plot with alt-universe Trillian being abducted by aliens that had crash-landed on Pluto and had become obsessed with Earth astrology. They wanted her to rework all their astrology charts to account for the differences between Earth's orbit and Pluto's.
DukeDarkwood
"And the Sun will be in Taurus for the next 21 years, then Gemini for the next 21, then Cancer for 20,...." (1/12 of the Plutonian year - nearly 248 terrestrial years - comes VERY close to 20 and 2/3 years, or 20yr 8mo.) Of course, Pluto's orbit is a WHOPPING 17 degrees off the Ecliptic plane, so it wouldn't share many of the Zodiac constellations that the rest do (just the ones near the two nodes where it crosses the ecliptic plane).
Xecryo
I was expecting more like the psychology of it like why DO people believe arbitrarily made star constellations predict personality?
Rabenkraehe
Barnum effect
Colouroboros
Apophenia
thisisjunk
But, the arbitrary groupings of the stars that happen to be along the route that the Sun appears to take across the sky and the ones that wander around are magical! The other stars are just boring gravitationally bound incandescent plasma fusion engines so far beyond mortal comprehension they may as well be eldritch horrors. Boring!
FlatPlutoSociety
The non-condescending answer is that people have evolved an innate drive to recognize patterns and assign causality to events, but we're not perfect at it. We find the structure comforting, and we're apt to see patterns and causality in places where they don't exist. It's the same psychological tendency that leads to all kinds of superstition, belief in conspiracy theories, belief in the supernatural, etc.
CassiTheVainQueen
THANK YOU! This is the same as saying things like Fortune Telling and Palm reading doesn't work. Just because it doesn't work the way it says it does doesn't mean it doesn't work.
The fact of the matter is, those things work exactly as they're intended to, taking in basic info and turning them into broad, generic assumptions about the future so you'll pay them money. If it doesn't pan out, chances are you won't even remember, but if it does, suddenly they can see the future, and you're hooked.
Daarst
Same reason a lot of people think there's a magical man in the sky that watches them masturbate.
Unclescam
Well it helps some of us finish!
OnlyWantToSayOneThing
Its the art of making up personality bullshit where 90% of it is flattery while justifying it "because constellations. People believe in constellation bullshit because it doesn't really affect the real world allows them to gain that flattery.
Cats2cats
Entertainment. A few friends & I discuss daily horoscopes when there’s a massive lull in conversation. Something for us to laugh about.
mbzlr
Some people absolutely believe it in all seriousness.
FutureBeachBum
People are driven mad by the realization that they have to take personal responsibility for their actions, so they look for anyone to blame but themselves - the stars, an invisible man, whatever.
cosinewave
Just one of many popular irrational beliefs. The gravitational pull of the obstetrician at the time of your birth was way stronger than that of the stars of your sign.
BlindGardener
That’s what I was hoping for too, and a run down of the tricks charlatans use to make people believe
InfocalypseRising
Why do people believe any of the stupid superstitious nonsense they believe? Because pretending there’s some sort of order to things is easier than facing the reality of a random, uncaring universe
dumpsterfolk
Also more exciting
OriginalAndWitty
*However, when you start school compared to when you were born can impact your personality. You are either always the oldest, always the youngest, or in the middle. Imagine some kids having an whole extra year of growing up over other kids in the same grade.
WhichOneIsPink25
The book Outliers does a good job explaining this. Addresses the hockey comment as well
IvanGordy
Started early, was always the youngest. In middle school my mom held me back twice instead of getting me help for my adhd. Maybe this explains why my personality is a void.
Bmgm4u
I was like that in hockey, born in October, cut off was September. I had a full years growth on those small fry.
kerms
Genetics plays a larger role on personality than anything else.
TheSwedishCryptid
It's funny, I was born late in the year and I got to skip a grade so I was actually 2 years behind and managed to keep up with everyone else.
tinyfootprints
Born in early January. Most of my friends were a grade or two ahead. I aced a 9th grade math final in 3rd grade and still didn't get to skip a grade bc it was "against school policy." They went strictly by age, not ability nor performance. Unless it came to holding kids back a year or two. They were big on that. I basically slept thru school, always got straight A grades. Got to college and realized I had no clue how to study for a subject I didn't already have down cold.
