Do you beleive numbers effect our personality?

[Kalrag]

As a school project I would like to ask if you believe in numerology (The study of numbers on human affairs). So all I need you to do is post and vote yes or no. And if you want too you can state your opinion.

 

[Evo]

It's nonsense, but I'll allow the poll since people like voting.

 

[Vagn]

As a school project I would like to ask if you believe in numerology (The study of numbers on human affairs). So all I need you to do is post and vote yes or no. And if you want too you can state your opinion.

It depends on what we mean when we say a number, if we are talking about numerology then no, it's a load of rubbish, if we mean numbers such as the fine-structure constant then it does have a large impact on human life at least.

 

[JaredJames]

For me it's as above, numerology = load of BS. I suppose numbers as in bank related, certainly.

 

[lisab]

No, not at all. I don't believe in the supernatural.

 

[cristo]

Of course, I only listen to advice from fortune tellers.

 

[DanP]

Sure they do. You think we behave the same whatever we have 100 Euros or 1000000 in a back account ?

 

[Containment]

If you use very general loose terms you don't have to be very accurate with your predictions because they encompass a wide enough range they will work for most everyone. However it might be possible that statistically people born in month xyz are more likely to have kids on xyz date or have a parent pass away ect I'm not totally sure about that.

 

[dacruick]

If you use very general loose terms you don't have to be very accurate with your predictions because they encompass a wide enough range they will work for most everyone. However it might be possible that statistically people born in month xyz are more likely to have kids on xyz date or have a parent pass away ect I'm not totally sure about that.

Thats not really an example of how numbers can affect people though.

 

[cobalt124]

Numbers only have an effect to the extent people allow them to. So no, wait yes. ermm...

 

[Smiles302]

BS, they make this junk up as they go along.

 

[DanP]

If you use very general loose terms you don't have to be very accurate with your predictions because they encompass a wide enough range they will work for most everyone. However it might be possible that statistically people born in month xyz are more likely to have kids on xyz date or have a parent pass away ect I'm not totally sure about that.

Correlation doesn't mean causation. 666 anyone ?

 

[DavidSnider]

Maybe in sort of the same way Astrology affects some people's personality.

While everyone possesses all the attributes for all the different zodiac signs to certain degrees, just having the idea float around that people born during your time of the year have a certain affinity for that attribute might actually make them develop that attribute to a higher degree.

So for example Pisces may actually be statistically more shy, introspective, feminine, whatever, but not because of the stars, but because of a labeling bias.

I saw an interesting news item recently where as a sort of marketing joke an insurance company posted accident rates by zodiac signs and they got a ton of complaints from people thinking this was one of there real actuarial variables. They had to send out a press release saying it wasn't. Though I was curious why not if it's statistically true.

 

[Gokul43201]

I went with "no" on the poll.

I assumed the questions dealt specifically with numerology, i.e., numbers such as the how many letters in your name, etc. There is a caveat though. I believe that numerological watchammacallits may have a placebo-like effect on people that believe in numerology.

 

[Lacy33]

Not english letters and numbers though. Only Hebrew. Thank you, don't ask me. The study is way too advanced for me. I just know scholars of Talmud who have found evidence of this.

 

[Borek]

I voted no. At the same time number 50 starts to play more and more important role in my life, so to some extent I should vote yes

 

[dlgoff]

If you're talking about the number of $s, then yes.

 

[TylerH]

I think being good at messin' with numbers can predispose you to being overly confident in your intelligence. But it's not necessarily anything more than a correlation.

 

[disregardthat]

I think being good at messin' with numbers can predispose you to being overly confident in your intelligence. But it's not necessarily anything more than a correlation.

Quite on the contrary, I find it more common that mathematicians places uselessness at basic arithmetic as more of a positive trait, half-jokingly perhaps.

 

[Evo]

Quite on the contrary, I find it more common that mathematicians "brag" about their uselessness at basic arithmetic.

This has nothing to do with math, it's about the supernatural. Numerology is supernatural. I hope you understood that when you voted.

 

[JaredJames]

This has nothing to do with math, it's about the supernatural. Numerology is supernatural. I hope you understood that when you voted.

I don't think anyone here read the OP before thinking about their response.

 

[disregardthat]

This has nothing to do with math, it's about the supernatural. Numerology is supernatural. I hope you understood that when you voted.

Are you supervising and commenting on personal votes? Mind you I did it for fun and effect, but I didn't expect to be ratted out! Of course I know the issue and is probably of the same opinion of you about numerology, but I was commenting directly to TylerH's statement.

 

[Evo]

I don't think anyone here read the OP before thinking about their response.

Some did, some didn't, some don't know what numerology is.

 

[Evo]

Are you supervising and commenting on personal votes? Mind you I did it for fun and effect, but I didn't expect to be ratted out! Of course I know the issue and is probably of same opinion of you, but I was commenting directly to TylerH's statement.

