December 21, 2012

[Boston]

First off...

PLEASE BE CIVIL AND RESPECTFUL OF OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINIONS!

Okay, now that that is out of the way, what are your thoughts on the whole 'End of the world' thing that is supposed to happen on December 21, 2012? Do you think something will occur on that date, something tragic? Or, do you believe that it will be like every other day?

There have been many 'theories' as to what will happen. Some say that 'Planet X' will come out of nowhere and destroy the Earth. Some say some kind of war will occur and kill millions upon millions of people. Personally I found this (http://www.the2012theories.com/solarstorm.html) to open my eyes a bit.

My personal opinion is that something will occur on that date, however I am a firm believer that it will not be 'world ending' like many people claim. I do think that with our economy so shitty right now, government trying to take control over everything, the solar flares in that link provided, and just in general how most of mankind is violent with no morals or ideals something is bound to happen. I want to press an issue also about Obama and his 'anti gun' infatuation might also cause some problems - but please, do not turn this into a political debate.

So yeah, with a civil and logical opinion, discuss what you think. Could December 21, 2012 be a tragic day in human history, or will it be just another day?

REMEMBER TO BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINIONS, AS WELL AS HAVE A LOGICAL RESPONSE! I DO NOT WANT TO SEE "THIS IS STUPID THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN" OR I WILL HAVE YOUR POST REMOVED - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

[wiggums]

Aztecs aren't around today, so I'd say if they aren't intelligent enough to survive, then they aren't intelligent enough to predict the end of the world.

And I don't think our government and the world issues today is going to cause some kind of explosion of war or anything, the world has always had problems, even worse then right now. The Cold War was 5 minutes away from a full on nuclear war during the Cuban missile crisis, but we figured that out. Basically, the world is always gonna be like this.

So I'd say it's gonna be a normal day, but everyone is going to pay attention to the news, and when the smallest thing occurs, everyone is going to say that the aztecs were right, even though much worse things occur on other regular days.

Basically, on December 21, 2012, I'll just be hanging out with friends like normal.

[Boston]

Aztecs aren't around today, so I'd say if they aren't intelligent enough to survive, then they aren't intelligent enough to predict the end of the world.

And I don't think our government and the world issues today is going to cause some kind of explosion of war or anything, the world has always had problems, even worse then right now. The Cold War was 5 minutes away from a full on nuclear war during the Cuban missile crisis, but we figured that out. Basically, the world is always gonna be like this.

So I'd say it's gonna be a normal day, but everyone is going to pay attention to the news, and when the smallest thing occurs, everyone is going to say that the aztecs were right, even though much worse things occur on other regular days.

Basically, on December 21, 2012, I'll just be hanging out with friends like normal.

Interesting way of looking at it. I see what you mean about people 'over analyzing' things that will occur on that day. I definitely can see how a couple murders on that day will turn into "Serial Killers on a Rampage!" or something wild and ridiculous. I am hoping you are right wiggums, maybe I will try and relax on that day too :)

[Jpec07]

Aztecs aren't around today, so I'd say if they aren't intelligent enough to survive, then they aren't intelligent enough to predict the end of the world.

I apologize, but your ignorance is astonishing. The Aztecs aren't around today because the majority of them were killed off by the diseases that the Spanish brought over, and they weren't used to being screwed over, so trusted the Spanish blindly. Their demise is blamed on their circumstances and not on their inability to foresee betrayal.

And I don't think our government and the world issues today is going to cause some kind of explosion of war or anything, the world has always had problems, even worse then right now. The Cold War was 5 minutes away from a full on nuclear war during the Cuban missile crisis, but we figured that out. Basically, the world is always gonna be like this.

So I'd say it's gonna be a normal day, but everyone is going to pay attention to the news, and when the smallest thing occurs, everyone is going to say that the aztecs were right, even though much worse things occur on other regular days.

Basically, on December 21, 2012, I'll just be hanging out with friends like normal.

Aside from that, I pretty much agree. While there's plenty of things that could go wrong, I don't think anything will.

[Hadokenchild]

Nothing is going to happen to me personally, but I see the possibility of terrible things happening here and there. Hell, if the Hale Bop cult is any indication of the detestable gullibility of some people, than I can only assume that there will be some incidents of suicides and madness but nothing on the scale of global decimation. Still, I would view these possible events as catastrophic even in their small scale.

[Soren515]

I think that the hype around this incident will at the most cause sucides in cults or other groups of believers and an increase in crime. The people who believe this BS will say that they have nothing to lose so why not steal the porsche or kill myself before the evil aliens come. Otherwise it will just be a normal day.

