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Watching this interview with a well-known astrophysicist today got me thinking of astrology. I was very interested in all sorts of pseudosciences during my teenage years.
Astrology, numerology, physiognomy.. So interested I may still sometimes look at a person and think back to what the book said their face traits tell
Hey, physiognomy was a lot of fun! I should make a few photographs of what became of the book. They say, you should never write in the books (it used to be a precious comodity, so due respect was required). But what's sweeter than breaking the rules sometimes? Especially, when the book is already full of hillarious mugs.
Sure, theres definitely something to physiognomy in a sense that our experience in life, the emotions we experience, the states were in, leave a trace on our faces. But thats too little to turn this one observation into a science. Maybe yet...
Numerology.
I have a notebook somewhere with lots of calculations for my friends' and acquaintances' birthdays. "I got their numbers!"
Then Id also calculate the number of the day for any important day in my life (like smth great, or bad, or just extraordinary happenned). Have a diary somewhere solely dedicated to dates and short descriptions of what happenned. I was planning to analyze it later to see if theres any trend showing.
Well... I lost my interest before any trend was found.)) Although it did last for at least few months, I think.
Astrology.
With astrology, just as well, I was totally into it before I saw there was no use.
I was asking my friends, acquaintances and classmates their signs and then looking if I was able to see the similiarities between same signs, and how much people really resembled the characteristics of their signs.
Sometimes Id see them. Sometimes not. I gues scientists would have said 'no statistically significant correllation was observed'.
It usually boils down to what u're trying to see. You'll see it there. And you'll not notice something else you're not looking for. E.g., you expect Aries to be proud and arrogant - you'll find a few who have those traits. While in the same time missing a few shy guys and not paying attention to a bunch of arrogant Virgos around.
Confirmation bias.
And once I met a person who was born on the same day as me, and not even far geographically. ehem.. We're two totally different people.
Of course, an astrologist could say that that doesn't prove anything, or that I just didnt notice some core similiarities while looking on the surface, or I don't know what else. No point arguing about smth no one can see or prove. I'm just gonna say I'd be looking forward to any scientific experiment measuring personality traits and then demonstrating their correlation with date/time and place of birth.
All the rest is just useless noise. No scientific evidence - no point trying to disprove what's never been proven.
All these instruments, I have concluded, rather stood in the way of learning more about other people, than helped.
They're so unreliable tools that they can actually mislead you and prevent you from trusting your own intuition and judgement about who you're dealing with. They actually create prejudices. You meet a person, you ask their sign and from that point on you're inclined to interpret everything they say about themselves in a certain way. I decided I didn't need this. I never ask people their signs any more. I am a little surprised when they ask about mine. But I understand, they never really got deep into it, so they never had the chance to see how useless it is.
"If the fool would persist in his folly he would become wise." I persisted in mine.
...
Update 28/10/2011.
As promised, the photos from my physiognomy book:
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Irina |
05-07-2012
Hey, thanks! I was beginning to think not many people appreciated this kind of humour)))) |
Brian
|
06-07-2012
Now the important question is.....just what IS your sign?
Sincerely, Proud Taurus |
Irina |
07-07-2012
I'm not telling. Answering this question feels like helping people make a whole lot of unfounded assumptions about my character. Learning about who I am is a hard work: takes curiosity and an open mind :) |
I especially like the last one. You are very talented