Posted by Hemant Mehta in I wrote yesterday about an astrologer’s tribute to David Foster Wallace.
It looks like the writer is responding back:
On Skepchick my post recieved a mild lampooning, but at the Friendly Athethist I was given what for in the piece, “Please Don’t Let People Do This Me When I Die.” (Hemnant, don’t think you have to worry. Astrologers generally only write about famous people.)
…
For the my colleagues who understand and for the skeptics who don’t the piece was up for one whole day before the hits to my site and the less than complimentary comments started. This is as the Moon swung into the zodiac sign of energetic Aries opposite our transiting friends Mercury, Venus and Mars in Libra. I expect this to continue as the Moon swings over my Mars at 3 degrees Taurus and for at least 10 degrees after, where the Moon will square my Aquarian Sun…
Obviously.
There’s an excuse I’ve never tried before: “The Moon made me do it!”
I’m not offended at the references to Wallace at all.
I’m just amazed anyone would fall for this crap because it sounds like there are charts and “science” behind it when, in fact, the astrologer’s map of the planets is essentially a dartboard waiting to be used.
I tried that excuse on my wife one time. I ended up sleeping on the couch. Astrology is for suckers and guys who like sleeping on the couch.
Next time someone criticizes anything I do, I’m totally going to give them a bland look and say, “Of course you don’t approve. The moon is swinging into Pieces right now, and so you’re clearly just experiencing the effects of my temporary irritating aura. You were born in December, am I right?”
So if we continue to leave negative comments on his post when the moon swings more than 10 degrees over his Mars at 3 degrees Taurus, does that disprove astrology?
He he dartboard.
There is, of course, a common idea that the full moon increases such things as crime rate or attacks of madness. Sadly the evidence doesn’t support it and no correlation has been proven. It is likely that people look for a correlation and therefore notice when crimes are committed during a full moon.
Such a shame. I was hoping to use the gibbous moon to justify my next killing spree.
Holy crap. The grammar… it hurts me.
Hehe.. I really feel sorry for these people.
Guess the feeling’s mutual though, as I could never understand the intricate workings of the great science of astrology, because I’m just a poor close minded skeptic.
If the astrologer knew this was going to happen due to the moon’s alignment/position/whatever, why didn’t she wait for a more auspicious time to post it?
Hmmmmmm……
“I was hoping to use the gibbous moon to justify my next killing spree”
*clapping*
Beautiful.
Well, a shot in the dark here, in older times before electricity, a full moon provided better visibility at nights for illicit deals to be done. It makes sense that people who wanted to ’skulk in the night’ to do it on a night with a full moon.
But what do I know, Im a scorpio…
Full moons were also used for non-illicit meetings (e.g., The Lunar Society or Freemasonry’s “moon lodges”). Such meetings might sometimes involved alcohol and/or high spirits getting out-of-hand. How to test is a bit tricky.
Cheah, right …
Like I should believe my destiny is controlled by overheated balls of gas a bajillion miles away?
My destiny is controlled by overheated balls of gas right here, thank you very much!
Cafeeine,
“A shot in the dark.” Good pun.
Actually that argument could be used for the opposite idea just as easily. If someone wanted to skulk, they’d be less likely to be spotted on a dark night with no moon up at all.
Personally, I do all my skulking on the nights of the new moon when no moonlight can reveal my nefarious activities. This was discussed at last year’s convention of the American Society of Skulkers. The majority of attendees surveyed, for the most part found in hallways, stair landings and the alley behind the convention center, identified themselves as “Moon Cussers,” a term used by skulkers to mean skulkers who prefer moonless nights for skulking.
Off topic? Hey, talking about skulkers isn’t any more ridiculous than having a debate with an astrologer.
As a friend of mine once observed: “If the Psychic Friends Network really works, shouldn’t they call you?”
Same would seem to apply with astrology.
Also this, from Joseph R
was hilarious, and I thank you for the belly laugh.
No kings,
Robert
Oh. Well, then. That explains everything.
Is he…is he serious? I honestly can’t tell if he’s being honest or just having a lark now.
Another thought, how have those who are into all this balderdash coped with the reclassification of Pluto? You’d think that’d upset their system somewhat…
From the latest observations most astronomers concur that astrology is the most laughable fraud in the solar system. The more contentious controversy rages on over whether astrology is also the most laughable fraud in the Orion arm of the Milky Way galaxy, where the sun resides. The answer of course would depend on finding civilizations in the Orion arm that are as capable of imbecility as is humanity. No data is available yet, but the likelyhood seems very low.
You think the stars would have informed them of the proper spelling of your name, “Hemnant”.
… and the spelling of “Athethist.”
I’ve actually given her an opportunity to prove Astrology to us, by simply convincing me that it works.
Lets see if she takes it…
http://tinyurl.com/4vm3mv
It is still painful to read that drivel. Thanks for posting it again. Appreciate it.