The Skeptic It is often surprising how many seemingly intelligent people read their astrological charts every day with the hope that it actually might be true. While some argue that it's all in fun, the amount of time, effort, and costs expended are incredible, and some people actually believe what they read. Though rarely does pseudoscience physically harm individuals, and some could argue that it can bring hope, hiding from the truth often causes long term emotionally damage and very often financially disaster.
Many topics fall into the category of pseudoscience.
The reference is to fields of study or endeavors that do not lend themselves to scientific scrutiny. While some of these fields are clearly non-science, many fall on the fringe between true science and belief. It might seem easy to distinguish truth from fiction, but many people are swayed by belief or by the hope belief brings. And while belief does not preclude truth, it is not science. Dowsing Dowsing is the practice of finding underground water using a forked stick, bent wire, or pendulum.