Why don;t people know the difference between astronomy and astrology?

Question

I got best answer for a comment about Pluto and astrology.

I said I teach astronomy.

The comment from the asker on picking my answer was along the lines of "you teach this stuff but you don't believe it".

I am quite taken aback. I know many people don't know this difference - but why???

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvFBRAO6hoamTTpByG81sdfty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080730043114AA4cLO2&show=7#profile-info-bWeoU3vEaa

Answer 1

I too have the same question and it often bangs in my head coz it often happens with me that I tell people bout my interest in Astronomy and they mistaken it 4 Astrology or Palmistry. Maybe this is b'coz both the terms r related to stars and planets and people think that there is no difference between the two except for the spelling.

Or else b'coz they r more superstitious rather than being scientific!

Answer 2

Stardust, I'm having the same issue right now with all the people that don't know the difference between lunar and solar eclipses. I know I'm not going to really win any points, and people may report me for being a jerk, but good God how are people this uninformed?!?!

How would the horoscope for someone who is "Pluto" go anyway?..."You are small and insignificant like your namesake. People will reclassify you as a 'dwarf-person' because of this. There will be some outrage from your supporters, but nothing will change the ruling."

Sorry, I had to do that. I know I'm just feeding the idiocity, but whatever.  

Answer 3

Wow. Some people are just not all there in the head.

At least you got 10 extra points!

Answer 4

I tend to go with excessive drug or alcohol use while these people were in utero, but that's mean and insensitive...

Nash: no, that won't shut them down, unfortunately.  It'll just get them talking about government conspiracies to stifle the truth!

Answer 5

They are lazy, ignorant and _possibly_ idiots to boot?

Answer 6

Yeah, it's pretty depressing.  I've stopped telling people I'm an astronomer because half the time I get 'tell me my fortune'.  Astrophysicist shuts them up (physicist gets them confused with physician when you say it and psychic when you spell it).  I put 'what is the difference between astronomy and astrology' on one of my intro astronomy lab quizzes and maybe two people out of twenty knew that astrology was superstition.  I guess the problem is their science education at the secondary level - they're just supposed to memorize facts; they don't actually know how science works or how to do science.  Which is why I run planetarium shows for k-12 students and always talk about the zodiac.  The real one.

Answer 7

Haha! Yes I know exactly what you mean! I find the same thing when I talk about cosmology. The response I usually get is "Oh, that's about star signs right?".

I'm still amazed that people get confused between astronomy, astrology and cosmology... I share your pain :/

Answer 8

I think they believed that astrology / astronomy are one in the same.  And by not agreeing with what you said they may have gave you best answer just to try and make a point of you.  If you ask me, I say it's just pure ignorance on their part.  But "hey!"....you got ten points out of the deal and I am sure you got your valid point across to most of the readers.  Have fun!

Answer 9

I'll tell you why...

Its because the people who "study" astrology talk about it like a science; as if there's a verifiable cause and effect. There's a lot of overlap in the terminology, (Jupiter is in virgo) so that adds to the confusion. Unless you know something of a real science, astrology can sound scientific.

Please join me in flagging off-topic questions. I don't mean alien questions. I mean questions about the end of the world, 2012, Planet-x,  Nibiru and astrology questions)

If 2 people flag the same question, it gets pulled automatically. If enough of them get removed, maybe people will learn.

Answer 10

dunno.. they both deal with the sky, and there's only two letters diffrence between the words... that probably makes up a huge portion of the confusion.