[Boston]

I think that the hype around this incident will at the most cause sucides in cults or other groups of believers and an increase in crime. The people who believe this BS will say that they have nothing to lose so why not steal the porsche or kill myself before the evil aliens come. Otherwise it will just be a normal day.

I think that is one of the more interesting things we will see. Those hardcore believers who think the world will explode for no logical reasoning at all are going to be a problem. This kind of reminds me of a tv show I watch called Flashforward. Basically, everyone sees their futures 6 months in advance. So when that day comes, the people with bad futures try to prevent it from coming true, yet make it come true by trying to prevent it. I wonder if Dec 21, 2012 will be any different.

[Denominator]

I think that the hype around this incident will at the most cause sucides in cults or other groups of believers and an increase in crime. The people who believe this BS will say that they have nothing to lose so why not steal the porsche or kill myself before the evil aliens come. Otherwise it will just be a normal day.

Exactly. Just like the whole Y2K thing, where everyone panicked, nothing is going to happen that people don't cause themselves.

[Letol]

I refuse to continue reading from that link you provided after I read this sentence:

If the solar storm is stronger than predicted, the solar particles released into the magnetosphere could boost the gravitational pull on satellites and cause them to crash down to earth.



Anyways, I'd just like to point out that the only significance of December 21, 2012 is that it is the end of the Mayan 5 cycle calendar, where each cycle lasts 125 years. So what does that mean? We go back to the first cycle, of course. Plus, predictions of impending doom have never been found in classic Maya accounts nor in astronomy.

I don't know about you guys, but on December 22, 2012, I'll be laughing at anyone who is amazed to still be alive merely because of the date.

[Denominator]

I don't know about you guys, but on December 22, 2012, I'll be laughing at anyone who is amazed to still be alive merely because of the date.

I'll be happily celebrating my 26th birthday.

[wiggums]

I apologize, but your ignorance is astonishing. The Aztecs aren't around today because the majority of them were killed off by the diseases that the Spanish brought over, and they weren't used to being screwed over, so trusted the Spanish blindly. Their demise is blamed on their circumstances and not on their inability to foresee betrayal.


How they died has nothing to do with it.

I'd say finding the cure for a brand new disease is a hell of a lot easier then finding out the exact date of the end of the world.

All I'm saying is that a society that knew the most hidden secrets of our universe would probably have the smaller secrets figured out by then.

I voted for the second one, because something happens every day.

[Boston]

All I'm saying is that a society that knew the most hidden secrets of our universe would probably have the smaller secrets figured out by then.

I voted for the second one, because something happens every day.

I agree about the secrets thing. People back then mastered Astrology and from what I have read, were about .002 seconds off of a full year. As for something happening every day statement, it is more so supposed to be that "something will happen" - maybe on the scale of like a small earthquake that kills a few hundred. ;P

[Denominator]

How they died has nothing to do with it.

I'd say finding the cure for a brand new disease is a hell of a lot easier then finding out the exact date of the end of the world.

All I'm saying is that a society that knew the most hidden secrets of our universe would probably have the smaller secrets figured out by then.

I voted for the second one, because something happens every day.

I fail to see any logic in your argument.

Disease pandemics aren't a very big issue in today's world because of the ease of information transmission and the ease with which any person can travel to any other part of the world, so there aren't very many pockets that haven't been exposed to most diseases.

However, at the time of the Aztecs, or even more recently, the North American First Nations peoples, major diseases such as smallpox or the Spanish Influenza hadn't been introduced to those people so their immune system had absolutely zero tolerance to the disease and it obliterated entire populations of people.

It had nothing to do with technological advancement, or knowledge, it was simple biology. The Spanish certainly didn't help.

[wiggums]

I fail to see any logic in your argument.

Disease pandemics aren't a very big issue in today's world because of the ease of information transmission and the ease with which any person can travel to any other part of the world, so there aren't very many pockets that haven't been exposed to most diseases.

However, at the time of the Aztecs, or even more recently, the North American First Nations peoples, major diseases such as smallpox or the Spanish Influenza hadn't been introduced to those people so their immune system had absolutely zero tolerance to the disease and it obliterated entire populations of people.

It had nothing to do with technological advancement, or knowledge, it was simple biology. The Spanish certainly didn't help.


My only argument is that the end of the world is too big for someone to find out. No matter how hard it is to deal with disease in a society that has no experience with them, I'd still say that the destruction of the universe would be a much bigger enigma.

[Zackj191]

I going to take a random guess and say that in the time I have been alive at least 100 different times people have tried to tell me that "scientists proved the world will end on X day at X time in X year!!!" Every time, I facepalm, because to believe that, you would have to be a moron.


