That’s why I like the I Ching. Instead of wrapping its abstract advice in hokey mysticism or pop-psychology quackery it comes right out and admits what it’s doing. It say, “Generate a random number between 1 and 64, then read the abstract advice that goes with your number. It may help you see a problem in a new light.”
Comment on the struggle
apotheotic@beehaw.org 4 weeks ago
I think to a lot of people things like astrology, Myers Briggs types and rock magic are mostly an aid that helps them to more easily process what they’re thinking and feeling, and also feel as though they have an outlet for those thoughts and feelings.
9 out of 10 times, they know its not “real”, you’re not really achieving much by yucking their yum. I say this as someone who doesn’t believe in or engage with any of those things.
(I also fully acknowledge that the tweet is a double whammy joke that puts the author in on it as well)
pantyhosewimp@lemmynsfw.com 4 weeks ago
apotheotic@beehaw.org 4 weeks ago
Sounds neat! It presumably works just as well, too, since placebos have been shown to work even when you know they’re a placebo.
flora_explora@beehaw.org 4 weeks ago
I agree, but I think it is important to clearly communicate what is and what isn’t scientific consensus and what is only pseudoscience. Because there will always be people who think that stuff like Myers Briggs tests or homeopathy are really reliable/effective. They might be a good placebo but there are also people dying because some quacks tell them that they shouldn’t take their cancer medication and homeopathy instead. Myers Briggs and astrology are obviously not that dangerous as they aren’t medical treatments. But I fear the atmosphere in society shifting towards pseudoscience and distrusting in actual scientific approaches.
apotheotic@beehaw.org 4 weeks ago
I agree with you. In my experience at the very least its quite easy to tell the difference between a person who uses it like a magic 8 ball and a person who truly believes in the pseudoscience, and the latter is fairly uncommon (again, in my experience)
flora_explora@beehaw.org 4 weeks ago
Well, maybe context is important. I’m from Germany and pseudoscience is really common here. There is even some homeopathy that is paid by public insurance nowadays. And there are many esoteric and pseudoscientific movements that have a lot of financial power. That is, the biggest drug store chains in Germany are esoteric lead and there are kindergarden/schools as well as various companies that are anthroposophic. They also formed these huge protests against covid regulations and many people fell prey to the esoteric mindset at this time. So it is actually not that uncommon in Germany for people to truly believe in pseudoscience unfortunately…
apotheotic@beehaw.org 4 weeks ago
Mm, I suppose I only have my experience to go off, it might be much worse as you say elsewhere.
Re: username, one of my favourite songs from one of my favourite games is called “Apotheosis” and it was my first time encountering that word. I riffed on it and settled on my username - so, I guess neither? Lol
djsoren19@yiffit.net 4 weeks ago
These intentions are all well and good until an employer requires you to take a Myers Briggs test and you’re turned down from a job because of it. I don’t have any issue with someone reading their horoscope to try and understand their own feelings and emotions, I have a pretty massive issue with anyone trying to use pseudoscience nonsense to make serious decisions.
apotheotic@beehaw.org 4 weeks ago
Oh, sure. But I reckon a potential partner bringing up their mb type in a casual conversation gets a pass (the context of the tweet). Bringing up pseudoscience as a hiring criterion is obviously ridiculous.