Why I think astrology is false

[ProfWag]

Thanks for the list Don. I'll look into your suggestions. You underestimate me though and I have actually learned quite a bit about astrology in the past couple weeks. Hasn't changed me opinion one bit, but I have learned none-the-less. I would love to debate you Don, but posting and then disappearing for 2 or 3 weeks only to pop up again, post something, then disappear again isn't conducive to a good debate.

[ProfWag]

I've been doing some personal soul searching and you know what, I've decided I am going to try to be more open minded on this whole astrology bit and possibly do some kind of crude research paper on the results of my studies. I have 3 more weeks to go in this semester however, but once this "child" (as I've been called) finishes teaching these 25 adults that are in my class, I'll get right on that. My personal opinion is that I should probably pay more attention to my students who are trying to better themselves through hard work and determination than to astrology and the "3 or 4" of the astrology books that were suggested, but I'll be able to devote more time quite soon and see what I find out.

[Don]

Sorry if you don't like my "disappearing." Just as you have your students to teach, I have things to do, too. And "debating" with someone who looked at little booklets and silly newspaper sun sign predictions just isn't worth my time.

I have repeatedly stated that I don't know if astrology is valid. There are certainly parts of it that seem to have some validity while others seem like guesswork based on some sort of logic and too limited a set of test subjects.

Further, I'm anything but an expert on astrology. However, respectfully, debating with you has been like a native English speaker debating the meaning of the word "bad" with someone who is a native speaker of Urdu and whose knowledge of English is based on reading a Spiderman comic from 1985 and who insists he knows more than the native English speaker. That doesn't make the speaker of Urdu stupid. It just has him coming from a knowledge base that is too small. His insistence on knowing more than the English speaker is just not worth the time to debate.

[ProfWag]

Hmmmm, let's see Don. I've presented peer reviewed studies that involved astrologers themselves and you've given me, well, nothing. I have asked for information you have that suggests there is something to astrology and you've given me, well, nothing. (except a list of books by astrologers themselves that I'm supposed to read.) Certainly not anything scientific, but it's all good. As mentioned, over the course of the next few weeks, I'll draft up some research and present it under a new thread to avoid confusion.
I would like to add Don, that one of the reasons I came to this forum was to learn about the paranormal as I freely admit that I'm not an expert in many areas. Much of what I present in written is using what I consider logic and common sense, but everyone has their own opinion of that. If you have valuable information concerning astrology, then I wish you would share it, but you really haven't presented anything remotely debatable from my point of view but ad homen attacks. If you have presented something valuable, please remind me.

[Don]

Actually, ProfWag, you've presented nothing. You know nothing of astrology. You've done no tests. You take things out of context. You refuse to do research.

To call yourself a "scientist" of any kind is an insult to science. I have no doubt that if you were around in the 1630s you'd have been busy condemning Galileo, too. After all, you would know nothing of the subject, do no tests, take things out of context, and refuse to look at the research he presented.

Thank you, however, for being an ideal example of the pseudo-skeptic who claims to be supporting science while doing everything possible to ignore the scientific method.

[ProfWag]

[Nostradamus]

[Nostradamus]

[ProfWag]

Thanks Nostradamus, appreciate the post. I have actually started a research paper on astrology, but I have a long way to go. Whether it is purposeful or not, there are a lot of areas in astrology and finding information on specifics has been quite challenging, especially when trying to research it from an unbiased attitude, but with little in the way of peer reviewed articles supporting its value or validity. I hope to have it completed over the holiday periods though.

[NinjaPuppy]

[ProfWag]

[NinjaPuppy]

I'm not so sure that a term paper is really the way to go. Perhaps for a skeptic of higher education it's second nature and a great way to put all the information into one organized package. However, perhaps just going to the library and checking out one or two of the books that Don suggested may be more enjoyable. Spend some quality time with a cup of tea or your beverage of choice in a comfy chair, while enjoying your winter break from reading other's papers and just read.

You may actually enjoy the content. You may have questions that might be answered by reading that content. Either way, you can spend your time in a leisurely setting without making it into a work project.

Don't worry, if you're thinking that your credibility may be questioned by reading a book of this nature, you can wrap it in a plain brown paper wrapper and tell people it's porn. Trust me. I've done this when reading books that contain the word 'WITCH CRAFT' on the cover, in 2 inch letters. I've switched dust jackets as well.

No need to make a project out of it right now. Should you find something that requires a bit more 'study' then you can think about doing a term paper. You're starting this journey with a working mindset. Try it from a curious mindset and just read.

[ProfWag]

[ProfWag]

I think this thread has become convaluted with finger pointing, ramblings, and back and forth arguments. It has become confusing and non-condusive to my personal education in astrology. So, I'm going to start a new thread in a bit that I hope can focus on learning. This one can continue for those of us interested, but sometimes, it's best for me to just start from scratch.

[Don]