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Should I be Scared?

chuck4842

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chuck4842
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Dec 27, 2008
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There's a bunch of sites posting about this comet that an amateur discovered, with an amateur scope, from Russia with the last name of Elenin. What scares me is ELE is a term used in FEMA documents meaning extinction level event, and nin the female goddess(to me , mother earth). Anyway it looks like it won't be long before we get a better night show of a comet than Hale-bopp, reported in news a year before the event.

one example http://reinep.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/comet-elenin-could-hit-earth/
 
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Well, I wouldn't be too inclined to take that website seriously, as it appears to accept the whole "Nibiru" idea, as well as trying to shoehorn in some after-the-fact Nostradamus prognosticating. The "great king of terror" was due in 1999 (supposedly, according to M. de Notredame, or at least those who speak for him nowadays), but hey, what's a decade or two between friends?

If you are honestly afraid, don't be. There have been doomsayers crying the end is nigh for the whole of recorded history. They've all been wrong. I see no reason to think this is any different.
 
The real question is why the hell aren't you already scared? We have been on a cataclysmic collision course with death 492 times this year so far. I am exhausted with fear.
 
It'll burn up in our atmosphere and whatever's left will be no bigger than a chihuahua's head.
 
Even if it was true, which is isn't, what good would it do to be scared? So you're gonna die in a massive fireball. So freak out, break stuff and then party hard, dude.

I once heard "worrying is praying for things you don't want". Although I don't for one second believe in the power of prayer to do anything except waste people's time and make them feel superior, I get the sentiment of the quote. Worrying is about as useful as praying, but less fun.
 
23_Tauri said:
Even if it was true, which is isn't, what good would it do to be scared? So you're gonna die in a massive fireball. So freak out, break stuff and then party hard, dude.

I once heard "worrying is praying for things you don't want". Although I don't for one second believe in the power of prayer to do anything except waste people's time and make them feel superior, I get the sentiment of the quote. Worrying is about as useful as praying, but less fun.
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My feelings exactly if it's true, I am curious to the conspiracy side though, because it's not in the news and I remember Hale-bop very well hanging out with the stars several nights. It's being reported by an amateur may be a good thing , showing the increased interest and amount of amateurs now. There's vids on youtube showing it as unstable, flashing at times. But worst case scenario, I get to see something awesome, and don't have to file my taxes next year.
 
chuck4842 said:
It's being reported by an amateur may be a good thing , showing the increased interest and amount of amateurs now.
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Except that it shows no such thing. Discoveries by amateurs used to be much more common. All this shows is that the big, automated sky surveys are not perfect and that it's still possible for amateurs to occasionally discover things before them.
 
Cuddles said:
Except that it shows no such thing. Discoveries by amateurs used to be much more common. All this shows is that the big, automated sky surveys are not perfect and that it's still possible for amateurs to occasionally discover things before them.
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the question was:

Should I be Scared?



;)
 
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chuck4842 said:
There's a bunch of sites posting about this comet that an amateur discovered, with an amateur scope, from Russia with the last name of Elenin. What scares me is ELE is a term used in FEMA documents meaning extinction level event, and nin the female goddess(to me , mother earth). Anyway it looks like it won't be long before we get a better night show of a comet than Hale-bopp, reported in news a year before the event.

one example http://reinep.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/comet-elenin-could-hit-earth/
Click to expand...

No but if you're going to follow this stuff you might enjoy it more and get more out of it if you read something about astronomy.
 
23_Tauri said:
Even if it was true, which is isn't, what good would it do to be scared? So you're gonna die in a massive fireball. So freak out, break stuff and then party hard, dude.

I once heard "worrying is praying for things you don't want". Although I don't for one second believe in the power of prayer to do anything except waste people's time and make them feel superior, I get the sentiment of the quote. Worrying is about as useful as praying, but less fun.
Click to expand...

Thank you for finding words that so accurately reflect my feelings on this issue. My wife is a bit of a worrier and I sometimes have a hard time expressing how frustrating her worrying is. "Praying for things you don't want" really captures the whole thing.

If you ever find out where you heard it I'd be curious to know.
 
Craig4 said:
No but if you're going to follow this stuff you might enjoy it more and get more out of it if you read something about astronomy.
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Yeah, but I found it easier, and get straighter answers here, when I'm in a hurry. I don't want to start from the big bang and get a degree in astronomy. I'd rather get the basics, any credible sites?
 
FreshHat said:
It'll burn up in our atmosphere and whatever's left will be no bigger than a chihuahua's head.
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Already happened.

ETA: Chuck, if you're looking for something reputable, try Sky & Telescope. As far as being scared, "Elenin" is the name of the Russian guy who discovered it, and has nothing to do with the English abbreviation ELE. Relax, and enjoy viewing the comet.
 
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chuck4842 said:
Yeah, but I found it easier, and get straighter answers here, when I'm in a hurry. I don't want to start from the big bang and get a degree in astronomy. I'd rather get the basics, any credible sites?
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You don't need a degree just a good book for amateur astronomers from the library or book store. There are plenty I'm sure.
 
Dr. Keith said:
Thank you for finding words that so accurately reflect my feelings on this issue. My wife is a bit of a worrier and I sometimes have a hard time expressing how frustrating her worrying is. "Praying for things you don't want" really captures the whole thing.

If you ever find out where you heard it I'd be curious to know.
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It was told to me by an American friend I met out in South America. I've just google'd the phrase and it comes up a few times, so I don't think it was original to my friend, but maybe a traditional saying?

I am terrible worrier too, so I know how your wife must suffer. I woke up from an afternoon nap recently, and one of the the first things that went through my head was "now, what is it that I'm supposed to be worrying about?" Really.... :eye-poppi

Having said that, I find the phrase "worrying is praying for things you don't want" very helpful. So please share it with your beloved. :)
 
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