Posting Protocol

[parsifal]

I've noticed some posts include questions whose answers might be tantamount to an actual reading.

Professional astrologers no doubt have professional/ethical reasons for not offering those type of answers, as they are entitled to get paid for them.

Beginning astrology students tend to use their own chart as a jumping off point. Do too many questions about one's natal chart push those limits?

Do professionals just bow out from answering those posts?

What are some guidelines (if any at all) to avoid those potential dilemmas?

[Lance]

excellent questions...

I will answer questions that point to a specific problem...esp if it's unusual...

however, a request from a hormonal 15 yr old to look at her chart does not interest me...

part of how I approach this is vibes...

serious question?

do I think they really understand what they are asking?

Molly has her own guidelines...

example...Werty...every time I answer a question for him...he emails me with more...finally today, I told him to get a reading from Molly...enough...

so, it depends...

I try to help and explain when I feel the question is good...

Lance

[molly]

Good thoughts from Lance-- It's difficult for me to think of the best way to phrase specific guidelines for questions on the forum.

I can talk for an hour on someone's natal chart, another hour on their transits for the year. It's not about being stingy with information or withholding it so I can charge the person and make more money. Some questions are, obviously, just too big to answer on the board, and it would be a disservice to the individual to try to encapsulate an entire chart in a few paragraphs. If that's the case, I'll usually let the person know. Lately u2u has been my method of choice (as I've been lambasted for setting personal boundaries on this board more than once).

Basically, this is a learning forum, where people who are learning to read their own charts can come to ask questions. That's why so many answers are simply book recommendations.

I'm like Lance-- I'll respond well if I get the sense that the person is studying and reading books on their own, making an effort at learning. When I feel as if I'm being asked to spoon-feed the information, that's when I stop.

Thanks for asking,
Molly