The vote is a public poll, you can see who voted by clicking on the number of votes. I'm afraid some people are voting as a joke and skewing the OP's results.

 

[disregardthat]

The vote is a public poll, you can see who voted by clicking on the number of votes.

I wasn't aware, that's too bad. In any case I think you see that I wasn't commenting on OP's question.

 

[TylerH]

I don't think anyone here read the OP before thinking about their response.

To be fair, the title has more of an explanation of "numerology" than the OP does.

 

[JaredJames]

The title doesn't mention numerology, only the OP does.

If you vote without reading the OP you won't realize it is about numerology.

So the title means nothing in this case.

 

[Evo]

If people don't know what numerology is, they should look it up before they vote.

 

[nismaratwork]

Sorry Lacy...

I voted no, but I would say that I find some numbers VERY significant.

1: The number of hearts you want to have.
2: The number of testicles you want to have if you're male.
3: The number of testicles you don't want to have if you're male.
0: The number of testicles you REALLY don't want to have if you're male.
1: The ideal number of "Penasia" (Louis C.K.) a man should have, but undesirable in ladies.
42: If you don't get this, I don't get you. GOOGLE IT.
1024: More accurate than 1000.
7: Most common favorite number.

 

[JaredJames]

I'm glad you included 1024, but extremely happy you put 42 in the list!

 

[nismaratwork]

I'm glad you included 1024, but extremely happy you put 42 in the list!

I knew I liked you for all kinds of good reasons!

 

[Proton Soup]

i read the OP. and then i just voted the way i wanted to. which is that numbers obviously affect people.

 

[JaredJames]

I'm glad you included 1024, but extremely happy you put 42 in the list!

I knew I liked you for all kinds of good reasons!

Ha, just realized something seeing as we're on the subject of numerology:

Do you not see the special meaning of 1024 and 42?

Double the first half and halve the second half of 1024 = 2012

Half of 42 = 21

What do you get, 21 2012. Now all I need is the something to give me the month.

Which funny enough I would have had. If you add up the rest of your 'special numbers': 1+2+3+1+7 = 14. However, when I was reading them and saw "The number of testicles you don't want to have if you're male." my first thoughts were 1.

So substitute the 3 for a 1 and you get your 12.

Which gives us 21^st of December 2012.

*bows to applause from readers*

Wow, I just BS'd my way through numerology 101!

 

[Evo]

i read the OP. and then i just voted the way i wanted to. which is that numbers obviously affect people.

But that's not the question.

Is it too much to ask that people understand what numerology is before they vote? It's not that difficult to read up on it people.

This is just a silly poll, but it demonstrates how many people will vote when they are completely clueless as to what they are voting on.

 

[Proton Soup]

But that's not the question.

it is the poll question, as worded. but, more importantly to me, numerology may be right about some things, if for the wrong reasons.

 

[Evo]

it is the poll question, as worded. but, more importantly to me, numerology may be right about some things, if for the wrong reasons.

So you believe in the supernatural?

 

[Proton Soup]

So you believe in the supernatural?

that is a different question. numbers may affect people for perfectly natural reasons.

 

[Evo]

that is a different question. numbers may affect people for perfectly natural reasons.

But do you believe in numerology? That was the poll question.

 

[Proton Soup]

But do you believe in numerology? That was the poll question.

if you wish to remove my vote, then please do so.

 

[rootX]

How could a simple question do you believe in numerology stimulate a discussion without a head and a tail ...

 

[disregardthat]

How could a simple question do you believe in numerology stimulate a discussion without a head and a tail ...

Such is the nature of the General discussion forum.

 

[rootX]

Such is the nature of the General discussion forum.

Yes, I was joking
I voted No. I am curious what kind of school project is that. Schools don't teach numerology ...

 

[Lacy33]

So you believe in the supernatural?

Tried to double quote here but would not work for me.

"believe in the supernatural?" is very strong. There a lot of things I am waiting for technology to make available to us in a clear and reasonable way.
I think some things termed supernatural are just plain hogwash. But a lot of things, this topic perhaps not being one, I don't know, are very close to finding a place in the science labs.
I started with PF long time ago with hopes of understanding a respectable way to present "metaphysics." We may remember that one of the mentors here even stood by my attempt to get it going.
It was not the time.
I spoke often to Brian Greene about this as well and where he did not dismiss para/metaphysics he said he "had not yet seen a reasonable explanation."
"supernatural" comes with a ton of really bad stuff. Stuff I would not get near for anything.
It needs another name.
Again, I do not know anything about Gematria, a Jewish numerology:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gematria
But I would not rule it out.

 

[Evo]

I go by the standard definition of supernatural.