AbrasiveKrab
I was the youngest in my family, the oldest in my class and most friend groups growing up. Now I'm usually the youngest because most of my friends are almost 10 years older than me. Plus I repeated an early grade because of a serious illness, so I had that extra "year of growing up" and really all it did was isolate me.
electrajet
My brother was born in August. I was born in December. He was one of the youngest in his class. I was one of the oldest in mine. He always thought he was stupid when he was one on the most well-read, creative people I've ever known. My dad told me once that he wished he'd held off a year when putting my brother in school. Something to think about, new parents.
AbsoluteThunderMuppet
Do you know of any studies that say which is best? Should parents delay kindergarten or does going earlier help develop social skills early? Etc.
theGORTtakethaway
I read about multiple studies that claim waiting is best, but definitely depends on the kid. My oldest has a bday right before the school yr starts. We started him in Kinder at 5 because he had been in "school" since 4 months old, and he was ready skill-wise. Still ahead of most of his classmates academically, but the maturity gap is starting to become a problem. Kinda wish we had waited.
NikklasViktorMcKnight12
I think it depends on how well the school is organized to meet the needs of young children. a new 5yo can start if toilets are close and play is prioritized over long stretches of silence in lines. holding them back until they're more mature will help them if the school requires being lined up to use the toilet on a schedule, eat, play, or go from room to room on a schedule.
thri1
I was always the oldest, so I would suggest that starting sooner would be better. This has been a comment by a study of one.
treed240z
This is exponentially important in kindergarten and 1st grade when the basic foundations are being established, or dear god middle school when puberty is happening.
Beezlebubble
I was always one of the younger ones and I almost skipped a grade...
treed240z
AH yes, one data point definitely makes a trend.
Beezlebubble
Wasn't saying I made a trend, just saying that was my case. It was quite an annoyance being the "younger" kid in my developing years and it definitely could've been worse
Eldibs
Middle school is awful. Going through hormonal chaos, trying to figure yourself out, and having to figure out a new school at the same time? Who's idea was that?
adventureswithadhd
I went to three different middle schools (6-8 grades) it was hell on earth for sure!
Krytture
Isolate all those weirdos from the yungins and the near adults. Those hormones and no idea how to deal with them would corrupt everything
duktayp
Now do numerology
BeaverOnFire
12!
FrankTheThunderbird
RichardPicture
in THIS economy?
brassknucklenerd
I once had the owner of a company do my numerology as part of the interview process. I... did not take that job.
duktayp
Classic number 5 attitude😕
AyatollahBahloni
Call it "Gematriya," it sounds a lot cooler.
artistandascholar2000
And water memory. And homeopathy. And …
Astramancer
And entire branch of bullshit founded on the coincidence that quinine poisoning has similar symptoms as malaria and quinine, in smaller doses, was used to treat malaria. Ergo "like cures like, but only in smaller doses."
DickTipPapercut
if you add up the numbers of "numerology" you get 145, 1+4+5=10, and 10+656 is 666, proof that numerology is the work of the devil.
Affray
If it were the work of the Devil I'm sure it would have some practical use.
pxlphile
JadeNB1729
If you add up the numbers of "numerology" you get 0, because there are no numbers in "numerology."
DickTipPapercut
clearly you dont understand numerology.
JadeNB1729
Yes. Also, fuck your username and my overactive visualization.
dbbbbs
But there are numers. At least one
JadeNB1729
Yes, numerology is the study of numerols.
TinyRavenFeathers
My ex’s sister used to get so pissed off at me when I would argue that those stars aren’t even near each other.
SarcasticComment
it's so made up that 1000s of years have shifted the signs from where they used to be and there probably should be a 13th. it's nonsense built on a foundation of nonsense.
salunatics
Retrograde, by its very definition, is an optical illusion.
jridley
Also the constellations are no longer where they were when this nonsense was dreamed up.
echoawoo
The question that always does their head in is when you pretend to think it's true and start asking for units and their methodology and stuff. They can never keep it together trying to answer the questions presented in good faith
LordofGoats
And why would it be the Greek constellations that have an effect? Scorpio is Maui's Hook for Hawaiians, and if it had any real effect, I'd think Maui's Hook would have a very different effect than vile, vile Scorpio.
