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Young people are flocking to astrology

washingtonpost.com

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Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#461

Post by jacquesm »

sillysaurusx wrote: post #446
hashtag-til wrote: post #341

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been thinking if I should mode from my soulless job in ML to a soulless job in finance.

Just wanted to chime in and say that your “soulless job in ML” comment is relatable, and your experience isn’t unique. I had one too. I saved up a lot of money from it, but by the end it nearly cost me my remaining passion. A soulless job in finance is better if you like(d) ML at all, because then you can keep your interests separate from your job.

> because then you can keep your interests separate from your job

Interesting! I never made that connection but now that you mention it it is obvious. Thanks.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#462

Post by soufron »

machina_ex_deus wrote: post #303
nprateem wrote: post #66

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…

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.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#463

Post by ndsipa_pomu »

varjag wrote: post #368
ndsipa_pomu wrote: post #354

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would argue that astrology is in principle testable and it should be able to make concrete predictions. Obviously, popular astrology uses such woolly terms that all of the predictions can be interpreted as accurate to the believer. However, the few times that anyone has tried to verify astrological predictions, it's turned out to be false. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1986-30007-001

If we get into this territory all major religions struggle as well. Petty gods from the canon somehow fail to deliver unambiguous punishment for clearly worded insults. The outrage over Bible or Quran burnings is largely driven by the demonstrated impotence of the deity rather than the sacrilege itself. The stories themselves are completely bonkers and self-contradicting in many aspects. But I guess ignoring all reli…

I can't think of any religions that make any clear predictions, so they're not even wrong (as opposed to astrology which is clearly wrong). So-called punishments are typically enacted in some other realm (e.g. after-life, rebirth into a lower form etc) which leads to some experimental problems in verifying the claims.

I disagree about your interpretation of burning of religious books - surely that's more to do with people getting angry about their beliefs and culture being deliberately insulted. Burning a flag doesn't get people angry because of the impotence of whatever grouping the flag represents - it's because it's a direct insult to the people who value what the flag represents.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#464

Post by varjag »

Footkerchief wrote: post #425
varjag wrote: 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.

We know chemistry in the same way we know planetary motion.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#465

Post by SnowHill9902 »

JackMorgan wrote: post #452

Belief in astrology looks a lot like the personifying animals or anthropomorphizing of inert items. Maybe the toaster hates you, or maybe it's just faulty and confirmation bias is strong. Belief in astrology puts words to the chaos and randomness of life. There's something very human about how we try to add life and agency to everything: mother earth, ghosts, forests, grumpy co-workers, broken toasters, and the actio…

You think that by studying engineering you see the world as it is?

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#466

Post by BSEdlMMldESB »

xwdv wrote: post #454
VoodooJuJu wrote: post #440

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dude, lighten up. She was playing a game with you, probably flirting. And you didn't play the game very well. Mysticism is fun, aesthetic, and filled with more questions than answers. Play the game some time, you might enjoy it. I also can't believe you actually found a way to weasel racism into the conversation. It's all so tiresome.

Sorry, but I don’t see where it says he has to respond to a woman’s nonsense flirtatious mysticism by lowering his own standard for discourse down to her level. He does not have to tolerate her magical thinking. I think he drew an interesting correlation between racism and her astrological beliefs that she likely has never heard before, and perhaps will give her some much needed introspection. That is a far more mean…

I agree with you, I think "just be yourself" or else get comfortable acting

on the other hand, it's also important to 'go with the flow' sometimes, specially around things you don't consider too important; whichever those may be (I've noticed that what is important is even affected by my mood).

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#467

Post by [deleted] »

JackMorgan wrote: post #452

Belief in astrology looks a lot like the personifying animals or anthropomorphizing of inert items. Maybe the toaster hates you, or maybe it's just faulty and confirmation bias is strong. Belief in astrology puts words to the chaos and randomness of life. There's something very human about how we try to add life and agency to everything: mother earth, ghosts, forests, grumpy co-workers, broken toasters, and the actio…

[deleted]

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#468

Post by [deleted] »

LargeTomato wrote: post #37

My girlfriend is in the middle of her PhD program and is very intelligent but she's really into this stuff. She makes comments about it in public and I cringe. But the worst part is that half my female friends and all my gay friends love astrology. It's very weird.

[deleted]

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#470

Post by ndsipa_pomu »

flkenosad wrote: post #460
rcme wrote: post #427

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is believing in religion rational?

Is it not rational to partake in activities which make one feel good?

Not if those activities end up causing harm to yourself or others.

e.g. drugs can make you feel good, but is it rational to keep taking them until you are addicted?

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