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Young people are flocking to astrology

washingtonpost.com

661–670 of 972 posts

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#661

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it varies a lot by where you live. In the US Apple seems to be much more popular, meanwhile where I live it's more seen as overpriced fashion brand for non-technical people. The few people in technical fields who actually use Macbooks tend to see it more as time-efficient alternative to Linux, at least that's my observation. I have met a lot of Apple haters in the past but not a single blind fan.

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Wow that's fascinating. Why do you think people from 44 different nations, dozens of different ethnic and language groups, collectively decided to hate apple?

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#662
post #345

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no qualitative difference between belief in astrology and any of the world's religions. Not saying you're not entitled in disregarding astrology believers but the cut-off point is completely arbitrary and dare I say irrational.

To me there is an a huge difference. I can accept religions, which are adding axioms that aren't falsifiable, and that are usually taught to a person when he is a child. And religions had their roles in shaping society for good. I can accept conspiracy theories and disbelieving the known consensus. I just can't accept a person who, in the age where we know exactly how planets move and what they are, decided to believ…

> I just can't accept a person who, in the age where we know exactly how planets move and what they are, decided to believe they have correlation with psychology.

The irony of you letting that affect your mind is amusing.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#663

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All of theses old ideas are simply ways to look at yourself from the outside. Any value is the insight it provides to oneself.

The issue with them is that it's not simply "looking at oneself". If you were using divination for that purposes then it's no issue. Harmless superstition is fine. But things like personality tests and other pseudoscience see regular use in hiring and promotion. And that's just ridiculous, damaging for both "honest" applicants and the company, as such processes favour dishonest people.

Do personality tests see regular use in hiring and promotion? What are some examples of that? My workplaces have offered those sorts of things as professional development, but not for direct promotion or hiring practices. I would be fascinated to see the outcome of a place that does use those things in that way.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#664

I had an argument with a girl the other day who was adamant she wanted to know my star sign. I said "you tell me" and after 10 guesses I finally told her. She then went on to tell me what I must like etc - most of which was complete bollocks obviously. I told her her beliefs were akin to racism. Just because of when I was born she thought it was acceptable not to bother to treat me as an individual but as automatical…

You know if you want to have sex all you have to do is play along, learn what a moon and rising sign is and contribute that to the conversation

This is literally the primary driver of people getting into this at this pace now

Astrology proponents expect to be ridiculed by an analytical nerd. Literally all you have to so is not do that. People are catching on, you didnt and the article didnt but others are.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#665
post #329

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From time to time I mention the 13th "Ophiuchus" star sign to astrology inclined people. It is quite interesting how they react.

How do they react?

They do not know about it (those I spoke with), so they are not "comfortable" in discussing it. Especially since it's existence changes the dates of all other signs, their sign is not their sign anymore. I do not push on them too hard though. Just eager to hear their thoughts on it.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#666
post #603

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Myers Briggs seems so arbitrary . Why 4 dimensions instead of 3 or 5? And is there any reliable evidence that using it actually produces better outcomes?

As far as I know the Five Factor Model is a far more scientific measure than MBTI. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traits - Repeatability - Not based on Jungian pseudoscience - Peer acceptance

It's notable that MBTI is fairly correlated with the FFM: https://psychology.stackexchange.com/questions/13460/what-co...

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#667
post #398

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel it's more of a personal background issue. Do you really have objection with planets effects on personality but at the same time feel turning water into wine is plausible in the slightest? To a raised atheist all religions are not far removed from belief in Santa Claus. But to someone with religious people in the family cutting them off may come not as natural as of strangers with astrology brain.

Saying water/wine happened exactly once 2000 years ago is much harder to falsify than claiming a present, ongoing, and universal correlation between planetary bodies and psychology.

> a present, ongoing, and universal correlation between planetary bodies and psychology.

I mean, here we are, talking about something that starts with those planetary bodies.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#668

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speaking of stereotypes, if anyone takes astrology seriously, I automatically assume they are not intelligent, irrational, and I find it impossible to take them seriously. I consider them beyond reason so I don't even try. If a person's logic and epistemology lead to him believing in astrology, it shows a deeper problem and I don't hope to have an intelligent discussion with them any more than I expect to have an int…

About a third of Newton's surviving manuscripts deal with physics. The rest deals with esoteric biblical exegesis and alchemy. Just another dumbo, I guess.

The birth of physics was very interesting. It was full of people discussing how the heavens and Earth follow the same rules while in one room, and then doing astrological predictions to pay the bills in another room.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#669

I had an argument with a girl the other day who was adamant she wanted to know my star sign. I said "you tell me" and after 10 guesses I finally told her. She then went on to tell me what I must like etc - most of which was complete bollocks obviously. I told her her beliefs were akin to racism. Just because of when I was born she thought it was acceptable not to bother to treat me as an individual but as automatical…

Only a fool argues with a fool.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#670

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speaking of stereotypes, if anyone takes astrology seriously, I automatically assume they are not intelligent, irrational, and I find it impossible to take them seriously. I consider them beyond reason so I don't even try. If a person's logic and epistemology lead to him believing in astrology, it shows a deeper problem and I don't hope to have an intelligent discussion with them any more than I expect to have an int…

Well, what do you make with people who go to church every week? That's a hell lot of people. And you certainly have your own set of beliefs that are also well beyond rationality. You would be better inspired to let them have their fun with what they want to believe.

You're certainly correct that everyone has beliefs beyond rationality. The notion of "live and let live" is less reasonable when it involves controversial topics such as how induced abortions or rapes are treated. A multitude of moralities can lead to people feeling like they just can't live their lives without ensuring the "other" won't quash them. Maybe they're right on a given case, or maybe they're wrong. There's conflict all the same.
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