I've never believed in astrology, but we Scorpios are naturally skeptical.
https://youtu.be/9ATtC0zEgjM?si=NswAetIcNfZIijUn&t=36
I should go play some civ again
I'm not sure I believe that.
Astrology is so stupid! That's why I only practice geomancy, the true divination art.
I wonder what kind of person calls themselves a "world class expert" in astrology.
Probably exactly the kind you'd expect.
The stars of the profession?
You know, I'm something of a galaxy-class expert astrologist myself.
Oh yeah? Well I'm a universe-class master astrologer, third degree.
A woman predicted the exact date Biden would step down a few weeks before it happened. She claims to be a world class astrologist. People sort of viewed this as a wow moment. Completely ignoring the fact that it's been talked about that he might not re run if he won in 2020 (which I think was actually a misquote, but ultimately irrelevant for this discussion). There had been a lot of talk and push for him to step down, especially in the month or so prior to it happening. That someone sort of recognized all this but claimed the stars gave them the exact date is such an obvious Occam's razor moment lol but people really did believe she was a master level astrologer.
Survivorship bias? Hundreds of other "astrologists" probably tried predicting it too but guessed wrong
Incredible number of expert astrologers out there
Looks like technically any of us can.
People with planet sized egos?
Doesn't those results mean that we all are world class astrologers? Just roll the dice and you're as good as the best.
My sister. Last year she begged me to do my charts for the next year. Said I would be happily married and on my way to the EU in a new job.
I’m divorced and unemployed. But hey, good news is she’ll do my charts over.
An astrologist. 🤣
For those that prefer the source instead of a screenshot: https://www.tumblr.com/wilwheaton/762475130013237248
Might be an idea to post the actual source rather than Wil Wheaton's tumblr post about it
Thank you very much. This sort of thing needs to be sourced.
Your allowed to say "fucked" on the internet
I thought it might come under "Keep it civil" :)
Also "no unnecessary negativity"?
Even more interesting: take the test yourself!
I wonder if there is some benefit from the clients interpretation of the reading, even though the reading itself is nonsense. In the same way someone can flip a coin to help you make a decision, and you realise from your gut reaction what you actually wanted to do all along, but weren't consciously aware of
I used to work in a shop that could easily be described as "New Age" and it has a tarot reader there. Having looked at the history of tarot but being a complete sceptic, I asked for a reading one time to see for myself how they go.
Afterwards I asked her "it's a light therapy session, isn't it?" She responded "mostly."
That's pretty much what it is, cheap, basic therapy to help you sort through your thoughts, and shares some similarities with CBT. I'd still recommend therapy if you need it, but I don't mind people going to a tarot reader if that's what helps them. But I still think the mysticism side of it can be a problem for a variety of reasons.
Tarot is also a great way of reflection and introspection by giving external prompts which allow a jumping off point for story creation and reframing. Lot of creative processes recommend this external semi-random prompt because it changes you from your normal thoughts. This allows you to think about what happened or what you want to happen and gives a story and a new perspective. Humans are naturally story tellers and pattern seekers and this taps into that. This reframing is a evidence based therapeutic technique that works.
Also if it makes you feel better in your own head that means it works. Everything is based on our mental state so what is difference
yeah and don't forget the placebo effect
"today's gonna be a good day for you"
this is definitely the answer, and i don't get why people are so aggressive about shitting on people who just want a bit of fake mysticism in their lives. literally not hurting anyone to look at the stars and feel stuff
Until they charge $300 for a three hour reading, without disclosing the price or the time beforehand. And refer to all women as "goddesses". And ask for tastes of four different types of wine before getting the same thing they always get.
So, yes, some people go too far into astrology and some people are actual grifters, but a lot of times, I think most of the time, people are just looking for a little fun. Yes, I know a tarot reading is bullshit, but it can be fun to do and it can be enlightening to see how I think it should be interpreted. Sort of like the idea of ink blotch tests, but that's not a great comparison.
I really hope this is true because I have met soooo many people in my personal life who seriously believe the position of the stars affects every little facet of your life.
I agree with you. I think it's more about having fun and the "show" of having your fortune read. It might also help you think about stuff.
I’ve done tarot and it’s good for helping analyze possibilities. A draw when you’re worried about something can give you a vague situation and it’s often easy to imagine exactly what that is. The caveat is it’s not more likely to happen just because cartomancey says so
my zodiac sign is Barnum effect
Here is a clip of James Randi doing the 'individualized' horoscopes for a room full of people. I think this is the experiment mentioned in the image.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dp2Zqk8vHw&pp=ygUVamFtZXMgcmFuZGkgYXN0cm9sb2d5
They will interpret these results in the manner that seems best to them:-).
Obviously biased. Every astrologer is a world leading expert. That's just a true and correct fact. Where are the error bars? Why not use violin plots? Correct science is what will prove astrology correct. I know that because I'm a Leo. Seriously, astrology is important for weeding out tinder profiles.
Why not use violin plots
You'd think they would have seen that coming
Astrology can't define a person, but maybe astronomy can. Astronomers study space objects way more than astrologists. I bet they actually know how those objects affect our moods and shit.
"A meteor hit your car. I predict this will have a negative impact on your work life this week."
Wait, they all did 5 out of 12? That means you can make statistical predictions with astrology by selecting the opposite of what the astrologer predicts!
Nobody did better than 5/12. And looking at the average, most didn't even come close to that.
yeah truth hurts
I'm not sure "fucked off" is an expression....
Are you fucked off about the title? 😉
It is, at the southern edge of the English-speaking world.
I jokingly trolled an astrology forum that were giving their predictions for 2020 with “hindsight is 2020”
Necessary work. However, that last instructon isn't science, it's education.
Barnum Statement
This would benefit from error bars for the estimates.
What on earth does this mean? I'm not a world-class expert in mathology but I've never seen this kind of relative comparison before.
None of the 152 people in the trial correctly guessed correctly on more than 5 profiles, out of the 12 profiles they were given.
I think they just left off the subject of each phrase; 0 out of 152 astrologists did better than 5 out of 12 questions. Though it is phrased weirdly either way.
Well I suppose what they're saying is no response had a success rate equal to or greater than fifty percent, but yeah it's not exactly reported academically.
Because astrology is something that lends itself to clear academic reporting?
It's time that somebody clears up with that mess, seriously.
I'm pretty sure that last one was a Derren Brown bit on one if his TV shows.
It's all bollocks, but if this sort of thing helps you through the day then you do you.
Astrology I think works better when they focus less on predicting people's characteristics than looking at people's patterns in their life. If Saturn is returning to your "insert astrology term here" that means 29 years have happened which means great changes which is pretty typical for humans. People go through big changes at their late 20s and late 50s / early 60s. Since the stars goes through regular patterns and using this a time based guide a lot can be understood about human nature. This is a lot of astrology but the patterns at birth is more popular or at least the most commonly understood portion of it.
Wait… they gave all the participants the same reading? So all of their conclusions are based on the reading of a single person, which may or may not be accurately represented?
I’m not one for astrology, but this seems like r/atheism level science glazing for a fairly unscientific analysis.
That was a separate experiment.
Ah I see, there were 12 readings. My mistake.
