Astrologers criticize astronomers for not consulting about Pluto decision

[lindisfarne]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003226964_plutoast26.html
snip
Some astrologers, including leaders of the American Federation of Astrologers and The Astrological Association of Great Britain, are standing by Pluto. They say they will continue to regard the icy orb as a full-blown planet with a powerful pull on our psyche, despite the astronomers' decision.

"Whether he's a planet, an asteroid, or a radioactive matzo ball, Pluto has proven himself worthy of a permanent place in all horoscopes," says Shelley Ackerman, columnist for the spirituality Web site Beliefnet.com. Ackerman criticized the IAU for not including astrologers in its decision.

Wall Street's best-known astrologer, Arch Crawford, 65, who has studied the effect of the planets on the Dow Jones industrial average, says, "I'm going to continue using it . They can stick it where the sun don't shine."

Thursday's ruling in Prague brought good news to some. The astronomers indicated several planetlike bodies — including the asteroid Ceres and the newly discovered UB313, nicknamed "Xena" — will also be classified as dwarf planets.

That has generated excitement among a small group of practitioners known as "minor-planet astrologers." They have long contended that outer-lying asteroids and ice balls exert a powerful tug on our psychological makeup.

snip

[GOPBasher]

1. Astrologers have nothing to do with it.

This is a scientific debate. This would be the same as Jerry Falwell complaining that the scientists didn't consult the evangelical community about this decision.

[Dr. Death]

2. Why weren't astrologers consulted?

"Ackerman criticized the IAU for not including astrologers in its decision."

For the same reason that paleontologists don't consult creationists regarding fossil discoveries.

[Botany]

4. Good point

I mean why doesn't a heart surgeon ask a 1st grade class to make
paper hearts so he can learn about physiology before n operation.

astrologers :puke: "The planet mars doesn't care one wit about me."

[hobbit709]

3. Astrology came about

long before Pluto was discovered, so how could it possibly afffect their predictions, which are based only on the planets seen by the naked eye.

[stellanoir]

12. And don't even "soft sciences" integrate

imperical evidence over time. . . ?

We integrated Uranus around the time of the American, French, and industrial revolution. Never before were the ideals of "freedom, equality, and fraternity" so clearly expressed.

Neptune's discovery harkened impressionism, communism, Victorianism, and rampant use of opiates.

Pluto's discovery was roughly synchronous with the invention of the atomic bomb and Hitler's onerous rise to power. We've collectively "stared down the cobra" of our mutually assured destruction since then.

It's reclassifaction as a mollified force on a symbolic level could help us all. See the link below.

[kedrys]

5. The sound you just heard was my head exploding

I thought I'd heard everything; now I've heard everything AND that.

Jeebus.

[Jazzgirl]

6. I wondered what the change would do to astrology.

I asked an friend who is an astrologer what it would do but haven't heard back from her. I suspected the astrological community would reject this ploy.

JG

[Matariki]

10. Western astrologers use all sorts of bodies besides planets

For instance, the asteroid Chiron has become increasingly important to astrologers. The asteroid Ceres is also used and was previously regarded as a planet in the 1800's. I think they will continue to use Pluto without much fuss. Although the question would be better asked in 50 to a 100 years from now, if Pluto remains a non-planet.

The underlying principle here is that all existence is a harmonic expression of the divine (or perhaps just of itself - like a fractal) - therefore by looking at any one part of the universe you can intuit information about other parts of it. Maybe science will catch up some day.

[soothsayer]

27. If you've ever had a Pluto transit, you won't soon forget that Pluto

sure FEELS like a planet, lol!

[EvolveOrConvolve]

30. And what affect what the rejection of "this ploy"

by the Astrological community have on the body of scientific work regarding the Solar System?

I have a feeling that even if you hear back from your friend, that what you hear will be complete shit.

{{Pardon my dark, hardened, skeptical heart.}}

[redherring]

7. It's quite sad to see Pluto relegated to the non-planet status

I grew up learning that there are nine planets in our solar system. All of a sudden, Pluto is not a planet anymore. This makes me want to cry. I'm too attached to Pluto.

[stellanoir]

8. for an interesting discussion on the symbolic significance of this

reclassification. . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=245x26154

I'm not so arrogant as to think we should have been consulted and feel this could be a really positive shift in terms of mollification of the rempant abuse of power and extraneous oily agendas.