The term supernatural or supranatural (Latin: super, supra "above" + natura "nature") pertains to being above or beyond what is natural, unexplainable by natural law or phenomena. ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernatural

 

[Lacy33]

I go by the standard definition of supernatural.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernatural

Ok, I read that and it's the very nightmare people interested in Metaphysics:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphysics
And the paranormal:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parapsychology
Are going to be scooped up in.
But this is an old topic here. I even found one of my original posts when looking for these references.

I just think "supernatural" includes things like witchcraft and other semi faith based things that would not be even close to science.

 

[Pythagorean]

despite the implications of my name, no I don't believe in supernatural numerology.

 

[Chi Meson]

Not english letters and numbers though. Only Hebrew. Thank you, don't ask me. The study is way too advanced for me. I just know scholars of Talmud who have found evidence of this.

Well now I know of someone who knows scholars of Talmud, and doggonnit that's good enough for me!

 

[JaredJames]

I just think "supernatural" includes things like witchcraft and other semi faith based things that would not be even close to science.

Your beliefs are your own and they are entirely down to yourself, however there is a reason all these get lumped together in the eyes of science.

Science requires a certain set of criteria in order to for it to grant its view on the subject - all of these topics have failed in that criteria.

For example, science requests proof / evidence for the phenomenon.

Numerology, as with ghosts and magic etc have never produced any acceptable evidence under the criteria for science to accept it. People perceive there being evidence - the numbers predict you're going to bump into an old friend - but they ignore all the predictions that don't come true - the vast majority made.

Now people will argue about this constantly, but that's just how it is.

 

[Lacy33]

Your beliefs are your own and they are entirely down to yourself, however there is a reason all these get lumped together in the eyes of science.

Hi jarednjames, Thank you for your comments on my post. I agree with how things get piled together in a grouping and suffer the company of all that is in there.
I needed to mention to a poster in a thread about ufo's. My beliefs really have nothing to do with anything I post here if you are trying to say that because I am of a "faith based" tradition and people, I have a "belief" that colors everything I say and do. No!
It does not.
It is actually the tradition of my people within the "faith based" community to question everything.
The name of this thread goes by "Do you believe numbers effect our personality?"
I think this is a poor way to present the question on a science forum. Or any forum for that matter unless you want to ID all "faithful" type personalities.

Please allow me give you an example of how "numbers" and weak studies that fall under science and in this case the medical field do effect our personalities and very lives.

I am a survivor of domestic violence, a lot of people here know this.
Many years ago while being seen for a pre natal check up and broke out in tears and told the doctor I was being beat every day and many time knocked out. The doctor gave ME a tranquilizer.
Now you can start counting and calculating how numbers, observation, science, commerce, and failed science studies can actually kill someone.
I took the medicine. My baby thankfully was born OK. I continued to take beatings but finally left successfully.

Fast forward many years.
An arranged marriage in a "faith based" community and I get another abuser. Mazel Tov! First he breaks the glass and then he breaks my head.
From the part of the world where he comes this is how they treat women.
It's a custom a tradition.

He says to me "a woman has a snake in her and the husband needs to beat it to come out of her mouth and then she will be a "faithful" loving wife."

This man was not an American which I am and I was not up on this tradition.
He watched me very carefully and it was hard to get out but I did. Thankfully before dying.

I ended up in a battered woman's shelter and like all woman there, went through medical exams and psychological evaluation.

Are you counting? Are you sleeping? WAKE UP! Thank you.

My symptoms at the time were shaking uncontrollably, scattered thinking, fainting, ... Well you might imagine, I was afraid this man would find me and kill me, a shared feeling of many battered people.

COUNT!
That psychiatrist threw the book at me. The entire DSM IV. I went in a terrified young woman who could not even trust her own "faith based" leaders who I was imagining knew this man would beat me, and came out of her office a full schizophrenic with a huge amount of medications to keep me from being a danger to myself and others.

I did not take that medication. I waited ... 12 years later, I finally ended up with the correct diagnosis. PTSD, depression and anxiety d/o. I never had schizophrenia.
Psychiatry is a part of the medical system that is based on science that is based on numbers.
How much "belief," speculation and and room for error is there in this very dangerous area of science that is based on data (numbers)?
Thankfully it is advancing. But it did not do so without the data of which I am part.

 

[JaredJames]

Lacy, that sounds terrible. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Now, to get straight to the point (and this going to sound a lot harsher than I mean it to) - where do numbers come into any of that? I'm even curious where science relating to numerology comes into it.

I'm not sure about your first marriage, how that one came about, perhaps the same as the second?. But the cause of the second one a) for getting you into it and b) for the attitude towards women is cultural and religion based - nothing scientific or number related there.

Psychiatry is a part of the medical system that is based on science that is based on numbers.

Numbers, assumptions and predictions.

But those numbers aren't based on numerology - far from it.

This thread is about numerology. Nothing in your post is related to it. Of course, numbers as you describe affect our daily lives - my bank account does on a daily basis, but this is absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand.

(See, a lot harsher than I wanted it to be.)