Comprehensive study of 'time twins' debunks astrology

Washington Times ^ | 8/18/03 | Robert Matthews

[steve-b]

And that's Capricorn, is it?

No, that's just him. Otherwise, there'd be a lot of them.

[Servant of the Nine]

No doubt [UK] Government money funded this B.S.

If this helps provb to people that astrology is nonsense, then it is money well spent.

So9

[SengirV]

If my memory serves me right this occurs from the natural 'wobbling' of the Earth on it's axis like a top. There's a 24,000 year cycle to this if I remember correctly.

Exactly, that is one component. I didn't get too technical, because any astrologer would not understand. Astrology is quackery from a scientific point of view. Especially when the actual data they are giving you(signs and associated slivers of time) are WRONG!!!!

[wideminded]

"Belief in astrology is the infallible sign of ignorance." - Voltaire

[b9]

Thank You for this post!
Astrology's no game - a wise soul told me years ago not to state my birthday whenever possible.
I went to pick up some freelance illustration work once and the art director casually asked what 'sign' I was. I just laughed and said, "I'm signless." She wouldn't give it up, certain that I must be either 'this' sign or 'that' sign for being so stubborn. She actually wouldn't give me the work, claiming she had to know if I was a compatible sign.
Not easy being a conservative in the art field ... especially in San Francisco at that time!

[DoctorMichael]

From the mouth of one of the greatest Enlightenment Philosophes, no less.

[DoctorMichael]

.....wouldn't give me the work......

LOL. This paints an amusing picture to me of this situation.

[Quix]

As best as I can recall,

EVERY

well designed, independent study of astrology has similarly shown

ABSOLUTELY ****NO**** CORRELATION between

ANY

human variable and what astrology claims should be there based on that variable.

It has not mattered if the study dealt with a few famous astrologers or a dozen of them.

NO CORRELATION. ABSOLUTELY NONE.

[b9]

Unfortunately, scientific studies don't seem to matter, because astrology is deemed more of a religion than a science. It's hard to debunk such an entrenched belief in the minds of those who enjoy its emotional appeal.

[steve-b]

If this helps prove to people that astrology is nonsense, then it is money well spent.

That's precisely what it won't do -- anyone who still believes in astrology is probably a textbook case of invincible ignorance.

[Quix]

TRUE!

[rdb3]

I was born on Jully 22nd.

Were you born in '64?

[paladinkc]

I love that tagline!

[SengirV]

Were you born in '64?

No, in 1970. Are you excited about the upcoming movie? http://www.apple.com/trailers/artisan/the_punisher/teaser/

[Billthedrill]

Analysis of the research was carried out by Geoffrey Dean, a scientist and former astrologer based in Perth, Australia, and Ivan Kelly, a psychologist at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.

A Virgo and a Sagittarius. What do you expect they'd say?

[MEGoody]

These 'scientists' spent SEVERAL DECADES on this? Sheesh. I could have told them this and saved them all the trouble.

[MainFrame65]

FIRST OF ALL, I am in no way a believer in this stuff, so don't take any of this as a defense of the pseudoscience involved. But I have some exposure to it from decades ago, when my Mother used to do horoscopes as a social activity.

Although your own birthday and time, along with the specific astronomical situation at the time, are the largest component of your horoscope, it also considers the horoscopes of your parents and other family, which this "study" omits entirely. This is a common problem for skeptics - they redefine the arguments to fit their preconceptions, and then come up with answers that fit their new definitions. I think the debunkers conclusion is correct, but I have no faith at all in their methods

My Mother was a bookkeeper when she worked, and enjoyed working with numbers. Her horoscopes were done entirely by hand, using log and trig tables for the calculations, and she did horoscopes for all of the many cousins, nephews, nieces of our extended family. She wrote them up in a presentation style and gave them as gifts.

[talleyman]

Astrology is suck a bunch of garbage

Courage, Tiepo - this magic omelet will protect you!

[RightWhale]

Sure, debunkers abound, but the daily horoscope in the local paper is dead on every time. Never fails. Funny how it always works for me but seems so 'off' for other Sagittarians. We have used fung schwey in the office, and that works, too. Excuse me, it's time to lay out the Tarot cards again.

[DoctorMichael]

....omelet.... = amulet?

Although, since this IS garbage, an omelet might also accomplish the same thing.

BTW, I like mine with Ham, Onions and Cheese.