In Ancient China, people looked at eclipses and sunspots as a sign of good and bad luck for their emperor. The Sumerians and Babylonians watched planets and stars to keep track of where their gods were in the sky. The ancient Egyptians looked to the stars to predict natural events such as famines and floods.
Science has advanced drastically since these times, but many Americans still look to the stars to guide their life. A 2018 Pew Research Center report states that 29% of US adults believe in astrology. That number is even higher among certain religious groups.
If you don’t truly believe in astrology, it can be easy to belittle the 29% of people that do. Try googling “Astrology is fake”, and you will come across thousands of articles furiously attacking astrology and zodiac signs. Even NASA harshly criticized astrology in a 2016 Tumblr post that infuriated some while captivating others.
Do I believe in astrology? No. I believe that many people relate to their horoscopes not because of their zodiac sign, but because horoscopes often tell generic and vague information that anyone can relate to. But do I care if you do believe in astrology? Absolutely not. Moving back to 2021, I’ve spent far too much time on TikTok. TikTok is full of astrology content, and I’m more obsessed with it than I like to admit. I really enjoy learning what character my zodiac sign is in The Office or what Monster Energy drink my sign represents. It may not always be true, but it’s a good waste of time.
Just like people have for decades, there are plenty of people on TikTok that are quick to criticize astrology and make fun of it. There is a huge stigma surrounding astrology, and claiming you believe in zodiac signs is an easy way to get a flood of criticism. I think it’s silly to make fun of such a trivial idea. In most circumstances, astrology doesn’t hurt anyone. It’s solely a fun way to relate to others and see if your friends match their zodiac signs. It doesn’t have to be real or truthful to be entertaining.
I can understand the humor of satirizing or making fun of astrology, but there are times where it goes too far. I have seen people get mocked and bullied because they believe in astrology. I have seen people be stereotyped, and I have seen people on TikTok state that they would never befriend or date someone who believes in zodiac signs. I might not fully believe in astrology, but I can’t stand the toxicity and hate surrounding this fight.
This meaningless conflict is just one example of a far larger issue on TikTok and other social media platforms. People love to criticize and mock anyone who doesn’t agree with them, creating a toxic and negative culture. It’s absolutely your right to disagree with someone respectfully, but there is no point in making fun of them. Not everyone who disagrees with you politically, spiritually or socially deserves your hatred. As long as they aren’t doing any harm to others, keep it to yourself.
Of course, just like any belief, astrology can go too far. If you use your zodiac sign as an excuse for your bad actions, or use your zodiac sign to guide important life decisions, I think you need to be careful. Astrology definitely shouldn’t control your life. But for the majority of us, reading horoscopes and watching astrology videos on TikTok is just a fun way to be entertained. Give us a break. We are not anti-science, and we don’t all believe in black magic and witchcraft. There are far more pressing issues for you to be concerned about.
Sincerely,
A Capricorn