EDIT: To talk about your explainations about the Mayan/Aztec/whatever-people-you-guys-keep-changing-it-to's deaths, if you look up records, it seem like they just disappeared on a random day. Just, all of a sudden, got up and left. No disease(lack of bones), no natural disaster(all buildings are fine), no pillaging(all treasure was still there), nothing. They just disappeared.

[Boston]

EDIT: To talk about your explainations about the Mayan/Aztec/whatever-people-you-guys-keep-changing-it-to's deaths, if you look up records, it seem like they just disappeared on a random day. Just, all of a sudden, got up and left. No disease(lack of bones), no natural disaster(all buildings are fine), no pillaging(all treasure was still there), nothing. They just disappeared.

Roanoke Island aka The Lost Colony? "Croatoan" was all that was left, whatever the hell that means.

[Letol]

EDIT: To talk about your explainations about the Mayan/Aztec/whatever-people-you-guys-keep-changing-it-to's deaths, if you look up records, it seem like they just disappeared on a random day. Just, all of a sudden, got up and left. No disease(lack of bones), no natural disaster(all buildings are fine), no pillaging(all treasure was still there), nothing. They just disappeared.

ALIENS!!!!!!!lol

[wiggums]

ALIENS!!!!!!!lol

Wrong debate. :p

[DeathsFriend22]

it's the MAYANS, people. THE MAYANS. Not the Aztecs.

Anyways, nothing will happen. We've suvived thrugh, oh, about 40 gajillion other doomsdays, I'm pretty sure we'll make it through 2012 as well.

[Boston]

I just think that people should at least have an open mind about 2012. I'm not saying people need to believe it is the end or whatever, but I do think people should at least consider the possibility of something happening (whether it be the small scaled or not) rather than call it stupid/impossible/etc...fine, some people just do not believe it - but before you say you don't believe it, at least think about it and do your own research on it before coming to that conclusion. Don't just say it won't happen. That is the only thing that bothers me.

[Letol]

I just think that people should at least have an open mind about 2012. I'm not saying people need to believe it is the end or whatever, but I do think people should at least consider the possibility of something happening (whether it be the small scaled or not)

You see, the chances are that anything can happen on any day. We all consider this possibility every single day, but the typical result is that nothing very significant will happen to the world. Why single out a certain date because of a bunch of people reading way too far into things? What makes the chances of extreme disaster on December 21, 2012 any different from June 14, 2009?

rather than call it stupid/impossible/etc...fine, some people just do not believe it - but before you say you don't believe it, at least think about it and do your own research on it before coming to that conclusion. Don't just say it won't happen. That is the only thing that bothers me.

What makes you think that we haven't thought about it or researched it ourselves? I've met people who believed that December 21, 2012 will be the end of the world and I've known more about the date, theories, and history than they did.

[PsychoBucket]

The only bad things that happen are going to be from the anticipation of the day. You are going to have people who think "No consequences", and some who want to fulfill the what people said about the day themselves. Without the day being marked as the end of the world, it would be a completely normal day. Just remember not to underestimate the stupidity of people.

Oh yah - people are already talking about having an "End of the World" party. That should be fun.

[wiggums]

Oh yah - people are already talking about having an "End of the World" party. That should be fun.
I'm guessing it will be the end of the world for a lot of those people, with all the overdoses and alcohol poisoning.

[PsychoBucket]

I'm guessing it will be the end of the world for a lot of those people, with all the overdoses and alcohol poisoning.

only the people who take the end of the world thing seriously.

[wiggums]

only the people who take the end of the world thing seriously.
or just the people who take a good party seriously :p

[thatdamnhippie]

I would probably say that nothing is going to happen, but I don't know for sure. I just think if we had the evidence that something was going to happen we would already be taking precautions and readying ourselves.
But me and my friend already have that day planned out; it says it is supposed to start (if anything were to happen) at around 530AM. So me and my friend are going to get lawn chairs, put them on his roof and put on replay "It's The End Of The World As We Know It" by REM and get sucked into oblivion lol.

[Boston]

only the people who take the end of the world thing seriously.

That's actually quite true.

[Time Glitch]

Well the year leading up to it will be filled with mass suicides, terrorist acts, and a bunch of nutcases coming out of the woodworks.

It'll be a bad year, but we'll get through it.

Should anything actually happen, I'll be laughing while everyone tries to save themselves =). Also got a girl lined up for end-of-the-world sex =P.

