Current Events > AMA about astrology

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Spiderman23JII posted...

why should he have had to clarify if you where really tryna help people understand? You're taking something that's already abstract to most people and making it more inaccessible by being pretentious. You know what he meant when he asked you what your sign was.

Part of asking for the clarification was with the intent of getting people to realize that different signs exist.

While the Sun Sign is usually the one people are thinking of in a casual setting it's not the only one and it's not even the most significant one. The reason it's popular is because it's very easy to figure out.

Im a cancer and share a lot of the negative traits of being a cancer

Tyranthraxus posted...

Yes/no.

Here's the deal. Your birth signs are determined by the location of the various celestial bodies based on the date, time, and location of your birth.

The location of these celestial bodies are tracked using complicated math which is the only commonality between astronomy and astrology. Because of things like angular axial wobble & the year not being EXACTLY 365 days and in general everything not perfectly lining up properly, dates will frequently change.

The good news is that if you're using the astronomical equations to figure this out, they already account for all that junk. The bad news is a lot or "entrepreneurs" don't care and will twist the narrative to sell you a shitty 25 cent horoscope with some news about how you've been wrong about this your whole life and this is the REAL horoscope.

Similar deal with house Ophiuchus. (There is no house Ophiuchus but that doesn't stop people from trying to sell you astrology based on it)

That sounds crazy and some nonsense.

I'm a Aquarius but maybe the least idealistic Aquarius ever.

I just see the world for what it is.

People are gonna get shit and pissed on.

Just the way it is.

PrettyBoyFloyd posted...

That sounds crazy and some nonsense.

Astrology in a nutshell lmao

Tyranthraxus posted...

Part of asking for the clarification was with the intent of getting people to realize that different signs exist.

While the Sun Sign is usually the one people are thinking of in a casual setting it's not the only one and it's not even the most significant one. The reason it's popular is because it's very easy to figure out.

that is a douche way of doing it. "I'm a Virgo and my Moon and Rising are _________"

not, hey you come back with a more specific educated question, person i'm trying to teach something to.

I bet your mercury is in Leo

It's not crazy nonsense. I have all of the bad traits of being a Cancer.

Spiderman23JII posted...

that is a douche way of doing it. "I'm a Virgo and my Moon and Rising are _________"

not, hey you come back with a more specific educated question, person i'm trying to teach something to.

I bet your mercury is in Leo

My mercury is Libra actually.

the reason I'm upset with you belittling astrology is because I'm only part of the equation because I'm old

mercury is an air sign i guess that could make you an airhead half of the time

nfearurspecimn posted...

the reason I'm upset with you belittling astrology is because I'm only part of the equation because I'm old

I am not belittling astrology. You are by presenting this hyper reductive version of astrology in which it means "you are an X therefore you must Y"

The reality is more like

"Based on the heavens at the day, time, and place if your birth, here is what you can expect to happen in the future and here is how you're expected to react to it." Except it goes on for 30 pages and it cannot be summed up as "I'm a cancer"

Spiderman23JII posted...

mercury is an air sign i guess that could make you an airhead half of the time

This is Mercury Libra:

You are known for not jumping to conclusions about things. You tend to weigh all possible choices very carefully before making a decision. When in the slightest amount of doubt, you will compromise rather than ruffle any feathers. You are a true raconteur of culture and taste -- your ideas and opinions are neat, elegant and refined. A born diplomat, you dislike discord so much that you will go out of your way to make others feel comfortable and at ease. You speak softly and pleasantly.

This is Mercury in Aries:

this is shit topic

Tyranthraxus posted...

I am not belittling astrology. You are by presenting this hyper reductive version of astrology in which it means "you are an X therefore you must Y"

The reality is more like

"Based on the heavens at the day, time, and place if your birth, here is what you can expect to happen in the future and here is how you're expected to react to it." Except it goes on for 30 pages and it cannot be summed up as "I'm a cancer"

that's all well and good, but I'm actually a cancer

Aquarius and my name is Ralph
Now I like a woman who loves her freedom
And I like a woman who can hold her own
And if you fit that description, baby, come with me

Hasnt the position of Earth in the stars physically moved since astrology began thereby invalidating a lot of classical understanding of Zodiac signs?

shironinja posted...

Hasnt the position of Earth in the stars physically moved since astrology began thereby invalidating a lot of classical understanding of Zodiac signs?

Yes/no.

I explained this already above but the underlying math used to determine the position of things in the sky is still valid. People make the mistake of thinking the dates are static when they are not because basically nobody ever does the math and only a few people even those who actually believe in astrology ask questions like "but WHY is X Sign from Y date to Z date?" Which would eventually lead to the correct answer.

Why did you make this topic?

nfearurspecimn posted...

Why did you make this topic?

To answer questions about astrology and go into intricate detail on the complexities of the pseudoscience.

Tyranthraxus posted...

