Astrology?

[Scarlett]

If astrology is nonsense, how come so many of the personality traits seem to ring true?

[Calibax]

Because it relies on your personal perception and buying into this drivel.
We are all some times extrovert/caring/stubborn but equally we are all sometimes introvert/selfish/conciliatory
We latch on to those aspects of our personality which match what is described and ignore those that don't

[welshlibranr]

I agree with Calibax, it's all drivel, my sister and I have the same star sign, and are as alike as chalk and cheese!..........

[Answerprancer]

"this drivel" - so what gives you the right to dismiss it as this other than opinions based on your own personal carefully thought out experiences?

[Calibax]

Because there is no evidence to support it.

In the words of the brilliat Tim Minchin
.. if anyone can show me one example in the history of the world of a single astrologer who’s been able to prove under reasonable experimental conditions that they can predict future events by interpreting celestial signs.. I will give them my piano!

[Calibax]

Hear Tim yourself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFO6ZhUW38w

Tim Minchin

[Huderon]

Flanders and Swann put it best ...

Jupiter's gone into Orion, and come into conjunction with Mars
Saturn is wheeling across infinite space to it's pre-ordained place in the stars
And I gaze at the planets in wonder
At the trouble and time they spend
All to warn me to be careful
In dealings involving a friend.

[Calibax]

Quite!

[Clanad]

...And it's an absolute truism (or so I'm told) that 90% of all astrologers have a second, weekend job... that of weather forecaster...

[jno]

go through all 12 star signs and see if you don't find yourself agreeing with quite a few of them. And remember... the constellations don't actually exist. They're just the way the stars look from earth. From Venus they'd look different. They're not actually close to each other.

[Answerprancer]

..that's hilarious Calibax - I love it, as I love Bill Bailey and any comedian that debunks any religeon or esoteric practice - but it's still not conclusive.

[Mamyalynne]

Peace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrGLf4J33vU&feature=related

[jomifl]

I once had a neighbour who was a firm believer in astrology and star signs, when I asked her how one came to be born under a particular star sign she hadn't got a clue.
(and just saying that it is being born on a certain date is not a sufficient explanation)
As is happens I did know. But I don't believe a smidgin of it. The more you look into it the sillier it gets.
Now chicken entrails are something different and you get to eat the chicken

[Count-A-Strong]

Astrology is there to define the gullible amongst us. The constellations themselves require a major allowance of artistic license for a start. As has been pointed out previously, they only LOOK like they are these shapes because of our place and time in the universe. They are in fact millions of light years apart and are in the process of, to us, very slow change meaning that if the human race survived for millions of years the constellations would change. Toatal and utter bunkum invented by someone when the general populace didn't know any better.

[sandyRoe]

I could have made a prediction at the start of last month that would have seemed uncannily accurate. It would have served for many in all the star signs.
'You will soon receive news that will have a major impact on your life and open many doors for you. Don't worry if it is not as you expected. Your path is charted and it's for the best.'
Anybody getting their exam results last month could have believed...

[jomifl]

By the way there are 3 main branches of astrology, western, vedic(indian) and chinese. Since they can't all be right (a bit like religions) most of them (over 66.66% assuming an even distribution of veracity) must be wrong, unless it depends what country you were born in or perhaps on your ethnicity. If you are an australian or south american aboriginal none of these would apply. If you are of mixed ethnicity you would have to know your ethnic make up to compute which influences come from where and you would have to know which ones have priority whether absolute or proportional.
So I hope that is clear.The next lesson will be on the influence of the moon and the planets which will hopefully confuse you so much that you will have to make an appointment with an astrologer who will understand everything and explain nothing.

[jomifl]

Hi Noth, thanks for that, I didn't know that divination by entrails was called haruspicy, I will add it to my lexicon of obscure words useful for confusing the unwary.

[sandyRoe]

Chresmomancy is another good one. It's divination from the ravings of lunatics.

[jomifl]

I think I will need to be sober to use that one, thanks.