# Horoscopes **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 27, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554 "2011-12-27T19:31:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Teufelblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@Teufelblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teufelblitz)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/21 "2011-12-28T11:55:37Z")
> [@campp](#): > > Sure. I hear people talking about it at work. “Maybe I shouldn’t ask for a raise because Mercury is in retrograde right now”. > > Midlevel managers, people that are married and have children. I’m not kidding. Go right ahead and ask for that raise if you really don’t want the boss to understand. Mercury retrograde causes communication fail… I mean. I don’t know anyone who believes this stuff and I never gave readings to any of them back when I was looking for replacement religion in my teenage years. ahem ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/22 "2011-12-28T12:59:19Z")
I used to do Tarot readings in a chat room on AOL, many years ago. My disclaimer was, “I am a charlatan. All of my insights and predictions are made upon the spot. I do this for my own amusement and your entertainment.” It was amazing how many people lined up for readings. It was more amazing how many of them came back later to tell me how it all came true. :rolleyes: :dubious: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/23 "2011-12-28T13:11:28Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > I used to do Tarot readings in a chat room on AOL, many years ago. My disclaimer was, “I am a charlatan. All of my insights and predictions are made upon the spot. I do this for my own amusement and your entertainment.” > It was amazing how many people lined up for readings. It was more amazing how many of them came back later to tell me how it all came true. :rolleyes: :dubious: :smack: Oh Oh, do a reading for me, do a reading for me! I had a girlfriend who at least half believed that stuff before. She had a book that gave a few of my off the wall interests. It said that I played the trombone and was a swimmer, both of which are true. Pretty funny how I matched the off the wall instrument. And yes I know it was pure luck and nothing more. ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/24 "2011-12-28T16:20:24Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > So you believe there are only 12 personality types in the world, and you’re the same as one twelfth (or about half a billion) of the people on the planet? In a general sense,yes. ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/25 "2011-12-28T16:21:49Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Well, ya know, it all [changed last year](http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/13/horoscope-hang-up-earth-rotation-changes-zodiac-signs/). > I think there are now 13 signs. I used to be a cancer, now I’m geminie cricket, I think. LOL…the sign change only affect those born 2011 and later. So you are still a cancer:). ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/26 "2011-12-28T16:29:56Z")
> [@Teufelblitz](#): > > Go right ahead and ask for that raise if you really don’t want the boss to understand. Mercury retrograde causes communication fail… > > I mean. I don’t know anyone who believes this stuff and I never gave readings to any of them back when I was looking for replacement religion in my teenage years. > > ahem See, that is why I say I believe in the zodiac to an extent, I’m not into the specifics such as daily horoscopes like: “July 7 will be your lucky day” and things like “You have 10 degrees in aries”…don’t really care about all that, just the generalization. ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/27 "2011-12-28T16:32:30Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > I used to do Tarot readings in a chat room on AOL, many years ago. My disclaimer was, “I am a charlatan. All of my insights and predictions are made upon the spot. I do this for my own amusement and your entertainment.” > It was amazing how many people lined up for readings. It was more amazing how many of them came back later to tell me how it all came true. :rolleyes: :dubious: :smack: I’ve had a tarot reading once and surprise surprise the card I got was a symbol of death…but everyone is gonna die one day ,so this is why I don’t believe in psychics… ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/28 "2011-12-28T16:57:56Z")
Having the Death card turn up, does not mean you’re going to die. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/29 "2011-12-28T17:04:09Z")
One of our ex roommates was a reader for one of the call in psychic networks that you saw advertised on TV [this was back in the 90s] and she could do a cold card reading that was amazing, all from just random chatting for about 2 minutes. It is amazing what people babble on about when you get them on the phone while you are getting credit card details and what not. She would also do reading for people that asked her, or also at SCA events and street fairs. She certainly did not believe that there was anything mystical going on, she didn’t believe in horoscopes, cards, palm reading or anything of the sort. It was a great way to make a few bucks on the side to her. Scorpio, chinese year of the Cow. Anybody want to do a random read on me, 340 am Oct 27th 1961 =) Favorite color is [blue](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalocyanine_Blue_BN). ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/30 "2011-12-29T01:17:44Z")
