I shudder to do this, but it’s for the sake of Internet journalism, which means no price is too high. I’m logging back onto my old online personals account to dig out a funny message I got so you can maybe get a giggle (people appear to have enjoyed my previous recounting of a terrible Internet date).
First, here’s the rundown on what’s in my profile: the profile name is suitably science geeky. At the time, the “last great book I read” was Feynman (I also mentioned I was starting in on Dawkins). I write that “If I could take a class on any subject, it would be… Quantum Physics 101.” (It was a fill-in-the-blank question.)
In my “why you should get to know me” section I write, “I like science.” In the “More on who I’m looking for” section I write, “Someone who likes science” and “I’m looking for someone who knows and understands that astrology is bullshit. No, really, this is very important. I know it seems like common sense, but you’d be surprised. ”
I also checked off that I was an agnostic looking for an agnostic or atheist (I took off “spiritual” after learning my lesson).
So, reading all that, here’s the response one man decided to send.
hi (SCIENCE GEEK NAME DELETED) –
so i’m curious as to why you think astrology is total bullshit. i’d have to agree that what is written in the newspaper is bullshit (just like so much else in the newspaper) but i’ve found a lot in the actual “science” of astrology (as much as psychology or divination can be a science) to make a lot of sense. i’m definitely not a guy who wants to argue so that one of us is right and the other wrong – i just want to find out what you’ve investigated and how sound your anti-theory is. indulge me in some friendly debate?
peace,
(HIPPIE NAME DELETED)
So for starters, I’m curious as to why he thinks capitalization is total bullshit; but let’s set that aside for a second. Before you get all excited, let me note that no, I did not respond, and I did not go out on what promised to be the Hindenburg of first dates. There are a lot of subjects that I feel can be discussed in a reasonable manner by two disagreeing parties: the benefits of accupuncture and the placebo effect, for instance, or maybe the best way to teach children mathematics. The “science” of astrology is not one of them. So he’s “not a guy who wants to argue so that one of us is right and the other wrong” . . . that’s a real shame, because he is so very wrong. There is no middle point between us. There will never be a day in our future when I will gaze lovingly through the mingling smoke of patchouli incense and pot, take a bite of an organic carrot stick, and say, “Perhaps you have a point, darling — maybe stars that are thousands of light-years away really DO mean that I — and everyone else born within a 15-day radius of me — am going to be “lucky in love” this Wednesday.” Not that I have anything against patchouli, pot, or organic carrot sticks.
He fails to see that I have no desire to start a relationship with someone by confirming the validity of my “anti-theory” as to the basic facts about our universe. If we can’t even agree on that, how will we ever pick out china patterns?
His "science" should have let him know that you weren't the one for him right? Was he actually attempting to draw a connection between "divination" and psychology? blech…
Oh well… astrology isn't event worth discussion. Whenever I have the misfortune of having someone bring up the topic, I just sort of give a soft chuckle and then move on to a different topic that I can stand… usually something involving hand puppets.
Rebecca, based on this and your previous post, it sure sounds like you need to reconsider your choice of online personal provider ;-)
You kind of have a choice between the fun personal provider with a few woowoos in it, the Christian provider, the vapid sots provider, or the cardboard people provider (also known as whitebread land).
Methinks that Rebecca has chosen the fun one.
I have a hard time understanding why some people – it is not limited to the woo woo crowd – can't use standard punctiation that most of learned in by the 3rd grade. I had a boss once who didn't use capitals or periods in emails. He said he couldn't take the time. (Yet everyone else had to take the time to try and read it. You end up mentally putting in the periods and capital letters.) I said I couldn't take the time to read his emails.
Couldn't agree more on the Astrology "science" bit. Don't date him.
So who said anything about picking out china patterns? Whatever happened to cheap, emotionless sex? All this coming from you, I'm a bit surprised now.
Think of all the private laughs you could have whenever he's talking about astrology and the various "positions" in the different "houses" and all that crap, when all you can think about is sex.
You have to understand that people are living vicariously through you, and they want some excitement every now and then, dammit!
I think some people need to get laid more often or at least ONCE if they're living through the sexual experiences of a blogger. Maybe she just won't fuck you? Is that it? Deal.
Kook pretty much nailed it on the online dating scene.
Exarch, no. Just . . . no. I'll keep in mind though to include more excitement in future posts!
Oh, and exarch, look out — somebody in (quickly glancing over IP information . . . ) Perth, Western Australia doesn't seem to like you very much.