Why are people affected by the moon? – ‘The Why’

Why are people affected by the moon?

Welcome to today’s edition of The Why.

Everywhere you look the media is pushing you telling you who to follow, what to watch and when to watch it.   You’re even sometimes told how to do it all.  Truth is, here at American Live Wire we do a bit of that too.  The big difference is we also tell you why.

You ask the questions.  We provide the answers.

“Why are people affected by the moon?” you ask?

Today’s question comes from iconic Americana artist Natasha James. In a recent late night chat with the singer-songwriter,  James posed the question: are people really affected by the moon?  Of course, much like “Jeopardy”, you can’t play this game unless your response is properly phrased.

Why are people affected by the moon?

Hence the question: “Why are people affected by the moon?” People are affected by the moon because of reasons both scientific and psychological. There are a lot of urban legends and mistaken beliefs but the truth is most studies are either inconclusive or were not done properly. Whether it is epilepsy or emergency room visits these common beliefs don’t hold up to recent research.

So if for every mistaken belief there is at least one study to prove it wrong why write this column? Why even ask: “Why are people affected by the moon?”   Because the truth is people are affected by the moon jut not in the many ways people often think.

In fact, one answer to the question “Why are people affected by the moon?” is because of superstitions and old wives’ tales. They see a full moon and their very beliefs change. They automatically assume what they have heard is true rather than investigate said beliefs.

Benjamin Radford, Bad Science columnist, elaborates: “If police and doctors are expecting that full moon nights will be more hectic, they may interpret an ordinary night’s traumas and crises as more extreme than usual. Our expectations influence our perceptions, and we look for evidence that confirms our beliefs.”

Why are people affected by the moon?

Everything you have heard as being attributed to the moon is generally untrue or at best empirically unproven. On the other hand, there are some interesting answers to the question: “Why are people affected by the moon?” in terms of emotions.

People are emotionally affected by the moon because they have long ago attached mystical and romantic images to it. Witness the plethora of romantic moon melodies: “Moon River”, “Paper Moon”, “Fly Me To The Moon”, “Slow Dancing with the Moon” and so forth. Indeed, taking a lady for a stroll and dancing with her slowly in a secluded in the moonlight has always worked well for this randy reporter.  (Sure, your rapscallion writer might do well with women under any circumstance but pairing in the pale moonlight has a long history of success because we attach a romantic feel to it.)

“Why are people affected by the moon?” They are affected by the moon because they are human and they choose to be affected by it. While many of us may now believe in one Superior Being, in some ways we still hold on to ancient traditions of worshiping the sun and the moon in our own little ways.

“Why are people affected by the moon?” Now you know.

You ask the questions.  We provide the answers.

American Live Wire . . . Listen and be heard.

(Images courtesy of BestPicz and AstroMatch)