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PaperclipPerfector  1d ago (text post)   1679 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for September 6, 2026

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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How did Astrology become a Thing again? Since 2020, I've encountered it more and more IRL among the general population, even in people with undergrad degrees. I checked Tinder the other week before re-un-installing, and at least 1/3rd of the profiles had birth sign front-and-center. I honestly thought this was a slain beast.

Someone talking about capricorns really riles up my inner fedora.

Well, capricorns are the worst.

I'll just throw it out there that while I've looked into the actual data on astrology, which consistently seems to show no significant correlation with personality etc., I can't help but wonder if the right questions aren't being asked. At the very least I'd expect natal sunlight exposure, outdoor activity, etc. to correlate with something.

Then there's my personal experience which is that actually most people do behave as I'd expect based on their star signs. Confirmation bias? Very likely. Still uncanny though.

Oh yeah and then there was the time I happened to encounter an actual professional astrologer in a public place (let's say we were waiting in line for coffee) and struck up a conversation. After a few minutes of chatting I couldn't help but ask what she thought my sign was. She responded accurately and without hesitation, as though she'd made up her mind well before I asked and was sort of remembering it as an afterthought.

Epistemic status: Man, I don't know anything anymore.

I can't help but wonder if the right questions aren't being asked. At the very least I'd expect natal sunlight exposure, outdoor activity, etc. to correlate with something.

Relative ages amonst school grade cohorts? I'd imagine people used to being several months older than their direct peers might show some correlation with something, for instance.

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