# Chinese Zodiac Placements - why the consistent error?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-zodiac-placements-why-the-consistent-error/381602>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 24, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-zodiac-placements-why-the-consistent-error/381602 "2006-11-24T02:15:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-zodiac-placements-why-the-consistent-error/381602/1 "2006-11-24T02:15:41Z")

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We were eating at our favorite Chinese place the other day and as always, I looked at the placemat with the Chinese Zodiac.

I’m a boar (some might argue the spelling of that :)) So is **Typo Knig**. Evidently we’re destined to a life of unhappiness, as every single placemat, no matter where we’ve been, has said Boars should avoid other Boars.

All the other animals, the placemat says you should hang out with people 4 years older or younger, and avoid people 6 years older or younger. It doesn’t say anything about people who are any other age difference, or even the same age as you are.

Even Snakes (6 years before/after Boars) are urged to avoid Boars. What? We can’t hang out with our own kind and we can’t play with snakes either? I feel so… so… so marginalized ☹

Anyway - What’s with this? Obviously it’s a typo from way back (someone put Boar-avoid-Boar instead of Boar-avoid-Snake) but why hasn’t someone fixed it? (Actually I did see one that had it correct, years ago, and just once. My theory is that the printer of that placemat was rubbed out by a secret Boar-hating cabal).

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**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-zodiac-placements-why-the-consistent-error/381602/2 "2006-11-24T04:13:14Z")

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Well, you can check [the Chinese Sign Compatibility site](http://chinese.astrology.com/compat/) for a “better” answer than one from a place mat.

I pluggedin “Pig” for both the first person’s sign and the second person’s sign and got the following:

> [@](#):
>
> Two Pigs can be a very loving and compatible match, as two of this Sign share the same love of family and sensual comforts. Pigs delight in rich foods, lovemaking, long baths and naps … Two together may not get much done, practically speaking, but they will enjoy their time together immensely. Two Pigs enjoy their connection most if the relationship is personal, so two of this Sign make wonderful lovers, family members or best friends.

There’s more but you get the gist, I hope.

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**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-zodiac-placements-why-the-consistent-error/381602/3 "2006-11-24T15:22:53Z")

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Wait, you’re asking a question about logical consistency in _astrology_? :dubious: