Comments on: OKCupid: Astrology is Useless and It Pays to Not Take Religious Beliefs Seriously

By: Ryan W.

Ryan W. — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 04:19:51 +0000

I was actually a little surprised that there was no fluctuation whatsoever by zodiac sign. Birth month correlates with socioeconomic status. SES correlates with people’s values, sexual behavior, sexual identity, and so forth. I’m actually on OKCupid, and at one point I answered enough questions on my profile (all of them in existence at that time) that I was allowed to write my own. So I’m well aware of the types of questions the site asks.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125356566517528879.html

By: llewelly

llewelly — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:29:31 +0000

One day, you will learn that there is something to Astrology, to your regret. On that day, when the stars are right, Cthulhu will awaken …

By: mathyoo

mathyoo — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:50:36 +0000

There’s a difference between taking your atheism too seriously and taking yourself too seriously. I think it’s ok to take your atheism seriously, but if you’re intent on pushing it on others or being argumentative, that’s taking yourself too seriously. I don’t think it’s limited to religion and non-religion, either. No one wants to be friends with anyone who gets all wound up about something all the time, whether it’s religion, sports, politics or anything else.

By: Arctic Ape

Arctic Ape — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:50:36 +0000

There is an official astronomical standard for dividing the sky into different constellations. The zodiac goes into thirteen “signs”: the twelve famous ones plus Serpentifer. I happened to be born during those few weeks when the sun actually is in Serpentifer.

So I’m a male Snake-bearer… something to mention at dating sites, eh?

By: Baconsbud

Baconsbud — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:22:29 +0000

Beckster I am always amazed and dumbfounded when I read something like your comment. I can’t understand how someone like your ex friend could do something so childish. I guess I am projecting the way I view things on others but it is really hard for me to believe people do stuff like this.

By: ChrisZ

ChrisZ — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:18:32 +0000

I’m not sure that I’m understanding that second chart correctly, but if I am I think you’ve seriously misinterpreted it, Hemant.

My understanding of it is that they haven’t separated people by which religion they believe in that second chart, only how seriously they take it. That is, we aren’t seeing a chart that says that “very serious” atheists prefer “laughing about it” atheists, we’re seeing a chart that says “very serious” everybody prefers “laughing about it” everybody. This isn’t at all surprising.

As an example, a “very serious” atheist would be expected to be a good match with another “very serious” atheist, but a really bad match with a “very serious” christian, muslim etc.. A “very serious” atheist though might be fine with a “laughing about it” Christian or Muslim. If my understanding of what the data in the chart is is correct, then I think that is all it shows. “Laughing about it” people are more likely to get along with people with different beliefs than are “very serious” people. Hardly a surprising or interesting observation.

By: beckster

beckster — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:10:50 +0000

I lost a friend over astrological signs and dating. When I started dating my husband, I asked her what she thought of him and she told me not to date him because I am a Sag. and he is a Gemini. I told her that was stupid and I was pretty sure I was gonna marry him. She stopped hanging out with me when we got engaged after telling me she couldn’t be friends with someone who was throwing their life away with someone they weren’t astrologically compatible with! Six years and two kids later, I made the right decision, astrological signs be damned.

By: AnonyMouse

AnonyMouse — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:38:53 +0000

I know I would prefer someone who isn’t too serious about his atheism (too serious, for instance, to consider my hypothesis of polytheism). On the other hand, I’d rather he not be the casual or “apatheist” sort who feels that religion is harmless (or even mostly beneficial), so I guess I’d prefer somewhere in the middle.

By: Archdruid Eileen

Archdruid Eileen — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:18:01 +0000

Maybe atheists are successful on website dating agencies simply because that’s where all the other atheists are?

By: stoat100

stoat100 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:43:22 +0000

I take my atheism very seriously and spend an absurd amount of time following atheist blogs.

However, I spend much of the above time LOL-ing – often literally – at the amusing posts therein! I want my own category, and I suspect I’m not alone.

Re: compatibility – my girlfriend is a Christian, and the entire extent of our discussion of religion has consisted of:

Her: ‘is that your copy of The God Delusion’
Me: ‘yes, that would be mine…’ [we were at my mother's house, who's a devout Catholic!]
Jointly: /stoned giggles…/

Things are much more chilled in Europe.