Graphology.

[Sean]

Rather than continue the hijack of Phelia's fun thread, I thought I'd start a new one. Anyone else beside Mishka believe in it? Any evidence you care to provide?

 

[KRCummings]

I don't know much about it but I've always understood that there is some basis to it. Could be total bullshit though. My guess is that it probably has more science behind it than homeopathy or that shit where they read the bumps on your head.

 

[Sean]

I don't know much about it but I've always understood that there is some basis to it. Could be total bullshit though. My guess is that it probably has more science behind it than homeopathy or that shit where they read the bumps on your head.

Nope, it pretty much doesn't from what I've been able to find. The British Psychological Association rates it on a par with astrology.

 

[KRCummings]

Nope, it pretty much doesn't from what I've been able to find. The British Psychological Association rates it on a par with astrology.

Like I said, I don't know anything about it other than little bits and pieces picked up over the years. I get why people would think it works but I also get why people would say it's bullshit.

 

[pete]

seems to me this sort of evidence would be considered a 'clue', as opposed to being scientifically valid.
much like fingerprints are excellent evidence but their validity isn't as strong as dna, and has been challenged often.

 

[Mischka]

What I posted in the other thread:

People express themselves through what they create. Handwriting falls into that category. I view graphology as an analysis of overarching traits. It's not a science; it's an art. And in my own experience, I've noticed differences among different sorts of people, and in the same person through different periods of their lives. If you require some sort of exact validity in all this, then you are taking it far too seriously.

 

[Sean]

What I posted in the other thread:

People express themselves through what they create. Handwriting falls into that category. I view graphology as an analysis of overarching traits. It's not a science; it's an art. And in my own experience, I've noticed differences among different sorts of people, and in the same person through different periods of their lives. If you require some sort of exact validity in all this, then you are taking it far too seriously.

So, pretty much the same as astrology, then.

 

[Sean]

seems to me this sort of evidence would be considered a 'clue', as opposed to being scientifically valid.
much like fingerprints are excellent evidence but their validity isn't as strong as dna, and has been challenged often.

What "evidence"?

 

[Mischka]

I'll add the distinction between handwriting analysis and astrology, phrenology, etc. is the source of the material. Handwriting is created by a person. The other stuff alleges that external stuff, beyond a person's control, influences their lives.

I look at graphology to discern the handwriting of men versus women, of architects or accountants. To see if someone is more reserved or outgoing. I'm not going to able to reveal a person's deep dark secrets through their penmanship. I'm not sure what Sean is trying to invalidate here.

 

[Sean]

I'll add the distinction between handwriting analysis and astrology, phrenology, etc. is the source of the material. Handwriting is created by a person. The other stuff alleges that external stuff, beyond a person's control, influences their lives.

I look at graphology to discern the handwriting of men versus women, of architects or accountants. To see if someone is more reserved or outgoing. I'm not going to able to reveal a person's deep dark secrets through their penmanship. I'm not sure what Sean is trying to invalidate here.

I'm trying to invalidate what is obviously a pseudoscience.

Do you believe that tea leaf reading is valid? After all, the patterns are caused by how one drinks one's tea.

 

[Mischka]

I'm trying to invalidate what is obviously a pseudoscience.

Then this isn't a debate you're having with me. I've explained it is not a science. I've differentiated it from astrology because of the origin of the material being studied. You have done nothing but say "no", concede that you cannot even tell if a handwritten note was done by a man or a woman, and repeatedly fail to explain what exactly you are attempting to "invalidate".

 

[Mischka]

Do you believe that tea leaf reading is valid? After all, the patterns are caused by how one drinks one's tea.

You think the way a person uses a tool is as happenstance as what dregs are left in a cup?

 

[Sean]

You think the way a person uses a tool is as happenstance as what dregs are left in a cup?

Pretty much, yes. And you've provided no evidence whatsoever, other than "I have many books on the subject" that it's anything other than a con perpetrated on the gullible. Guess what, I can point you at thousands of books on astrology, all claiming to be true.

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

You think the way a person uses a tool is as happenstance as what dregs are left in a cup?

Isn't it used by police forces around the world in certain cases? (graphology not tea leaves)

P.S Brick wall......

 

[Sean]

Isn't it used by police forces around the world in certain cases? (graphology not tea leaves)

P.S Brick wall......

No, it isn't. You know what is? Forensic document examination, which is something completely different. Now run along, Humpty.

 

[islandman]

I'm trying to invalidate what is obviously a pseudoscience.

I've explained it is not a science.

Given the above, I don't understand the continued debate.

A cup of tea, however, sounds nice right now.

 

[Sean]

Given the above, I don't understand the continued debate.

A cup of tea, however, sounds nice right now.

She's of the opinion that you can tell someone's job from their handwriting.

 

[islandman]

She's of the opinion that you can tell someone's job from their handwriting.

In France, most employers use graphology has part of the interview process.

But, given, that it is Mischka's opinion, I'm still not sure why the quibble.

 

[Sean]

In France, most employers use graphology has part of the interview process.

But, given, that it is Mischka's opinion, I'm still not sure why the quibble.

Because I'm always slightly amazed when people I consider to be fairly bright believe in bullshit.

 

[pointless]

she has a vagina. vagina's believe in silly things. it's just the way the world works.

 

[neci]

i would rather judge a person after a conversation, than through their handwriting.

 

[butters]

You think the way a person uses a tool is as happenstance as what dregs are left in a cup?

i know this is addressed to sean, but if i may i'll answer this from my own perspective.

a pen is a tool, and tools are handled differently by everybody - the way a master craftsman uses his tools can be 'read' by those with the knowledge to understand what they're looking at. in any art form, the depth, angle, length of stroke, the deliberate intricacies . . . they can lay names to the individuals who're responsible for their existence. they can denote tenacity, impatience, delicacy and force, skill and the lack thereof. therefore, it is no great leap of application to apply that to a person's handwriting and, from it, deduce some very basic pointers about the person wielding the pen. generalisations. just that.

i'd go on to say that the tool also influences how a person writes; i write in a far neater, more artistic hand when using a lovely fountain pen than when i'm using a cheap biro. whether or not that says something about my character, i'm not sure, but one biro can vary from another so i'm pretty sure it's more about the quality of the tool employed. the actual styling, though, of my script, remains pretty consistent.

the basic pointers can then lead an interested party in certain directions of investigation into character-specifics, as used by various companies before shortlisting possible employees and by some police departments re criminal profiling.

it's important to realise it is only one more tool in an entire tool box, and not anything that can be relied upon in its own right without taking into consideration other influencing factors.


so pretty much i agree with you, mischka, in a long-winded and typed-rather-than-penned-so-as-not-to-incriminate-myself kind of way.

 

[doctor_insanus]

My handwriting changed dramatically in college. Before, it was all straight lines and angles and was very deliberate. Afterwards, it was much more uneven, but was softer and had more of a flow.

It's a result of muscle memory more than anything else.

 

[phrodeau]

If you have tea leaves in the bottom of your cup, that tells me that you don't use a proper filter when you make tea. And from that I can deduce that your cookie jar has crumbs at the bottom and you don't peel your carrots.

 

[neci]

my tea has leaves in the bottom, because i use fresh herbs and an old chinese teapot.