General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI'm sure this will draw fire, but "been there, done that".
How can we criticize anti-vaxxers and such as "anti-science" while featuring political opinions based on astrology?
Astrology may be an amusing pastime for some, but it has NO scientific validity and is considered "peudoscience". It is just as unscientific---and unreliable---as forecasting election results by "reading the entrails of an owl".
To those about to respond that I "just don't understand", you are correct. I also don't understand palm reading and "psychic hotlines". That doesn't mean I can't criticize them and say they are bunk.
I am sorry if that offends some here, but what I just said is factual.
lapfog_1
(29,227 posts)anti-vaxxers are killing people with their actions and words.
Astrologers are mostly harmless. And those they do "harm" are only the believers.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,453 posts)ShazamIam
(2,576 posts)XanaDUer2
(10,757 posts)I couldn't imagine making political predictions based upon it
leftstreet
(36,117 posts)greenjar_01
(6,477 posts)Perfection!
-misanthroptimist
(821 posts)...your post was funny.
Carlitos Brigante
(26,505 posts)Polly Hennessey
(6,809 posts)insensitive by some and receive a rather hurtful slap/hit on the wrist. Opinions must conform.
Bettie
(16,130 posts)astrology, palm reading, or psychics. I mean, maybe from Marianne Williamson, but around here?
Aside from an occasional comment that "Mercury is in retrograde", which is the equivalent of "Jeez, must be a full moon!" I don't think many people seriously base their political opinions on such things.
I'm not offended, I'm kind of confused as to where you are getting the impression that even a significant minority of people here base their politics on astrology.
Atticus
(15,124 posts)was recently said to be "in trouble" due to----planetary or stellar or whatever relationships.
CrackityJones75
(2,403 posts)Another politician? A pundit? A poster here?
Atticus
(15,124 posts)brooklynite
(94,757 posts)That said, are you concerned about ONE post? If so, perhaps your complaint should be addressed there.
Atticus
(15,124 posts)You and other readers of this thread can decide.
My intent was not to embarrass or ridicule the DUer who posted what I referenced. I think the broader issue is whether any of us should acquiesce in astrological pseudoscience as something worth considering.
brooklynite
(94,757 posts)Atticus
(15,124 posts)garner several "likes" and appreciative responses.
I have never seen any other religious or "spiritual" posters cite their unscientific beliefs as support for their political opinions.
CrackityJones75
(2,403 posts)Most likely.
Scrivener7
(51,025 posts)Atticus
(15,124 posts)Scrivener7
(51,025 posts)I'm not going to tell you anything about it" position?
Atticus
(15,124 posts)posters determined to either defend astrology or challenge criticism of it.
As I said elsewhere, you are free to decide that the post I refuse to put a spotlight on does not exist and that I am, therefore, a liar.
Scrivener7
(51,025 posts)In no way do I think you are lying, but none of this makes much sense, and there is little in the way of discussion to be had about it because we are not privy to any information about it.
It really isn't weird to wonder what your post refers to.
Atticus
(15,124 posts)is needed:
--- Astrology is a pseudoscience with no basis in scientific fact.
--- A post on DU used astrological interpretations to conclude that a prominent politician was "in trouble".
--- There have been numerous other similar posts which garnered several likes and appreciative responses.
--- I am not aware of any other religious or "spiritual" posters who cite their faith or beliefs as support for their political opinions.
Scrivener7
(51,025 posts)For over 40 years, I bled in time with the phases of the moon. So I'm not one to dismiss out of hand the idea that celestial bodies might have an effect on us.
From what I have read about astrology, it seems to have a lot to do with archetypes, and I do think archetypes are very psychologically satisfying (which is why they are archetypes) and as such, they are influential in our psychology. Really, if you think about it, a lot of spiritual systems are similarly based on archetypes, and those are allowed forums and discussions here.
Others know more about astrology than I do, and some of those who do seem to feel it helps them in some way. I'm not going to dis that any more than I am going to dis beliefs in particular deities or religions.
I think all posters with religious beliefs base a lot of their political opinions on those beliefs. I know I am a liberal Democrat because of what I believe.
So I disagree with you. I don't think following astrology makes anyone any less able to appreciate and understand vaccines than, say, a belief in Jesus does.
Atticus
(15,124 posts)Saying that I don't believe in astrology is no more "dissing" it than saying I am not a Catholic is "dissing" that faith.
But, the position of the planets is no more support for a political opinion than the pronouncement of the "infallible" Pope.
Scrivener7
(51,025 posts)How can we criticize anti-vaxxers and such as "anti-science" while featuring political opinions based on astrology?
You're saying that we cannot legitimately criticize anti-vaxxers when we have posts about astrology.
I disagree with that.
Atticus
(15,124 posts)Scrivener7
(51,025 posts)Atticus
(15,124 posts)Believing in astrology---or Catholicism or Judaism---is not the problem.
Posting that : a person's birth date or the Pope or the Torah is relevant to political discourse IS the problem--- apparently in my sole opinion.
Scrivener7
(51,025 posts)us to criticize anti vaxxers while allowing posts about astrology.
Bayard
(22,172 posts)Champp
(2,114 posts)That good old impulse to dump on something that you haven't looked into thoroughly or systematically, but deserves a good trashing just for the divisive hell of it?
Kinda seems like that.
Atticus
(15,124 posts)to the attitude that there are "two sides to everything" and "discussion is always justified".
I won't even begin down the rabbit hole of where that attitude has led some voters.
You look into astrology, thoroughly, systematically or sideways. When you find scientific evidence that it has validity, please post it.
You can believe in astrology if you choose to, just as you may hold any religious beliefs you choose. But, we wouldn't respect a political opinion based on "God---or Allah---or Yahweh---or whoever---told me that" so I don't want to hear "X is in trouble politically because his Mars is in retrograde"---or whatever.
Champp
(2,114 posts)Atticus
(15,124 posts)LeftInTX
(25,592 posts)Sorry, I'm not up to date with the newest trend......
llmart
(15,556 posts)If President Reagan can make decisions based on Nancy's astrology sessions then you can't argue with the success of that.
cojoel
(958 posts)Economics is an exact science, like Astrology and Witchcraft.
Atticus
(15,124 posts)tenderfoot
(8,438 posts)Because that's the last time I heard anyone base policy on astrology.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Is this really a thing lately? I wasn't aware of it.
brooklynite
(94,757 posts)Atticus
(15,124 posts)brooklynite
(94,757 posts)Atticus
(15,124 posts)Crunchy Frog
(26,659 posts)Skittles
(153,209 posts)what political opinions are based on astrology?
Treefrog
(4,170 posts)Im a Leo though.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,385 posts)We successfully got it restricted to the Lounge, or the Astrology group when that started, and if it ever appeared in GD as if serious, it was widely mocked. The Astrology group has been very quiet itself, apart from one member (who bizarrely deleted all his posts from before the 2020 election so that over half the threads from Jan-Sept 2020 are "This message was self-deleted by its author " ).
I wonder if just a reply or two to a member who seems to take it seriously (in the main forums) as part of politics would be a better approach? It's not as if your thread title gave any idea this was about astrology, so it's very likely they haven't even read this thread.
Atticus
(15,124 posts)HAB911
(8,919 posts)I can't split hairs with some here. TOO FUNNY