• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

2012?

Amulus

New Blood
A
Joined
Jun 14, 2008
Messages
3
Hello all, I am new to this forum, but not new to James Randi. I am a skeptic through and through.

Now the other day at work, a coworker starts spouting something about the end of the world in 2012, citing things lie the mayan calendar, weakening magnetic field, sun activity, etc.

I was just wondering what everyone here thinks about it, all a google search brings up is site after site of 2012 doom with no citing sources, and few names. Although each site claims to have scientific evidence and numerous scientists who support it as well.

So what does everyone here think? Real or false? Some good points?
 
I believe the excitement is due to it marking a changeover in the Mayan calendar. I expect it to cause about as much trouble as the end of our calendar does every December 31st. But for those end of the world types they found their next Y2K.
 
Amulus, you may want to do a search on this site. There are several 2012 threads.
 
Weren't there "other" dates that were suppose to bring about significant changes in this world? And as you can see, nothing ever happens.

Here is a list of "predictions" just in case you want to get ready for them:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012
 
Last edited:
Just reply you'll see him on December 13th.

(I think the 12th is the day it's supposed to end...)
 
kosai said:
I believe the excitement is due to it marking a changeover in the Mayan calendar. I expect it to cause about as much trouble as the end of our calendar does every December 31st. But for those end of the world types they found their next Y2K.
Click to expand...
And this is the best way to explain it to the woos. I had an acquaintance talk about 2012, the Mayan calendar and the end of the world so I took them through to my kitchen and pointed out the calendar and asked them to turn to 31 Dec. They did so. I then told them that because the calendar didn't have Jan 1st 2009 on it then the world would end on 31st Dec 2008. The point was made.

The only disaster to befall the world in 2012 will be the London Olympics. :D
 
lol, sunstealer, I like your methodology! Thank you everyone, I will search the forum for more 2012 topics!:)
 
Amulus, ask your coworker to sign a legal document giving you all of his money, property and possessions as of January 1st, 2013.
 
I would bet money that in 2013, there will be an end-of-the-world myth floating around for sometime in the 2020's.

Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure the world is still very dead from Y2K.
 
Last edited:
Amulus said:
......something about the end of the world in 2012,......
Click to expand...

The interest about 2012 is that it is thought to be the year ending a precessional cycle incorporating an alignment of the Earth to the galaxy centre through a particular star group. There is an extensive literature on the subject. Expect to see much written and television discussion of it between now and the end of 2012.
 
Last edited:
maatorc said:
The interest about 2012 is that it is thought to be the year ending a precessional cycle incorporating an alignment of the Earth to the galaxy centre through a particular star group. There is an extensive literature on the subject. Expect to see much written and television discussion of it between now and the end of 2012.
Click to expand...

Why would a star group falling on a line between the Earth and the center of the galaxy be relevant in any way?
 
Amulus said:
Now the other day at work, a coworker starts spouting something about the end of the world in 2012, citing things lie the mayan calendar, weakening magnetic field, sun activity, etc.
Click to expand...

Ask if you can show up at their doorstep the day before the End and load up all their stuff, seeing as they won't be needing it anymore.

No source, but ISTR some religious group in recent times loading up tons of debt before the end of the world which they then had to pay off, because, well, things didn't end.
 
Ladewig said:
Why would a star group falling on a line between the Earth and the center of the galaxy be relevant in any way?
Click to expand...

The best way to get a take on it is to read the 'precession' literature.
It seems a particular star group is a space-time marker for Earth based observation of the limit of the precessional swing of about 25920 years.
"Hamlet's Mill" - ISBN 0-87923-215-3 discusses it in some detail.
The ancients seemed to know about, on which you may find "Homer's Secret Iliad" ISBN 0-7195-5780-1 of interest.
Astronomical science is very familiar with it.
There are many 'views' on its relevance, significance, and value: Take your pick.
 
Last edited:
Thank you everyone, and thank you for the link to the other page. I find it farely easy to see now that the 2012 is not backed up by much scientific fact.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom