Astronomers, astrologers - they're the same, right?

[Omaroo]

I would have thought so given this brilliant bit of journalism from the ABC... how to confuse an already confused public - put both "LG" and "NM" types in the same article - even though Fred winds it in at the end. :rolleyes:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/12/3215114.htm

[erick]

Yes, just read it - tragic! At least Fred got the last word, but I doubt those that needed to hear it could read that far. :shrug:

[jjjnettie]

sigh.....

[erick]

Should we all email Monique Ross? Can anyone find her email address?

[one_iota]

I just finished reading this on the ABC news site.....the ABC which does good work in "science outreach" has dropped the ball with this one. :rolleyes:

[astronut]

:screwy::screwy::screwy::screwy:

[PeterM]

I dunno, as the saying goes we can all take something from this. After reading the first astrologers comments I get the feeling I was born during a prior alignment, you know the magnetism and all that .........

PeterM.

[h0ughy]

ahh its all publicity - good for the sport ;) at least the public is aware of something happening - and if they ask questions even better - at least you can give an answer - and the lotto numbers

[spearo]

I like the prediction that people born around this time with experience sexual magnetism...

What ? ... people hoping to get la*d on their birthday?
Amazing !
I'm a convert now, where's my star sign chart?

Can I get chicken entrails with that please?
;):lol:
frank

[that_guy]

guh, I knew the planetary alignment had something to do with my social awkwardness... :\

[rally]

This should all be good promotion for our highly sensual and sexually magnetic pursuit !

Afterall how else could you get 50,000 extra people out planet gazing in one week.

At least two of them may be interested enough to try and work out which one is Mars and Venus !
Heck who knows some may even want to look through a telescope
Definitely the week to dress up and do a sidewalk star party - now ehat to wear on this occasion - the mind boggles

The rest will quickly read their horrerscopes to see if that magnetism is coming their way !!!

I think I better trade in my observing buddies after reading this !!

[ngcles]

Hi All,

Firstly, what's an "astrologist"?

And you can conclude from the two quotes from these astrologers that

From Douglas Parker:

"Jupiter and Venus together indicates people born around this time will have film-star mannerisms, be extremely popular and have considerable artistic ability," he said.
"Jupiter and Mercury together indicates people born around this time will be successful in business, science or as a speaker.
"Mercury and Venus together indicates people born around this time will have considerable artistic and creative ability."
And, he says, it gets better.
"The Venus and Mars together in the sky indicates people born around this time will have a strong sexual magnetism and a strongly sensual nature," he said."


So Douglas no bogans or nerds will be born while these conjunctions are current?



And from Sarah Kulkens:

"Most people will feel that family ties will be the most important part of their lives.
"The effect of this planet line-up has been slowly felt by many over the past few months and by the end of May people should be starting to slowly feel better."


So Sarah, placing the emotional and physical needs of ones family is something that you can "slowly feel better" from at the end of the month when the conjunctions are over.

Your 8c a day ...

Bravo Fred -- as always!


Best,

Les D

[astroron]

Les, the government is talking about education and being a smart country, and then you see this garbage being sprouted on the ABC:rolleyes:
Talk about dumbing down the populous:screwy:
Cheers

[avandonk]

Years ago when computers were new and planetarium programs fairly basic I used to ask people what was their birthdate and time and then produce a map where the Sun was at that exact time and place of birth.

Everyone's starsign was wrong of course due to two thousand years of precession. The sad thing was they thought they had been looking at the wrong horoscope!

Even pointing out that these so called astrologers do not know anything about Astronomy did not deter them.

My theory is the ancient Astronomers were fooling their kings or benefactors by claiming they could fortell the future. It was all about continued funding for their obsession!

The scam is still being used today.

Bert

[Omaroo]

...or being allowed to live. :question:

[PeterM]

I like that idea.
What a way to fund an obsession.... an 18inch that would suit me fine.
And all from a cup with tea leafs or dodgy chart. Could I sell my soul and cash in on this, hmmmmm

PeterM

[Waxing_Gibbous]

It's like "The Enlightenment" never happend.

It wouldn't be so bad if these people were without influence, but one of our local council members IS an Astrologer.
Not a very good one, mind, as she didn't see our road being flooded or the bridge collapsing!

[scopemankit]

They are nearly the same.

One looks up and back in time, the other looks up and forward in time!

[GrahamL]

but only one will charge you $4.95/min to tell you about it.;)

[Barrykgerdes]

To be an astronomer you need to have some common sense and a yearn to learn.

To be an astrologer you need to be greedy, dishonest or an ex polititian. Or all three.

Barry:thumbsup::thumbsup:

PS sorry for the political reference I just could not resist it

[leon]

I will go along with Liz "SIGH", what else can one say, people will blame the slightest change in their daily life on this conjunction.:shrug:

Well I'm cashing in, as demand for the prints of the alignment are high.;)

Leon :thumbsup:

[AdamJL]

Can anyone see the irony? :) ;)

[ZeroID]

And it probably costs most of us $4.95/min to pursue our obsession ...:shrug:


Stay AWAY from the 'For Sale' forum .... :rofl:

[mental4astro]

Sigh... No bull:

I tell folks I enjoy Astronomy, they look at me like I'm a crackpot.

They confuse it with Astrology, and they look up to me!

Did I miss something? :screwy:

[Ric]

$4.95 a minute, blimey where's my crystal ball. :eyepop:

I'm going into the soothsaying business. :lol:

In turn that will fund my astronomy hobby. ;) I predict an Sbig for Christmas. :lol:

[Rob_K]

Glanced at a morning TV News today (might have been Ch 9 ??). The conjunction was one of their lead stories - good shots, info, interviews with excited people watching it somewhere.... Then they ruined it by finishing with what astrologers predict for us as a result of the conjunction. :mad2:

Why? Why?????????????????

Cheers -

[Blue Skies]

One of the local talkback radio stations interviewed an astrologer today to talk about this, perhaps for a bit of fun or perhaps to calm some peoples fears. But she was real doosy! The lady astrologer on the Gold Coast in Qld reckoned that us here in Perth hadn't/couldn't see the conjunction as the sun would be setting here in the west as it rose in the east where she was. hmmmmm :rolleyes: Many listeners here were suitably outraged at this claim, as they, as have I, saw them this morning very clearly just a few hours after she would have. She totally blew any credibility she had.

[Jen]

Yayyyyyyy way to go Fred :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Now whats going to happen to me today :question:

[renormalised]

As P.T Barnum once said..."There's a sucker born every day". The general populace would believe in anything it was told if it sounded like it had even a smidgen of reality and authority to it. Mix that with a general lack of education and what do you get...belief in all sorts of nonsense with no critical appraisal of what they're being fed. If it sounds right and it appear to have an affect on them personally, they'll fall for it all the time.