[Tim]

I'll be getting ready for the zombie invasion soon after.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v339/Shadowsth/Funny%20Gifs/1200443398975.gif

[HLG Viper]

Potentially, the EXPECTATION that something will happen might cause something to happen, which is ironical. I'm fairly sure that hundreds of misguided people will commit suicide that day or the day before, and if someone manages to set off a chaotic situation in a city, many could start leading on because it's the last day on earth. It will be a weird day allright.

Personally, I HOPE with all of my heart that something does happen, I can't stand this monotone lifestyle of ours anymore. I don't think anything will happen though and that saddens me. *crosses fingers for fallout scenario*

[DeathsFriend22]

ZOMBIE TIME, BABY!

Place your bets on survivors?

[Sodachampion]

Honestly even if something did happen...it would only be coincidence in my book. I just dont see how a calender ending proves the end of the world. Last time I checked the Maiyans are not around anymore.

[wiggums]

Honestly even if something did happen...it would only be coincidence in my book. I just dont see how a calender ending proves the end of the world. Last time I checked the Maiyans are not around anymore.

The only reason the dinosaurs were destroyed was because they didn't have space travel (Space travel as in the ability to go to another planet and survive without help). We don't either, so why are we less susceptible to being destroyed? On a long enough timeline, everything drops to zero. I guarantee that if a giant meteor came along right now, we'd have only a few more options then the dinosaurs on how to save ourselves. (Speak of the devil) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99942_Apophis)

[pyro swan]

[QUOTE=wiggums;106659]Aztecs aren't around today, so I'd say if they aren't intelligent enough to survive, then they aren't intelligent enough to predict the end of the world.

Exactly, if anything bad was going to happen, we would most likely see it coming

[BadCompany Brik]

I don't believe anything of cosmic or natural origin will happen on that day. I think the worst that will happen is whatever damage is caused by the belief that something will happen on that day. For example, "It's my last day alive, I've always wanted to drive a sports car as fast as I possibly can!"

I've done a small amount of research in regards to the Mayan/Aztec connection (one thing that was never consistent was which ancient culture it was... that or i'm dumd and I can't remember :p). For people saying 'they aren't smart enough to be alive today', well, besides that being a logical fallacy, they actually had very, very accurate calenders for their time. They divided their calenders into cycles of various lengths (year, decade, century, etc) and they had something like 13 'great' cycles, which were the longest. The following sentence is going to explain what the concern is and suggest a few reasons why it is invalid. There has been no evidence that the calender was continued after the 13th cycle, and no reason for this has been found, nor have the ancient civilization in question (again, i r dumd) actually specifically said anything would happen. They just (apparently, based on evidence we have) stopped writing their calender.

Also, modern day descendents of (gah, it flows so much better to just say Mayans or Aztecs, but then I worry I'm putting up false information...) whatever civilization it is aren't worried at all. This was just a fun side note from one of the websites, there was a quote something like 'I don't know of or care about anything that will happen on that day. I'm just worried about how much rain will fall on my crops tomorrow.'

[Rikaziku]

I believe either that something good will happen, or nothing at all will happen.

On one side, there are many sources that depict this day as being monumental, some bad and some good. I think that something good will happen, such as alien ancestors coming back for whatever reason.

On the other side, it could be just like Y2K or any of the other false apocalyptic predictions. As of now we do not know, only time will tell.

As for me, I'm probably skipping school on that day. That's just BS if something big happens WHILE we're in school. I'd say 2012 is a pretty good reason for a day off.

EDIT:Also this:Exactly, if anything bad was going to happen, we would most likely see it coming
I agree completely.

[wiggums]

As for me, I'm probably skipping school on that day. That's just BS if something big happens WHILE we're in school. I'd say 2012 is a pretty good reason for a day off..

You have school 4 days before Christmas?

Hmm.

Anyway, I personally think that nothing will happen.

Of course, we all assumed we could just wait for that day and we could say "I told you so" but of course now they have something else to fall back on. Apparently since the Mayans used a different system for time, the date given for the end of the world could be off by 10-50 years! Now we have to wait until 2062 for this bullshit to finally be proven wrong, and even then I'm sure people will have another excuse.

source (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39746543/ns/technology_and_science-science)

[Boston]

I like the theory that in 2012 the Earth's magnetic core will be at is weakest in years, and the Sun's solar activity will be at its highest. Now I am not saying we will be fried alive, however this could present a major problem for technology based societies such as our own. If a strong solar flare damaged all the satellites or most of them, that would cause a shit ton of problems. I do believe something like this will occur, and it is plausible.

[Iron]

Y2K never happened, so why do people think this is going to happen.