By AJ Llewellyn
Hi Everyone,
When I grew up in Australia (1970s) I remember as a kid my older cousins were all about mood rings and biorhythms. I still remember one hot day in my Uncle George's backyard, my cousin Con's girlfriend (who'd forced him to wear a mood ring) moaning about him being in a bad mood. The ring said so.
"No, I'm not," he kept bleating to deaf ears.
It was around this time that Astrology was the new thing and everybody started automatically asking "What star sign are you?"
What amused me - and follow me here kids - was that I had cousins and aunts and uncles whose signs apparently were bad for one another and yet these were among the happiest marriages I knew.
When I moved to California in 1984, astrology compatibility charts were the new rage. I had friends who invested $50-$100 in getting these done. Sometimes they were told the man they were involved with had 100% compatibility - only to learn he was a child molester or something. I work at a movie studio and spend my days consulting with authors about their storylines - especially in the always popular 'rom-coms' as we call them. Fresh is good. Gimmicky, good. If it has a nasty twist.
One of my favorite screenwriters plots out her storylines with characters' astrology signs and accompanying bad traits allegedly attached to each. She must know what she's doing. She's made a fortune.
Inevitably compatibility and dating disasters are strip mined when writers write for the benefits of mankind's entertainment.
So imagine my bemusement to discover that Dating DNA is the new thing. Yep, for $199 you can get a swab of your partner's DNA - and yours - and pretty soon you get a complete outsider telling you whether you're good enough for each other.
Are we not taking things too far now? What are we, pit pulls preparing for pureblood breeding?
What if your DNA report comes back YOU SUCK TOGETHER! and yet, you've managed to create a wonderful life and two, darned cute kids together?
What do you do then? Start to find other flaws? File for a quickie divorce? What happened to getting to know you, love, commitment...feelings?
All I know is a piece of paper won't tell me what I need to know. I don't dispute DNA findings for criminal cases or paternity issues, but can it really tell me I don't belong with the man I love?
I say chuck out the mood rings, ignore the charts...blood be damned. Roll with the punches and lead with your heart.
What about you? Do you think you'll be rushing out to try Dating DNA? What happens if you get bad news? What if it's good news but you still don't think the guy in question is the one for you?
Aloha oe,
A.J.
10 comments:
Why the hell would we rely on PAPER to tell us whether or not we work? Has everyone gotten so bloody freakin lazy that they want someone else to do all the work for them? That's the problem nowadays.... nobody wants to WORK at a relationship.
Does everyone really think it's supposed to be HEA without fights?JEEEZZZZZZZZZZ
Hi Ruth,
I'm with you on this...as a race we're big on blame...blaming other people that is. How convenient to have yet one more outside source dictating our lives.
Hugs,
AJ
we shouldn't rely on paper or what others tell us. we should re-learn to rely on our own instincts again.
That's interesting about what the screenwriter does for her characters. I do the same... chart out full astrological profiles for my characters for my longer works. Then the chart shows me the postive and negative aspects of the 'people.' As for the sun signs 'not matching' but the couple is getting along great... that's because there's more to it than just the sun sign. And regarding astrology in general, it shouldn't be taken as the 'be all' for life. It's a fun form of entertainment (IMO).
;)
C.R. Moss
http://www.myspace.com/cr_moss
This is very silly and the first time I've hard of DNA dating. People read into those things what they want to. *shakes head* Very silly, but a great blog as usual. I do have a question...what about your new love? Don't think I forgot about that post. :)
Hi AJ,
Like your blog. It seems like every generation comes up with their own version of mumbo-jumbo and of course the trend followers jump on the bandwagon. Some get rich over it, but if they don't unload it on some other fool before the next trend comes out, they lose it.
Regards, Dee (not a follower) Dawning
Well, my hubby and my starsigns are not compatible at all...but we've got a really good marriage and eleven wonderful children to prove it...hehe!!!
I agree...chuck it all out and go with the heart.
Valerie
valb0302@yahoo.com
Now that's just crazy. And can I mention that opposites attract. I'm the mood-ring wearer and my hubby is the type A personality. We meld very well. Who wants someone who is just like they are?
There was a guy in high school who started acting out-going and crazy like me because he thought it would attract my attention. It totally turned me off. If I wanted to attract myself- I'd stay at home!
Kissa
Thanks for the comments everyone. Jambrea - the new man is great and Kissa you are funny! Dee, I like that you're not a follower and CR Moss, I just love you.
Kisses everyone,
AJ
Dating DNA, really??? Wow. Just wow.
Great post AJ. :)
Wendi Darlin
Hubby's astrological sign is one of the two I am supposed to avoid like the plague, but we're still together. :)
I don't put any stock in any of the crazy dating things people try, from astrology to DNA. Real relationships require WORK on the part of both parties. Yeah, compatability is good, but it adds up to nothing if the couple isn't willing to work to stay together.
Post a Comment