A simple experiment to demonstrate that Astrology does not work is to keep a detailed journal of events, and periodically check past horoscopes for accuracy.*

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Submitted ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨Arkouda@lemmy.ca⁩ to ⁨showerthoughts@lemmy.world⁩

Results may vary as it is entirely possible to also convince yourself it works with the same method

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cloudless@piefed.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
I used to write horoscopes for a magazine. Guess what my background was? I was the IT support guy of the magazine publisher.

No experience needed to write generic horoscopes, people who believe in it will believe whatever they read anyway.

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- DreamAccountant@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  [deleted]
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  - cloudless@piefed.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    How could it be a lie when horoscope is never the truth anyway?
    
    I didn't remember it fondly, it was just a task my boss asked me to do while my actual job was IT support.
    
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  - corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    
    that time you lied
    
    I hear Aliens never happened, so fuck James Cameron’s documentarian status, right? I’ve got a similar complaint with a documentary about three bears and some porridge.
    
    Let fiction be the fiction it is.
    
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Leg@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
Astrology used as a predictive engine obviously doesn’t work. Anyone using it that way is using it improperly IMO. It’s more like procedurally generated advice. For example, mine says there’s a conflict between old and new, and to embrace change while drawing on past lessons. Super vague, can apply to anyone. But it resonates and gives me something to focus on. That’s really all there is to it. Trying to “prove” it doesn’t work is like trying to “prove” wrestling is fake. That’s not the point, man.

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- Arkouda@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  
  Astrology used as a predictive engine obviously doesn’t work. Anyone using it that way is using it improperly IMO. It’s more like procedurally generated advice. For example, mine says there’s a conflict between old and new, and to embrace change while drawing on past lessons. Super vague, can apply to anyone. But it resonates and gives me something to focus on. That’s really all there is to it. Trying to “prove” it doesn’t work is like trying to “prove” wrestling is fake. That’s not the point, man.
  
  It is advertised as such, so I hope you can forgive those using it improperly after being mislead by those pushing the practice.
  
  It is at best a placebo and at worst a life destroying belief. Self reflection and keeping long term journals is far better for what you use Astrology for than Astrology.
  
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  - Leg@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    Have any cases of life-destroying choices that can be attributed to astrology?
    
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- serenissi@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  Yes. And that in itself can both be helpful and harmful. I’ve seen people to whom that was like a therapy. Also as those already ‘give’ something to focus on, so you do not use logical judgment to find where to focus to. This lead to unwise decisions.
  
  But you know what is at least as therapeutic as this but more reliable? Therapy.
  
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  - Leg@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    Therapy costs money, and isn’t done for fun though. It’s not the same thing. Like, are we trying to tell people who read fortune cookies to go to therapy instead? It’s a dumb interest that some people get way too into. Therapy helps with the obsessive part, which doesn’t need astrology to manifest.
    
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Almacca@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
That seems like a like of work to prove that obvious horseshit is obvious horseshit.

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- surewhynotlem@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  Do not disparage the journal of negative results. It’s a critical part of science.
  
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- Arkouda@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  k
  
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Shimitar@downonthestreet.eu ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
What a waste of time.

Why should you try to dispute astrology? People who believe in it doesn’t listen to reasons anyway. And for the others, well, they don’t need a demonstration of what they already know.

Also, asastrology really works*

in fulfilling people beliefs, wasting their time and sometimes money.
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- Arkouda@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  
  What a waste of time.
  
  Experimenting with the world around you is never a waste of time. Just because you believe you know something to be true, doesn’t mean others don’t require further evidence to sway their beliefs.
  
  Inherent in this experiment is writing down the events of your life and reflecting on them, which even if you know Astrology is meaningless, is a good exercise to grow as a human.
  
  Why should you try to dispute astrology? People who believe in it doesn’t listen to reasons anyway. And for the others, well, they don’t need a demonstration of what they already know.
  
  Why should you come here to dispute my simple experiment? People who find it interesting or helpful will do it or interact positively, and for the others like yourself, don’t need to waste their time commenting about how much of a waste of time this is.
  
  Also, asastrology really works*
  
  *) in fulfilling people beliefs, wasting their time and sometimes money.
  
  Unfortunately the people who believe in Astrology don’t listen to this rhetoric because it lacks any empathy or understanding of what it is like to be a human and pretends like the speaker holds or has held no unreasonable beliefs.
  
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- DreamAccountant@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  It’s lies. That’s why it’s bad. It’s blatant lies published as reality.
  
  People are trusting. This just erodes trust in others, and in society in general.
  
  Just one little thing. That adds up with all the other little things.
  
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DreamAccountant@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
You donj’t have to disprove astrology to know it’s bullshit.

Astrology has to prove it’s not bullshit, or it’s bullshit.

That’s how all logic works everywhere in the universe. Except for asshole religious freaks. They say the exact opposite, because they prefer to live in a fictional world where reality has no meaning at all.

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- Arkouda@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  
  You donj’t have to disprove astrology to know it’s bullshit.
  
  But I can, and I did. Also, yes you do.
  
  In Science you work to disprove your own hypothesis, and the only reason you “know” Astrology is bunk today is because of experiments like these done by people much smarter.
  
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A_norny_mousse@feddit.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
Non-selective long-term memory and self-reflection, you say?

Wouldn’t it be nice.

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TheReturnOfPEB@reddthat.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
That said the Age of Aquarius was to signal a rise in authoritarianism and a dark control by a powerful few over a helpless many.

Or so my Ouija board told me.

Just sayin’.

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BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
These types of things are inherently introspective, so anyone that puts a little effort into it will always find an explanation.

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sircac@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
As if an user could be interested in pursue such enlighten…

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- Arkouda@lemmy.ca ⁨18⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  That is a might big brush you have there. Try painting yourself with it.
  
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yesman@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
What’s the deal with people hating on astrology? DAE get the vibe that there’s more to this than “astrology doesn’t work”?

The thing is that even in the James Randy world of people taking advantage of the credulous, astrology is still a pretty small fish. The skeptic doth protest too much.

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- DreamAccountant@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  “Don’t challenge my lies, they’re little lies. I swear!”
  
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- Arkouda@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  This is such a Taurus thing to say.
  
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