Sun is Virgo. I don't know what you mean by Sidereal sign. Could be anything from mercury to Saturn (Pluto).

you say "AMA about astrology" and don't even know what sidereal means, okay then

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidereal_and_tropical_astrology

I know what sidereal means, I just said I didn't know what a "sidereal sign" was specifically. Sidereal astrology isn't the same thing as a "sidereal sign."

What does sidereal sign mean in a context next to sun sign?

Tyranthraxus posted...

I am not belittling astrology. You are by presenting this hyper reductive version of astrology in which it means "you are an X therefore you must Y"

The reality is more like

"Based on the heavens at the day, time, and place if your birth, here is what you can expect to happen in the future and here is how you're expected to react to it." Except it goes on for 30 pages and it cannot be summed up as "I'm a cancer"

actually it can. I'm a cancer. I want other people's approval

Can't we all just get along and laugh at astrology? :(

Funkydog posted...

Can't we all just get along and laugh at astrology? :(

I don't know. Are you a Sagittarius?

Tyranthraxus posted...

What does sidereal sign mean in a context next to sun sign?

Sidereal astrology is based on where the signs are now, as opposed to Tropical astrology, which is what everyone is familiar with.

For instance, my Tropical sign is Leo, but my Sidereal sign is Cancer.

EDIT: I meant to say Tropical in my initial post rather than Sun. "Sun sign" simply refers to whatever sign the sun was in when you're born, regardless of topical or sidereal or whatever.

HylianFox posted...

Sidereal astrology is based on where the signs are now, as opposed to Tropical astrology, which is what everyone is familiar with.

For instance, my Tropical sign is Leo, but my Sidereal sign is Cancer.

I see what you mean. I only use sidereal signs in this context. I haven't bothered to look up any tropical astrology. I thought you might have been asking about one of the more obscure signs like mercury / Venus / etc.

it is interesting to note that most sidereal zodiacs still don't include Ophiuchus, despite the sun passing through it...

HylianFox posted...

it is interesting to note that most sidereal zodiacs still don't include Ophiuchus, despite the sun passing through it...

That's because when astrology was developed thousands of years ago they decided the rules were 12 houses, 30 degrees each. They knew about Ophiuchus back then and deliberately ignored it because 13 is an ugly prime number and 12 is awesome and divisible by 2, 3, 4, and 6.

It's less about what the fuck is actually up there and more about "these are the rules we made and we're going to follow them"

Inclusion of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto is already kind of controversial but there's not enough enthusiasm for astrology at that level to make a big fuss about it.

OK if you are so smart what is my Zodiac sign? Bonus points if you can also do Chinese animal and element.

Do you actually believe in astrology or is/was this a joke?

If you do then Ive got a few actual curious questions.

shironinja posted...

OK if you are so smart what is my Zodiac sign? Bonus points if you can also do Chinese animal and element.

Thats such a fire rat thing to say.

shironinja posted...

OK if you are so smart what is my Zodiac sign? Bonus points if you can also do Chinese animal and element.

I am not so smart

AnolanGuy posted...

Do you actually believe in astrology or is/was this a joke?

If you do then Ive got a few actual curious questions.

I do not believe in astrology but this is not a joke. I did a great deal of research into astrology some years ago for a project so I just know a bunch of stuff about it.

It does slightly annoy me when people post some common misconceptions about astrology though and then use those misconceptions as justifications as to why the whole system is stupid. If you don't believe in astrology I don't know why you need to reach farther than "no, planets millions of miles away from earth do not predetermine the future"

Why are Geminis the best in the world?

So what is the practical application of knowing our signs?

Every time I see astrology IRL it's treated like a super complicated Meyers Briggs thing. Kind of interesting, but not really useful.

KobeSystem posted...

Why are Geminis the best in the world?

2 on 1 is hard to beat

Kim_Seong-a posted...

So what is the practical application of knowing our signs?

Every time I see astrology IRL it's treated like a super complicated Meyers Briggs thing. Kind of interesting, but not really useful.

Myers Briggs, for all its faults at least sources the individual for its assessments. Astrology's information is sourced from research conducted by people thousands of years ago on people thousands of years ago. Practicality it doesn't do anything besides maybe make a conversation piece. It's also a generally inoffensive way to blend a little spirituality into your life if you're missing religion but don't want to get involved with them again. Astrology doesn't really have any dogma and doesn't threaten you with eternal hellfire for jacking it.

Tyranthraxus posted...

I am not so smart

I do not believe in astrology but this is not a joke. I did a great deal of research into astrology some years ago for a project so I just know a bunch of stuff about it.

It does slightly annoy me when people post some common misconceptions about astrology though and then use those misconceptions as justifications as to why the whole system is stupid. If you don't believe in astrology I don't know why you need to reach farther than "no, planets millions of miles away from earth do not predetermine the future"

I wasnt going to criticize you.

AnolanGuy posted...

I wasnt going to criticize you.

Don't mind me I'm just tired and ranting. If you have any questions I'll answer if I know the answer.