Mayan end of the world

[technodad]

So, the Mayan end of the world is going to hit us in 8 days, so I was wondering.....

Do "normal" people actually believe there is going to be an apocalypse? The Mayans couldn't even work out how many days there are in a year, so is it reasonable that they could predict the end of the world?!

Since it is likely that this ancient theory will be proven as utter tosh, how long do we think it will take for the world to realise that all the other ancient guesses "theories" are also made up by humans rather than true?

Thought for the day - by Technodad!

[AlreadyScone]

I have no doubt that it will prove to be utter tosh

However I've no faith that humankind will learn anything from it; there'll be another end of days theory popping up quicker than you can say "Bible Code II"

[thewhistler]

Science's point was made to me in a bookshop recently, that it was about new eras being ushered in and that the arrival of Columbus did indeed do that, for that people in that place.

Have bought my Christmas presents as usual, myself, and would not have bothered if I had thought the end was nigh.

But I gather from a cousin in Washington DC that lots of people pond side are giving away their worldly goods..

[jimmenycricket]

Nasa has roundly debunked this very well. Google it if you need reassurance, or 2012myth.org I think is the other site. It's based on poor mathematical reasoning, conjecture and downright mendaciousness.

However I have stocked up on extra loo roll in case I'm proved wrong

[technodad]

The sad thing is, that there are sufficient people in the world that are incapable of rational though such that it justifies NASA wasting their time on such trivia.

It is like NASA doing a study on the existence of fairies at the bottom of the garden or god, clearly a waste of important research funding, when it is so obvious that no such things exist!

[StackOverflow]

My father, a hardcore New Ager, is now telling me nothing will happen. Apparently humankind has decided collectively (not that I remember partcipating in this meeting) to raise our spiritual energy levels in order to avert doom.

In other words: the end of the world as we know it got to close for comfort even in the eyes of dyed-in-the-wool believers - so they decided to adopt some more comforting beliefs instead.

[StackOverflow]

too close, even!

[technodad]

That was convenient!

[whomovedmychocolate]

I rather like the idea though that we could choose to survive and thrive rather than die horribly though, it is comforting!

[sittinginthesun]

It won't happen. My very in control (bossy) MIL will make sure of that.

BIL is getting married in that very day, and MIL has waited 43 years for this. If the World tried to end, MIL will have something serious to say about it.

[technodad]

Maybe the Mayans predicted that your MIL's behaviour at your BIL's wedding will start the end of the world.....