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Would you reject someone simply because they are an astrologer?

So I matched up on Tinder with a guy; he seemed cute, quirky and interesting so I swiped right. It seems he felt the same way.

Anyway, we get to talking and it turns out that he's an astrologer by profession. The thing is... I'm not sure I can take him seriously after that. In fact, I have strong feelings in that regard; astrology is backward superstition at best and a scam at worst. I also believe I would have little in common, intellectually, with someone who is willing to believe such things.

So my question is... would you reject someone simply because they are an astrologer?

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Reply 1

DrawTheLine

No personally I wouldn't, unless they were very pushy with it and couldn't accept my own beliefs about it.

Reply 2

AlexanderHam

Original post by DrawTheLine

No personally I wouldn't, unless they were very pushy with it and couldn't accept my own beliefs about it.

I guess my concern is that if he believes in astrology to the point of doing it as a job, he's probably liable to believe all sorts of new age nonsense.

Intellect is a really important component for me in selecting a partner. That he believes in something for which there is literally no evidence makes me wonder about how smart he is, and certainly causes me to conclude we would find it impossible to gel intellectually.

I'm left-wing my ex-boyfriends are conservative, and we always got along really well (the "Never kissed a Tory" shirt is idiotic). I don't mind people having different views and beliefs to me, in fact I welcome an intellectual challenge, rigorous debate etc.

But someone who believes in astrology has a worldview that is more fundamentally incompatible than simply differences in economic or political ideology.

Reply 3

AlexanderHam

Intellect is really important to me in potential partners, but I would probably be happy to date someone who was not at my academic level. What matters is that they have a skeptical, inquiring mind.. curiosity about the world.. a thirst for knowledge.

That would be more important to me than what kind of university education they have

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

Original post by AlexanderHam

Yes. I wouldn’t take a 911 truther or a flat earther or a holocaust denier seriously, so why would an astrologer warrant any more respect.

Reply 5

SWCoffee

Intellect doesn't necessary have to be defined by rationality. But in order to communicate, it kinda does.

Don't be judgemental. Compromise.

Just remember, we have this whole marriage thing. Really inconvenient.

Reply 6

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by AlexanderHam

............

Yes, absolutely! How else do you judge compatibility with someone? Looks?

Reply 7

AlexanderHam

Original post by Anonymous

Yes. I wouldn’t take a 911 truther or a flat earther or a holocaust denier seriously, so why would an astrologer warrant any more respect.

That's a very good point and an apt analogy. While it is a matter of degree and they are qualitatively different in terms of the moral implications of those beliefs, astrology does essentially arise from the same irrational place as 9/11 trutherism, flat earthism and Holocaust denial. I too would not date someone who held those beliefs.

Reply 8

AlexanderHam

Original post by FriendlyPenguin

No, I wouldn't date a religious person.

That actually just occurred to me. Both involve believing something extraordinary without evidence.

Would I date an active believer of religion? I'm not sure I would. If I did, they would have to be almost verging on deistic (slightly more than a cultural Anglican but not a fervent believer, perhaps) and also have many other great, attractive qualities to overcome my inherent suspicion of religious thinking.

An interesting question, to be sure!

Reply 9

AlexanderHam

Original post by threeportdrift

Yes, absolutely! How else do you judge compatibility with someone? Looks?

Indeed. As I say above, I do not reject someone merely for having different views. I'm a socialist, my exes are conservatives. I enjoy an intellectual challenge, debate, etc. Intelligence, a thirst for knowledge, curiosity about the world, good taste in music and literature... these things are important to me. And I don't mind if people are differently orientated in terms of what they like and believe.

But astrology is a different ballgame entirely. It's just complete nonsense, utterly without foundation. I couldn't take an astrologer seriously, intellectually-speaking, and I don't think I could date someone I don't take seriously on an intellectual level

Reply 10

-Eirlys-

Debate & Current Affairs Helper

Nope, I wouldn't see an issue?

Reply 11

Napp

Nah, you always need something fun to mock in life, that seems to present a jackpot.

Reply 12

Retired_Messiah

I would date somebody who believed in it I guess, but somebody who took it to the level of actually having it as their profession is just too much, I wouldn't cope.

Reply 13

SWCoffee

The very nature of your asking imparts from the rigorously scientific method you seem to value.

If you were a true scientist, you wouldn't judge.

Reply 14

Compost

I've always thought I would struggle to have a long term relationship with someone who was very religious and this falls into the same category, so yes I would probably reject them.

Reply 15

Yaboi

Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine you to be a woman lmfao.

Reply 16

applesforme

The poor man's mind is mush, and goodness knows what else he believes in or how he would appraoch other important issues considering his powers of reasoning and rationality are both limited and warped.

Reply 17

the bear

so it looks like i am doomed to be forever alone...

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4809320#primary_content

Reply 18

Froppy

Original post by AlexanderHam

That he believes in something for which there is literally no evidence makes me wonder about how smart he is, and certainly causes me to conclude we would find it impossible to gel intellectually.

I know exactly what you mean...I don't date religious people for the same reason. :smile:

*rubs hands together* ooo this is gonna be good! ^_^

Reply 19

saharan_skies

honestly, I've always believed in astrology but not the general horoscopes that get doled out like basically a 1/12th of the population. (I'm not too sure about that figure, don't quote me on that.) It's a way of keeping me sane and studying my birth chart has helped me cope and process a lot of things about my life that I would probably still be really angry about if it weren't the case.

I don't mind that you don't believe in astrology or anything tho, it's not for everyone.