[ncmncm]

This pops up over and over.

But it is like "debunking" astrology. If you think you did, you didn't understand astrology: the "signs" are just to randomize so not everybody gets the same advice on the same day. Its purpose is to keep people out of ruts, for which it works.

This is similar to hunter-gatherers relying on omens to direct where to hunt: it keeps them from exhausting any single place.

[isitmadeofglass]

> Its purpose is to keep people out of ruts, for which it works.

It’s purpose is alliviate people of their disposable income for which is also works. Same for personality tests. There are people charging huge sums for going to companies and telling them half their people have purple personalities and the other half mantenga and that’s the core reason why their bus ones hasn’t yet reached the incredible synergy that will make them the next Google or Apple!

[ncmncm]

Hint: Anybody can ask any amount of money for anything. You don't need to pay it.

[jschveibinz]

I think this is very good insight. We all use tools like astrology, myths, totems, philosophy, routines, heroes/icons, politics, culture, chiropractic medicine, religion, etc. to help us navigate through life. There is no right or wrong, there is just preference.

I know several people who are very dependent on these personality definitions as a framework for their self-identity, and I would never suggest to them that they were wrong to do so. It makes them happy.

[metaph6]

That's a really interesting point of view; what you say is like astrology or such tests are deliberate designs of people (probably, of higher minds in a given society) that regulate or benefit life; but still, I think this'd be rather one of effects of practicing astrology or other non-scientific inquiries than the main cause of them. I'd like to see whether what you claim relies on a theory or research.

[ncmncm]

The origins of astrology were always hermeneutic secrets. We are left to puzzle out its meaning from its effects, as for any natural phenomenon.

Since the positions of planets can, physically, have no effect, and nobody could ever observe or deduce any such effects, we are obliged to cast about for other design motivations.

[chickenimprint]

Wouldn't the result cause a person to continually reattempt a certain type of career for the supposed correspondence with their personality? Or are the results so unstable they change day by day?

[ncmncm]

Only people unhappy with what they are doing would use it as impetus to make a change. In that case it would be working as intended.