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Young people are flocking to astrology

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Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#571

Post by lnxg33k1 »

varjag wrote: post #345
machina_ex_deus wrote: post #303

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…

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.

No qualitative difference but a huge substantial difference, you are born to believe in a religion, its 24/7 in television, in school, in politicians talk, its much harder to protect yourself from religions than it is to stay away from astrology, astrology is a thing you pick up, religion is served/forced upon you from the day you’re born, when you swear in court you swear to god not to sagitter

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#572

Post by mynameishere »

taylorius wrote: post #517
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…

"I told her her beliefs were akin to racism." Oh I like that one. Inferring personality traits based on where someone was born - "Racism". Inferring personality traits based on when someone was born - "Astrology". "but she couldn't see the issue." What a surprise...

Racism is inferring personality (and other) traits based upon genetics, not "where someone was born."

I would argue that your genetics, unlike your star sign, is fairly meaningful.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#573

Post by _23sd »

MontyCarloHall wrote: post #357
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m a 61-year-old software developer. It’s been interesting (and infuriating), experiencing some of the conclusions that younger techs have reached about me, due to my gray hair. I’m also a developer of Apple device software. That has resulted in even more abuse. There’s serious hate for Apple amongst techs. Human nature likes pigeonholing other people into simple “sort buckets,” and we have many ways to do that. It…

>There’s serious hate for Apple amongst techs. According to the StackOverflow developer survey, 33% of developers use macOS [0], which is approximately double its overall market share of ~15% [1]. In my experience, every tech company office I’ve ever been to has been a sea of MacBooks. [0] https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2023/ [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_sys... .

Try working in IT or software dev at a company nobody would confuse for a "tech company", preferably outside of California. The Windows monoculture and Apple hate is massive in my experience. (Not trying to say it's a bad thing, I don't mind hating Apple products or Apple the company, what I do sometimes encounter that gets on my nerves though is spiteful behavior towards end users or even customers who have Macs.)

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#574

Post by truckerbill »

amanaplanacanal wrote: post #323
truckerbill wrote: post #254

Earlier quoted context omitted.

" stopped trusting anything experts say unless majority have the same opinion" I wonder what Copernicus would have to say about that

Think about it as odds. Unless you have the time to become an expert yourself, following the majority is more likely to be correct than following fringe opinions. Sue, sometimes the fringe opinion turns out to be the correct one, but which fringe opinion?

I think basic stats and critical thinking skills, even just looking at the scientists current and former funding is enough to spot the BS. Though given the state of the world I guess that's asking too much.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#575

Post by harimau777 »

I have a pet theory that things like astrology, tarot, the I Ching, Myers Briggs, etc. are valuable (and therefore stick around) not because they have a supernatural or scientific ability to make correct predictions, but because they provide a useful framework for discussing topics. So for example, even if tarot doesn't give you supernatural insight, the discussion it generates with the card reader may allow you to recognize insights that you otherwise would have missed.

Or perhaps practices like this provide value by prompting people to make changes that they otherwise wouldn't have. For example, suppose someone who normally lacks confidence receives a prediction that they will soon find love, prompted by the prediction they decide to talk to someone they normally wouldn't and end up dating. The fortune telling didn't actually predict anything, but it did provide the motivation for someone to take advantage of an opportunity when it arose by chance.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#576

Post by lo_zamoyski »

Increased interest in astrology has been noted before in societies with declining traditional religious belief and greater feelings of uncertainty. Whereas a Christian would leave his concerns about things out of his control with God, and a stoic might simply accept his powerlessness, the anxious remainder look for other ways of trying to cope. Astrology has a track record of filling this void with its fatalism, and like all occult practices, it does so by luring people with irrational promises of foreknowledge, control, and power.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#577

Post by suslik »

atlantic wrote: post #482
machina_ex_deus wrote: post #303

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.

Not a dumbo, but such a massive waste of talent. Nobody would care to remember Newton's name if that wasn't for his work in physics. T. Acquinas is a another example - an extremely intelligent person who wasted his life on a word salad that can now be generated using chat GPT.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#578

Post by empyrrhicist »

ndsipa_pomu wrote: post #463
varjag wrote: post #368

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 p…

...but they're not even self-consistent doctrines. See: the problem of evil.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#579

Post by Georgelemental »

varjag wrote: post #345
machina_ex_deus wrote: post #303

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…

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.

I read a survey once (can't find it now) that measured people's belief in astrology vs religious convictions. Committed atheists were least likely to believe in astrology, but committed religious people (go to church every Sunday, etc) were close behind. Most likely to believe in astrology were agnostics and the weakly religious.

Re: Young people are flocking to astrology

#580

Post by safety1st »

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…

I don't believe in astrology either, but frankly, this sort of zealous hyper-rationality is a great way to die alone. Like someone who's not into astrology will overhear you and the word that will get around will be "Don't invite that guy to parties, he is not fun." You will reap far better dividends from just taking people as they are and trying to find the best in them. Which is the most rational thing to do is it not?
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