Even if I did believe in horoscopes, I wouldn’t know which one to go by. I’m a Taurus in the English calendar and an Aries in the Hebrew calendar. ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/31 "2011-12-29T01:25:07Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Even if I did believe in horoscopes, I wouldn’t know which one to go by. I’m a Taurus in the English calendar and an Aries in the Hebrew calendar. LOL…which of the two signs do you feel Is the closest to your personality? ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/32 "2011-12-29T02:00:46Z")
> [@slm2955](#): > > **LOL** yea, and I like to guess other pols sign’s too to see if they match thier description. Usually not though… > [@slm2955](#): > > **LOL** no I’m not, ima a cancer and everything the description says is me inside and out that’s why I believe it. Don’t believe in psychics though… > [@slm2955](#): > > **LOL** …the sign change only affect those born 2011 and later. So you are still a cancer:). > [@slm2955](#): > > **LOL** …which of the two signs do you feel Is the closest to your personality? Starting just about every sentence with “LOL” is annoying, even when talking about something as ridiculous as astrology. ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/33 "2011-12-29T02:06:44Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > Starting just about every sentence with “LOL” is annoying, even when talking about something as ridiculous as astrology. So, I cant laugh?Would “haha” be better for you??? Geez lighten up… ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/34 "2011-12-29T02:15:59Z")
> [@slm2955](#): > > So, I cant laugh?Would “haha” be better for you??? Geez lighten up… “LOL” “HAHA” “TEEHEE” and “HEHE” at the start of every sentence are also annoying. It makes you sound like a 9 year old girl. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/35 "2011-12-29T03:36:34Z")
This afternoon I Googled the person I mentioned earlier. He has a website now and also now charges for a reading. Maybe he used to didn’t, or didn’t charge “neighbors.” At any rate, (get the pun?) his card is alway full and he’s a kind man. I remember when his hair was red—he’s gray now, like a lot of us. If anybody doesn’t think this is too foolish (and I’ve been thrown out of better bars than this) message me if you’re interested in looking him up. ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_Mann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@Rich\_Mann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_Mann)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/36 "2011-12-29T09:11:25Z")
One of Robert A. Wilson’s books claimed that CSICOP (commitee for scientific _investigation_ of claims of the paranormal) only did one actual investigation. They chose horoscopes because it seems like such a ‘low-hanging fruit’. They gave a control group their ‘correct’ horoscope, and the experimental group a random one, expecting both groups to report similar degrees of accuracy. The experiment seemed to confirm horoscopes! According to Wilson they decided not to do any more investigations for fear of confirming something else that they had chosen not to believe. Instead they simply continue to ‘debunk’ them. Disclaimer: I don’t have any personal knowledge of the foregoing. If indeed this happened as reported by Wilson, here’s where I think they went wrong; they failed to consider the possibility that horoscopes might work to some degree for some other reason even if their supposed basis in astrology was pure BS. It seems to me that babies who crawled around naked in the grass through long days of bright sunshine for their first months might tend to have quantifiable differences in personality traits from those who had to remain in an artificially heated environment or be cocooned in layers of cloth during short, dim days for those same first months. Assuming most of your readers were born in the same climate where your horoscope is printed, a _smart_ columnist might capitalize on any tendencies towards certain traits that they notice in people born at various times of year, and tailor their comments accordingly. Having said this, I could never put any stock into a daily horoscope, but I have noticed that many of my fellow Virgo’s do, indeed, tend to be perfectionists, as ‘foretold by the stars’. ---
**Author:** ![willthekittensurvive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@willthekittensurvive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willthekittensurvive)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554/37 "2011-12-29T09:12:40Z")
we Virgo’s don’t belive in horoscopes [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horoscopes/607554.md?page=1)