On your first date, everything is going well. You have so much in common with your date and you think this might be the one, until they ask the question that changes the course of every first date to come. “What’s your zodiac sign?” Everything goes downhill from there and you get ghosted the next day, because apparently a Gemini and Aquarius are not compatible.
Zodiac signs are nothing more than a made-up belief system that people take way too seriously. They are a collection of vague, generalized statements that people use in an attempt to explain their personality and behaviors. Astrology, the concept that the movements and positions of celestial bodies have an influence on human affairs, dictates the way many people perceive others. The idea that the position of the stars at the time of someone’s birth has anything to do with their personality is completely illogical. And yet, so many people treat Astrology as if it is a legitimate science, when in reality it is just another form of superstition. CHS freshman Jordyn Jones is one of many that question the legitimacy of zodiac signs.
“I don’t believe in zodiac signs because I don’t believe that they determine your personality traits,” Jones said. “How does being a Cancer change what your personality is like?”
There is no scientific evidence linking zodiac signs to personality traits. Psychological studies have shown that many people believe in Astrology mainly because of the Barnum effect, a physiological phenomenon where individuals see vague, general statements as highly personal and specific. A horoscope like, “you sometimes feel insecure but try to hide it” may feel oddly accurate even if it is a sweeping statement. Everyone feels that way at some point. Even though horoscope companies excel at manipulating people, they do not have access to some cosmic truth.
Yet, despite all logic, Astrology remains popular, especially among those who use it as an excuse for their actions. “Sorry, I’m late all the time because I’m a Pisces.” No, you are just bad at time management. “I can’t help being stubborn, I’m a Taurus.” No, you just do not like being wrong. Blaming behavior on zodiac signs is simply a scapegoat to avoid personal responsibility. People are not defined by their star signs—they are defined by their choices and actions.
Perhaps the biggest issue with this star-sign scapegoating, however, is not even that we refuse to change ourselves—it is that we refuse to acknowledge the changes in others. Instead of actually getting to know people, some just rely on zodiac stereotypes. “Oh, you’re a Gemini? You must be two-faced.” It is ridiculous how one could base their judgment of someone else on pseudoscience. People are complex, shaped by their experiences, upbringing, and environment—not the alignment of the planets in the sky.
Believing in Astrology is not necessarily harmful if it is just for fun. But when people start making real-life judgements based on it, whether it is about relationships, friendships, or even careers, that is when it becomes a problem. It is time to stop pretending that zodiac signs mean anything. The stars do not control who you are—you do.
