No Shit, Sherlock... Part II
Offline http://www.randi.org/joom/swift/swift/swift-may-2-2008-2.html
So, a legitimate, proper, study of how the early influences of birth factors could change or mold adults who developed from those basic elemental babies, turned out to be what is now seen as a definitive blow against the presumptions of the star-gazing early sooth-sayers – whose sooth now appears to be very faulty: no significant evidence of similarities between the "time twins" was found. The researchers reported this in a recent issue of the “Journal of Consciousness Studies,” saying:
The test conditions could hardly have been more conducive to success… but the results are uniformly negative.
Once again proving that scientists are willing to spend money and time to demonstrate the obvious to the naive, two researchers took data from 2000 "time twins" all over the world and examined more than 100 characteristics that had been tracked throughout their life, many of which correspond exactly with the claims of astrology. The results were predictable. Astrology is bullshit, and astrologers don't believe the survey.
Atheism isn't a lot like religion at all. Unless by "religion" you mean "not religion". --Ciarin
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That's still a good one to keep re-hashing, though. There are a LOT of people who really believe that the time you were born influences your behaviour. I went on a date once where the woman decided she couldn't see me anymore because she had already dated Virgo men, and she didn't want to do it again. Yikes.
It actually worked out, since I didn't want to date someone who was that gullible. But people really believe that shit, so until that stops, I know I'm going to keep arguing for reason.
Saint Will: no gyration without funkstification.
fabulae! nil satis firmi video quam ob rem accipere hunc mi expediat metum. - Terence
Have you ever seen the "Biggest Douche in the Universe" episode of Southpark? That's where Stan debunks John Edward's psychic bullshit by learning how to do cold reading himself.
Something similar happened to me a few years ago. A few of my friends were really into astrology, so I decided to learn how to do it. Of course, I never did any mumbo-jumbo star charting. I have no idea how to do that. I just learned the right words so that I sounded official. All I did was learn the characteristics of each star sign, and then get people who were a little buzzed to let me do a "reading." From there, it was just a matter of educated guesswork and intentional vagueness.
Oh, I had some really "astonishing" hits from time to time, like the guy who was introduced to me, and from just hearing that he was a virgo, I confidently informed him that he organizes his sock drawer meticulously. Pretty specific stuff that has a good chance to be wrong, right? Well, not exactly. When he ordered his drink, he pulled his wallet out, and it was the most organized thing I'd ever seen, with all the credit cards on one side, clearly organized... all shiny, and when he showed the bartender his ID, it was shiny and perfect, even though he was in his mid-20s. His pants were ironed and pleated, and his shoes were freshly polished. His socks not only matched, but they matched as if they had been picked off the rack for this particular outfit. He was well groomed and his fingernails were meticulously cut.
I noticed all of this in about five seconds after we were introduced. (I suggested he order a beer because I wanted to watch him interact with the bartender.) From there, bam! Had him. After I told him about his sock drawer, he pretty much told me everything about himself, and I just pointed out the things that lined up with Virgos.
This is all simple stuff, and anyone with a little bit of observational acuity can do it. The thing is, I told my friends exactly what I had done, thinking that they would see that astrology is just glorified cold reading.
Know what they said?
"You're a natural talent. You don't even know how you do it, but your energy is that powerful."
Atheism isn't a lot like religion at all. Unless by "religion" you mean "not religion". --Ciarin
http://hambydammit.wordpress.com/
Books about atheism
Man, I thought for sure it was going to be about Dinesh D'Souza ... or Vox Dei ... that is, if they turn out to be different people.
Holy shit, I need to find that.
Exactly the reason that I hate astrology. I've had people actually get angry with me because I'm "supposed" to be a Virgo. I'm not. I'm messy, I don't go looking for bargains unless I have no money, etc, etc.
Yeah. You know what they say when I tell them I'm roughly the opposite of a Virgo?
"Oh, you're on the cusp."
What the FUCK? Next time an astrology buff asks me for money, I'll tell them it's on the cusp.
Saint Will: no gyration without funkstification.
fabulae! nil satis firmi video quam ob rem accipere hunc mi expediat metum. - Terence
The Biggest Douche in the Universe
So good. I love the dialogue between Edwards and Stan. Quickest debunking ever
Saint Will: no gyration without funkstification.
fabulae! nil satis firmi video quam ob rem accipere hunc mi expediat metum. - Terence