Astramancer
What can I say except you're welcome.
samanthadlcruz
no no no; the stars are glued to the firmament... they are just tiny lights no further away than the moon... birds can fly to them and sometimes they break off and fall to the ground... like fig leafs... <--- science according to the bible:
CompletelyUniqueUsername
The Bible says nothing of the sort. You don't have to believe it, but lying about it helps no one.
samanthadlcruz
1 Chronicle 16:30 - earth does not move; Samuel 2:8 - earth rests on pillars; Joshua 10:13 - the sun revolves around the earth; Genesis 1:16-17 - the stars are fixed in the firmament; Genesis 1:20 - birds can fly throughout the firmament (noting that the book JUST SAID that the stars and the moon were all within the firmament; Revelation 6:13 - multiple stars fall to the earth "like fig leafs" -
- Seems like maybe you haven't READ your bible...
mikeatike
Must be superglue.
samanthadlcruz
the best part is in the endtimes when ALL the stars fall to earth.... and then... after that.... the angels arrive to blow their trumpets... on earth... the earth that's still here....
APassingPlasticBag
Don’t forget may not exist anymore and we are seeing remnant light that’s still traveling to us and eventually will disappear making your sky pictures meaningless
Enoan
Most of the stars you can see in the night sky are usually less than 100 light years away. Though Beetlejuice has been uppity recently, it probably has 100,000 or so years in it still.
Idsertian
Not really. Any star (as a singular object) you see in the night sky is in our galaxy, thus, statistically, still there. Estimates put our galaxy at "only" 100k-150k light years across, which means that, at most, any light we receive from an object in our galaxy is 100k-150k years old. Even the shortest lived stars live for MILLIONS of years. Statistically speaking, most of the stars you see are still there. Older than we're observing them as, but still there.
Heavenissize17socks
Astrology is a crock, especially compared to the mind blowing wonder of being bathed in million year old starlight, crossing the near infinite expanse of time and space
mithiwithi
"Doesn't exist anymore" isn't really a thing with stars, but "is a white dwarf/neutron star/black hole now (for certain values of now)" could be.
mithiwithi
To clarify, it is possible for a star to cease to exist, particularly a binary whose partner supernova'd to a neutron star or black hole and absorbed it, but it's much less common than the other stellar fates.
EggOfWisdom
Or might not even be a star. Could be a galaxy
redtruck
Far, far way…
dasklaus
Eh, only if you live somewhere rural or use a telescope. And none of the stars that make the zodiac signs are galaxies. Not to defend astrology, of course.
mikeatike
I don't think anyone is mistaking galaxies for stars. Now mistaking galaxies foe nebulea was what everyone did before Edwin Hubble and others of his time.
Millwr1ght
Could be a binary star or even a cloud
ArcanisTheOmnipotent
it's space nothing is near each other
Bloodsense
They call it space because there's a lot of it.
masterpainimeanbetty1
hence "space"
TinyRavenFeathers
Astronomically speaking.
WorkerLurker
Wait till I tell you about atomic attraction, and how far apart every part of you is from its own self…
lovejoyrat1
Ima go see if there’s an explain to me like I’m 5 on that topic. For a friend.
ArcanisTheOmnipotent
Pretty much remember the pictures you saw in grade school of what an atom looks like? It is not to scale. The distance the electrons orbit the nucleus is much farther similar to our solar system.
WorkerLurker
Hella far.
ArcanisTheOmnipotent
The glass is not half empty, it is almost entirely empty
Thanshin
The glass is full of dark energy.
Lampmonster
It's easier to understand magnets when you realize we're all really just clouds of particles.
HenryLongfellowIII
Or maybe waves.
ZeroLogain
This is the part that gets to me.
igglebotato
Stardust, water, and anxiety.
NerveStruck
Lots and lots of anxiety, mind you.