The new zodiac sign dates have had us all acting like we've been moved into the Cancer realm and turned into permanent crabs. But don't bother reading your horoscope today, we're about to make you really crabby about the new astrological dates. It turns out the people at the Minnesota Planetarium Society, the scientists responsible for this whole astrological mess, don't believe a word they're saying.
It's a report from the astronomers in Minnesota that's been given credit for the major zodiac sign changes that had parents panicking and divorce papers drafted yesterday. But take one look at the society's website, and the only nod to the report is a link to the news story that started the whole hullabaloo. And then there's this:
A link directing you to visit the site of Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer, taking on astrology. It's directly underneath the note about the zodiac report, so it must be something that will shed a little light, right? Make the Scorpios feel better about being Libras, and so on?
Not at all. Plait is a real astronomer. And as such, he thinks that astrology, zodiac signs, and horoscopes are a teeming pile of horse manure. Just check out his initial disclaimer on the site:
Before I even start, a note: this page is my attempt to show that astrology has no basis in reality whatsoever. Ironically, the Google ads on the right hand side of this page will invariably advertise astrological websites, because Google looks for keywords in a page and serves up "appropriate" ads. It's impossible for me to filter out the swarming mass of astrology ads, so you have my permission to look at them and chuckle.
And what about this indictment of everything that went on yesterday?
There is harm, real harm, in astrology. It weakens further people's ability to rationally look at the world, an ability we need now more than ever.
This is what the people who got us all worked up yesterday want us to read? That they don't put one iota of faith in it? Looks like we all just got played ... and played right into their hands.
Hey, I've always been a bit of a "skeptic" about the zodiac. I don't read my horoscope faithfully. I don't even know the "traits" of folks outside of my own family. But when I read the word "astronomer" associated with the report yesterday, as opposed to just plain old "astrologist," I can't be the only one who stood up and listened. Astronomers, after all, are real scientists. If they're talking about this, it has to be real. Right? Right?
But the worldwide frenzy that cropped up yesterday just proved Phil Plait right: we didn't look rationally at the world yesterday. We saw the word "science," and we jumped. Unfortunately, we forgot to read what the scientists were really saying.
Does this make you feel like you've been played or like you were overreacting?
Image via justj0000lie/Flickr
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Comments 31
Astronomers may have 12 years of study on thier sunject but that doesn't garuntee they are correct. scientist use to say the earth was the center of the universe.
I know I am an aquarius and I fit the profile, always have so as far as I am concerned these people are nuts and this new casserole of nonsense will never fly.
Me-Aquarius. Birth time-Unknown So Aquarius Plus My Rising Sign Unknown.
Chinese Zodiac-Metal Rooster
Man-Leo/Libra Rising. Chinese Zodiac-Metal Monkey
1st Born-A girl
Born June 25th 2003. 2:05 PM-Cancer/Rising Sign is in 14 Degrees Scorpio
Chinese Zodiac-Black Water Sheep
2nd Born-A boy
Born May 29th 2006. 5:20pm, Gemini/Rising Sign is in 10 Degrees Sagittarius
Chinese Zodiac-Red Fire Dog
3rd Born-A girl. Born July 22 2008. 9:26 PM-Leo/Rising Sign is in 20 Degrees Pisces
Chinese Zodiac- Brown Earth Rat
... then there are the superstitious ones that will reject anything with the number '13' (signs) in it...
In general, any ancient 'science' that may have had relevance and authority then, even with its modern-day followers, can never pass muster with the current scienctific community. That's the same scientific community that purported to students as late as the 60s that the earth was like a shrinking, cooling baked apple; the wrinkling skin representing the mountain ranges. Then, Lo. Tektonics became the new science. So the last word of 'almighty' science isn't 'all that' either.
I look at astrology as a form of entertainment. After the day is done, sometimes i read them and look back to see if anything rang true. For the most part I find truth in it but I'll have to admit that things can be read, written, and said in such a way that their is truth to it. It kind of reminds me of an art form.
Of course there is not a lot of rational thinking involved, or scientific process, but so what.
It takes all kinds in this world. If you can put your rationale mind aside for a moment you might see the value in it.
Also, many very intelligent, creative, and scientific thinkers believed in such things, and kept it to themselves so as not to face public scrutiny.
Your Zodiac sign is based on where the sun was when you were born. Not where it is now. Not where it will be in ten years. When you were born. Horoscopes, if you chose to put any faith in that, are deduced on where the other planetary bodies are in relation to your sign. I just have to say... If you don't know that, but you're getting all flustered about this nonsense, then you really should reevaluate why exactly you put any faith in astrologists at all. You're all being silly, making a fuss over something you don't even understand.