Alexa

Yes I am superstitious.
And no I don't.

britexpat76

Like if you don't wear a seat belt in your Landcruiser you will be protected by a higher being when you invariably wreck it?

Miss Anne Thrope

That kind of thing, exactly...

Meow

And presumably the one where if you pray numerous times a day you'll still get to heaven with all those virgins (with or without their own cream) despite having been a total bastard all your life?

britexpat76

mikewot

Might find this of interest, superstition versus ritualistic behaviour:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14917871

The Dean

Horoscopes as a reliable measure of predicting the future? "You will trip over a loose paving stone near the bus shelter. Your lucky object is a cement mixer." Er..... no............

However............. I'm convinced (against my better judgement) that signs of the zodiac, or 'star signs', do reflect characteristics and traits of behaviour. Why? Because Deanetta is almost witch-like in her ability to identify people on precisely that basis. It's uncanny - she can meet a total stranger, without knowing his/her date of birth, or even their name or background, and after a few minutes of bland conversation, she will suddenly say 'You're a Sagittarius, aren't you?'. She's almost always right, and it freaks people out who don't know her..............

Miss Anne Thrope

Or indeed the other one that takes its name from their leader, a zombie who is his own father...

Miss Anne Thrope

Oh dear, a nice cup of tea and a biscuit should sort you out....

The Dean

No I'm fine thanks - I'm used to it now............ and I haven't even got an explanation for it. My mother (a devout Christian) finds her somewhat uncomfortable though............

mikewot

1 in 12 chance of being right. Oh and you'll remember when she was right far more often than when she was wrong (cause that's how human minds work) so it assumes a significance out of proportion to the actual number of times she's correct. I would suggest that you keep a record of the number of times right and wrong but in social situations that would be dull beyond belief :-) I'm going to stick to my tried and tested chat up line 'What's your star sign baby?' I only wish it worked, sigh!

The Dean

No - she can justify it by listing the characteristics she identifies. She's a Taurus which means nothing to me but she found my mother difficult from about thirty seconds into their first meeting. She hadn't asked me her date of birth but she instinctively sensed she was also a Taurus (correct). They don't get on, apparently (Tauruses with Tauruses).

Please don't ask me to explain or justify it - I think it's creepy beyond belief - but I can swear to her accuracy.

seven seas

Look up the Fundamental Attribution Error.

Like all Leos, I think this horoscope thing is a pile of bollocks. Old joke but I couldn't resist.

Bahtatboy

In addition to using the Chinese year-based system (eg Year of the Dragon), the Japanese also attribute charachter traits to blood type. Every Japanese person knows his or her blood type, and the characteristics that go with it. I'm A+, and like everything neat and ordered, which is one of the traits. Can't remember the others...

britexpat76

I am one of only 3% that have AB+ blood which probably just means I will be screwed if I ever need a load of it.