2012

[Giggle Goose]

I think I've rarely, if ever, started a thread here. But I had a conversation today that really got me thinking.

I took a long drive with my Dad today and we talked about how I'm thinking of moving to southern California (I live on the east coast, so it would be a HUGE change). He's always been a bit on the offbeat side and thinks that there's going to be this huge crisis out there with the water supply (desert, etc.) and it's all going to come to a head in 2012; which is when the Mayan calendar ends.

That's what I know about the Mayan calendar from class and stuff; feel free to Wiki it or use something more scholarly to shove the info in my face. I also heard it means that there's going to be some kind of world-changing event, or the planets are going to align, or some such stuff. So what, if anything, have you all heard about this 2012 thing? And what's your take (besides, of course, that Mr. Goose is a total whackjob. That would be stating the obvious).

PS: I had NOOOOOOOO idea where the hell to put this topic; so sorry if it seems odd.

[Amethyst Hunter]

There's already something of a water problem in the country, in some areas...look at what Atlanta has had to go through in recent months with their reservoir shortage.

As far as 2012 goes, reports vary. Naturally all the fundie nutjobs are salivating over the date (just like they did with 1999, and Y2K, and so on) because they think it means a) the world will end, or b) they'll get to make the world end (and yes, there are some VERY scary types out there who are dying - no pun intended - to do just that).

There are also reports that a major asteroid is due to pass by Earth about that time; studies thus far indicate that it may be a close call, and the closest one yet with an asteroid.

I think most of the postulations are bullshit myself. The Mayans had their system set up as such that that was the only known date as far as they could go, at the time. If there is something major due to happen about then, well, there's really nothing we can do about it so there's no point in freaking out over it. (Except for the fundies - keep them the hell away from any powerful positions so they can't "accidentally" bomb somebody or something...)

In short: we won't know till we get there, am I rite?

[crazylegs]

I believe that the Myan calender merely cycles, not that it stops but that once you reach the end of one cycle you start at the beginnning...

[Norton]

Do I believe some world-changing event will happen in 2012? I'm skeptical at best. A lot of things will happen in 2012 (just like every year), and many people will try to correlate any big events with the Mayan prophecy.

Do I hope some world-changing event will happen in 2012? Yes yes yes! If life is going to change drastically, I'll welcome it! Not that I'm unhappy with my life, but I'd love to see a major change take place in the world right before my eyes.

At the very least, I'd like to throw a big crazy hedonistic party on December 20th, 2012. Even if nothing happens afterwards, it's still a great excuse for a party.

[Giggle Goose]

Oh yeah; I forgot about the possibility that an asteroid could totally f*** us up at any moment. I'm very spiritual, however, and I do think that we all go somewhere when we die. (I know, I know....) So it wouldn't be all bad for me at least.

[Depot Denizen]

The Bad Astronomy / Universe Today forum has a few threads on 2012. I'm not sure if linking is allowed here (please let me know if it's not!), but www.bautforum.com is the best resource for it, particularly the Against the Mainstream and Conspiracy Theories forums).

TL;DR: It's bunk.

BTW, I'm a transplant from Customers Suck. Been lurking for a while and decided to make an account here. :-)

~Josh

[ArenaBoy]

*sigh*

People have been predicting the end of the world since the dawn of time. We're still here last I checked.

Also, it's a calendar cycle. There are still Mayans that are living and they have stated that it's a calendar cycle.

Oh and for the record, I always though of Nostradamus as the dude with a vicious paranoia streak that made Tony Montana blush and a drinking problem.

And to add, "I don't worry about nothing because worrying is a waste of my time." Axl Rose. Also, look up Penn and Teller's Bullshit regarding the end of the world.

[Greenday]

Oh and for the record, I always though of Nostradamus as the dude with a vicious paranoia streak that made Tony Montana blush and a drinking problem.

If I can recall correctly, he was on drugs.

Not going to lie, if the world ended in 2012, I'd be pissed. But it's not going to happen.

[protege]

A lot of things will happen in 2012 (just like every year), and many people will try to correlate any big events with the Mayan prophecy.

That's how I see it too. The way people were portraying the year 2000, you'd think the world would have ended. Guess what, we're still here With that said, I think that 2012, 2013, et al, are going to be pretty much the same. Reminds me of the nutjobs downtown, warning people "repent, the end is near." Gee, some of them have been holding those signs nearly 20 years ago. Guess the end isn't as close as he thought

[Dreamstalker]

"I predict that the world will end on February 14th in the year 2016."
"Valentine's day. Bummer."

Call me jaded, but I've heard too much about end-of-the-world/rapture dates (1990, 1999, 200, etc) that end up passing uneventfully to believe that anything "bad" is going to happen.

2012 is as far as the Mayan calendar cycle would go at the time of its creation. That's all. Weird that we don't hear as much about other religious calendars that are due to come to a cycle end soon.

[IDrinkaRum]

I say we have a huge party on December 31, 2012. We all get together in like ... I don't know .... North Dakota, Idaho, West Virginia, somewhere and party likes it's 2012 or something. Okay, back to the regularly scheduled topic.

[BlaqueKatt]

I believe that the Myan calender merely cycles, not that it stops but that once you reach the end of one cycle you start at the beginnning...

True to an extent-Per the Mayan calender the world does not "end" as we think of it-it begins a new age-the world has "ended" by their calender 5 times already-2012 will be the 6th "end".

[DesignFox]

I'm with Rum. Let's have an "end of the world" party.

Seriously, I think that stuff's crazy. No offense. How many times over has the world ended in the past century??? Last time I checked, I'm still alive...

[Slytovhand]

I think you're all in denial... You actually died a few millenia ago, but can't let it all go, so you're creating all these 'lives', and believing that you're still here typing on forums and all.....







Yeah - how many times has the world come to an end? Enough to say it's not likely to this time... besides, the way things are going on this planet, it'll happen well before 2012. Maybe someone in Israel will do a pre-emptive on Iran, and that'll start the ball rolling (or nukes flying, as the case may be....)

And Nostradamus... I'm getting right over hearing that name attached to anything (not that I don't think he didn't have some talent, but his interpretations were all cut up and rearranged so he didn't get in trouble by the reigning royals at the time... makes it a bit hard to interpret now....)


Slyt

[rahmota]

Sad as the world is right now it might not be a bad thing if human society collapses.

But yeah the mayan calender cycles through various "ages" and this will be the 6th age of the world.