@ Evie: If someone ranted on like you do and constantly and, IMO, mindlessly repeating the exact same thing at least 5 times in every sentence and at least once a day... I'd consider that person extreme in some way. Certainly not rational.

(January 28, 2010 at 12:29 pm)Rhizomorph13 Wrote: Your reaction is a sane one and similar to the one I manage every time my mother praises the Lord for some good thing like, good weather or someone surviving cancer while in a hospital suffering through chemo treatments (I would suggest maybe those chemo treatments had more to do with it than prayer, but, whatever). Sometimes I lose my shit because I am human, but there is definite merit in learning to tolerate other people's kooky beliefs.

Rhizo

Key word is tolerate. For me, it is a matter of survival of others as I'd begin to seriously consider killing them after the n-th time I'd hear about homeopathy, Christianity being the end-all-be-all or Newton never existing and fuck the British Empire.

Yeah anything about homeopathy or numerology drive me up a wall, but somehow, astrology doesn't and seems cool to me. I don't think it is good at predicting the future but when it comes to correlating personality to astrological signs there seems to be some merit to it. There I said correlating so it would sound sciencey.

Rhizo

Are you fucking kidding me?

It's so vague you can apply it to anyone. Numerous tests have shown that when given the same horoscope, people of different personalities and "signs" will make it fit them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkca2OkS5IU

This issue is a little personal to me. I found a popular astrologer on Twitter, and started debating with him. I challenged him to give me a reading. The result was a highly biased account of a life I simply didn't have (biased in that he tried to make out I was an arrogant, ignorant, fool the entire way through).

You can read it online: http://www.edaugusts.com/?p=804

...and my rebuttal: http://atheistblogger.com/2009/11/12/an-...ogy-chart/

(January 29, 2010 at 6:52 am)Tiberius Wrote: I found a popular astrologer on Twitter, and started debating with him. I challenged him to give me a reading. The result was a highly biased account of a life I simply didn't have (biased in that he tried to make out I was an arrogant, ignorant, fool the entire way through).

That is such an open door that I am not going to kick it.

Quote:You can read it online: http://www.edaugusts.com/?p=804

...and my rebuttal: http://atheistblogger.com/2009/11/12/an-...ogy-chart/

How did your brother respond to this reading? Because you must have one according to him. Perhaps a talk with your dad is in order?

@ To answer Rhizo...

I find that a very hard question to answer, I'm not sure how picky I could be. I don't know - I've never had a sexual relationship so I guess I better learn that lesson through experience really.

In response to Leo. I like your comment about how you hold off and don't say anything if you disapprove, but if asked you will not actually lie. That's what I do too - the problem is that I always end up being asked if I know someone long enough anyway... and I feel so awkward because of the suspense ("am I going to be asked?") sometimes that I feel I might as well be clear where I stand from the beginning.

EvF

(January 29, 2010 at 6:52 am)Tiberius Wrote: Are you fucking kidding me?

It's so vague you can apply it to anyone. Numerous tests have shown that when given the same horoscope, people of different personalities and "signs" will make it fit them.

No I am not kidding you, but I haven't studied it in depth. The books I've looked at are not vague, there are always some misses so it is certainly not an exact science, much like psychology.

Hmm, well I don't know you in any real way so looking at your chart won't help me at all, nor will your rebuttal.

I remember your talking about astrology and I suggested a site that you check out and you didn't even respond to me so I don't really feel inclined to proceed with you. Given the context, astrology was just an aside so go start your own thread, and I'll continue my conversation with EvF. I would be willing to discuss it, just not here.

Thanks,
Rhizo

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(January 29, 2010 at 11:54 am)EvidenceVsFaith Wrote: @ To answer Rhizo...

I find that a very hard question to answer, I'm not sure how picky I could be. I don't know - I've never had a sexual relationship so I guess I better learn that lesson through experience really.

In response to Leo. I like your comment about how you hold off and don't say anything if you disapprove, but if asked you will not actually lie. That's what I do too - the problem is that I always end up being asked if I know someone long enough anyway... and I feel so awkward because of the suspense ("am I going to be asked?") sometimes that I feel I might as well be clear where I stand from the beginning.

EvF

Even when you are asked, there is a right way and a wrong way to proceed. I go with honesty and try to just speak the truth while avoiding dysphemistic speach (Sky daddy, god-boy, hippy crap, sugar pills) because I have learned that the quickest way to snap a persons ears closed is to approach a hot button topic with a sneering tone. This, of course, only applies to people I care about; those I think are fucktards are fair game and receive treatment according to my mood.

In the example of a girlfriend, or girlfriend prospect, it is still best to be honest or you could find yourself in a relationship (YAY sex) that is built on a foundation of understanding that isn't real:

her - Yay he really "gets" me and won't judge my beliefs
you - ugh will she ever shut up about how <insert kooktastic belief here> helps her make it through her day

It is a hard decision for me to make because I am very judgmental and have had to relax my views a lot to participate in polite society while engineering a personality that is acceptable but able to move me towards my goals. *wonders if anyone else approaches life like this*

Rhizo

I fucking hate Astrology with a passion... I just can't stand the guff. I have asian friends who take it a step further in seriousness ...I think that stuff is just dangerous at best.

Well, I'll throw an I Ching and think of the question, "Is astrology accurate?"

Wow, I got mountain cloud goat with the mountain marked as changing into sky, that IS an auspicious throw! Therefore Astrology is not only correct but I now believe in god.

Ok, just kidding, none of that really happened,
Rhizo

PS Fr0d0 I have perfectly logical reasons to believe in astrology but it is such a deep subject that I can't explain them too you.

That's ok Rhiz I have no interest in that bullshit