[Matariki]

11. Feeling the love stellanoir?

:hi:

[stellanoir]

13. oooooooo yeah

It's okay. With Mars approaching my Sun I can totally handle a spirited discussion. :)

[MindPilot]

9. Oh puh-leeeze.

The gullible don't even grasp the simple logic that even if astrology were real, the effects of Pluto would be consistent regardless of how it was named.

[Zomby Woof]

14. Jebus Crisco!

I would have thought this The Onion. Satire is dead. Flaky-ass astrologers, lol.

[MrCoffee]

15. The IAU would think twice about dissing "a radioactive matzo ball"

[Spider Jerusalem]

16. In other news: Faith-healers criticise physicians...

deriding 'clinical diagnosis', medication and surgery.

And: alchemists take chemists to task for their insistence on the so-called 'scientific method' and complete lack of interest in realising the Great Work so that base metals may be transmuted into gold and humanity can finally discover the key to immortality.

[lindisfarne]

20. Base metals theoretically can be transmitted into gold. You just need

to get the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons right - something that technically can be done (not economically though). See http://www.gold.org/discover/knowledge/faqs/index.html

12. Alchemy: Can base metals be turned into gold?

All metal atoms are made of the same building blocks of protons, neutrons and electrons, but in different quantities, so in theory it could be possible to change base metals into gold or any other metal of value to mankind. In practice, it is achieved only in nuclear reactions, where heavy radioactive metals decay into other lighter elements, including some isotopes of gold. However, man's ancient dream of turning base metals into gold is not a practical proposition. So it remains a dream!

[Random_Australian]

25. Us chem people know.

The reason we actually know this is chemists actually know what elements ARE, as compared to alchemists who make shit up.

[KFC]

17. I concur with the IAU

I have never felt a tug from pluto, but have had many a tug from those motherfucking ice balls. It is embarrasing at work, but I can't hide it sometimes. I wear baggy pants now.

[Critters2]

23. ROFLMAO! eom

[bertha katzenengel]

18. Oh, brother.

:eyes:

[johnnie]

19. Why would they have need to be?

They should have seen it in the stars and knew it was coming.

[soothsayer]

26. That's not how it works. As they say, the god the atheist denounces

never existed. Atheists attack some made up thing that they create in such a way that it doesn't work. Same with you anti astrology types---you attack astrology without having any idea what it is.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

31. Just like we attack the Giant Pink Unicorn From The Moon

We don't understand it either. Doesn't mean we can't disbelieve in it.

[soothsayer]

34. astrology has never proven science to be anything but an old

superstition

[EvolveOrConvolve]

37. Please explain how science is a superstition.

I was being facetious in my post in that there is about as much proof for Astrology as there is for Christianity. Science is science, Astrology is Astrology, and Christianity is Christianity. My point was that atheists don't "attack" anything - they use rational mindsets to analyze those belief structures and then come up with their own points of view regarding the subjects.

Your post accuses all atheists of intellectual dishonesty. Just make sure that when using that broad brush, you don't get any splashed onto yourself.

Oh, and please explain how Astrology has "proven" science to be a superstition. I'm dying to hear your thoughts on the subject.

[trotsky]

39. You're correct. Astrology has never proven anything, anywhere.

Though I don't think that's how you intended to be correct.

[arwalden]

21. Oh Dear!! Of Course They Will...

<< They say they will continue to regard the icy orb as a full-blown planet with a powerful pull on our psyche, despite the astronomers' decision. >>

What choice do they have??

[Zhade]

22. Or, "Frauds Pissed Scientists Fuck With Made-Up Bullshit"

NT!

[arwalden]

38. Ha!!

:rofl: :popcorn:

[Deja Q]

24. Couldn't they have seen this coming?

:wow:

[pscot]

28. Bwaa Haa Haa Haa

What chutzpah. Why should astrologers imagine that they have any right to be consulted on this or any other scientific issue?

[Benfea]

40. Indeed.

Everything they do is made up anyway, so what does it matter in the long run?

[NMMNG]

29. Hey nitwits these are scientists, not the Reagan Whitehouse.

They aren't going to consult you before every decision they make. :crazy:

[CanuckAmok]

32. And no comment from Micky Mouse on this event?

I find that highly suspicious. :tinfoilhat:

[astral]

33. My fate has been changed forever!

For the better, I'm sure! That Pluto influence has given me nothin' but trouble!

[cobalt1999]

35. LOL

The brainless want to be consulted. Priceless.

[JitterbugPerfume]

36. How do y'all think I feel?

I'm a scorpio!:silly: :spank:

I believed that crap when I was thirteen , but I got over it

[Liberal Veteran]

41. What did astrologers do 75 years ago?

Before they knew about pluto?