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Thailand's so-called quality mass media can do society a service by not promoting the annual astrological predictions on the course Thai politics, economy and society will take in the near future. As we witnessed at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, these so-called predictions were an excuse for unnecessarily giving ample space by most in the media to people who claim to see or know the future of society.

Such predictions do make for juicy headlines and articles, as one fortune teller after another makes wild predictions about whether there will be yet another coup, a civil war or whether the House of Representatives will be dissolved in 2010 to pave way for general election or not. Yet, editors should ask themselves how helpful these predictions are to society as a whole - especially a society that is already deeply rooted in superstition. Shouldn't they be making moves that lessen or at least discourage such mumbo-jumbo?

There is no denying that fortune-telling can be a form of collective social therapy, especially for people who are anxious, vulnerable and feel that they have no power to change the collective destiny of society. In fact, it can even be considered a traditional form of social therapy.

Nevertheless, becoming too reliant on such "special powers" will weaken the society over time, because people will give up on critical thinking and become used to waiting for some seer to come up with a prediction. They will forget that many problems can be resolved and that the future can be changed if they put their heads together and come up with an answer.

Usually, astrological predictions offer no rational or coherent explanations, and the cause-and-effect they talk about is not based on rational and scientific deduction. This train of thought certainly cannot be good for young Thais, who we all hope will develop rational minds.

In a way, dependency on such superstitious ideas would make people feel more helpless and vulnerable as they tend to see the future as being predetermined and irreversible. People start seeing themselves at the receiving end of a social and political destiny - a destiny that they believe they can't control. However, the truth is that we, collectively, are responsible for the state of our politics, economy and society.

With all these predictions, nobody should be surprised if people develop a heightened sense of helplessness or even political apathy. Besides, the mass media cannot simply claim that it is just catering to the public - it should also consider whether what is published or broadcast is to the benefit of the society at large or not.

Instead of dwelling on superstition, the mass media should steer clear from such practice and instead offer articles that empower the people. There are enough examples of groups and individuals who have successfully made a difference to society. Perhaps, the media should dedicate its precious space to such people. It should be telling the stories of people who are working for the urban poor, those trying to save the environment, those crusading for human rights, free speech, for media reform, and especially those trying to fight against corruption.

Istead of finding ways to empower the public, the media seems to spend far too much time promoting superstitious belief.

So, if the mass media fails to see the negative role it is playing in society, then it should stop complaining about the miserable state Thai politics and society is in, because the media itself has become part of the problem instead of the solution.