2012 eh. That sucks, my first long service leave doesn't roll around until 2015.

Y2K was a computer issue. Old computers had only 2 digits hard coded in their memory for the year and when the year rolled over to '00 no one was able to predict how the computers would handle it.

As I understand it, the Mayans not being able to predict past December 12, 2012 had more to do with the limits of their numbering system more than their belief that the end of the world or more expressly, the end of the current age(time). It's more likely that they just started counting again at zero because they couldn't figure out how to count past a certain value in their numbering system.

So rest assured, You're gonna wake up on December 22, 2012 finding yourself looking forward to the holidays and if you don't it'll be too late worry. :)

Shintenma:
Y2K was a computer issue. Old computers had only 2 digits hard coded in their memory for the year and when the year rolled over to '00 no one was able to predict how the computers would handle it.

As I understand it, the Mayans not being able to predict past December 12, 2012 had more to do with the limits of their numbering system more than their belief that the end of the world or more expressly, the end of the current age(time). It's more likely that they just started counting again at zero because they couldn't figure out how to count past a certain value in their numbering system.

So rest assured, You're gonna wake up on December 22, 2012 finding yourself looking forward to the holidays and if you don't it'll be too late worry. :)

That seems to be more of a possibility then most. Though what about the fact that several different cultures have viewed this date as some sort of "change" more or less? Most, from what I've heard, having little to no connection with the others.

Merlin is entirely fictional and can therefor hardly be labeled as "fact".

I think "living life to the fullest" becomes somewhat impossible for the working man doing the 9-5 for 5 days of the week. And I have never, ever ever ever... directly or in-directly met anyone who does live life to the 'fullest'. We can hardly be expected to cram as much into our days as possible every single day. We'd simply tire out and end up sleeping it off for a good 14+ hours... and then Uh Oh! You're not living life to the fullest you lazy slob! Wake up and go running, then climb a mountain, then snowboard down it, then eat lunch at a fancy pavement café, then go home to work on a personal project, then go on a date at a fancy joint and end the night with rampant sex.

Sure, there are days like this... but everyday? Fuck off! :p

Wow, learn to use capitals. Anyways -

That's what the Aztecs believe, and we should allow them to believe whatever they choose. They decide to give their posessions away on December 20, we respect them. That is, up until December 22, when they start begging for food.

The World better not end in 2012, otherwise the goverment is spending my tax £ on a rather useless Olympic games

Nobody can predict the end of the world. Civilizations have been trying it for thousands of years and if I'm not mistaken, they've been wrong.

Spinwhiz:
Nobody can predict the end of the world. Civilizations have been trying it for thousands of years and if I'm not mistaken, they've been wrong.

Yes but only one has to be correct because it will not matter then.

leugim789:
2012
so for the second time in my life im told the worlds going to end,

Well, you do know that the calendar has been changed at least twice since the Aztecs?

As in THE ENTIRE calendar.

So, it's probably only just 1655...or five minutes to five.

TheNecroswanson:
2012? That prediction by Aztecs, which is beleived by Christians, and was first brought up in what, America?
There's everything wrong when it comes to that so called "prediction". Why would Christians beleive what Aztecs predicted? And how would they get the year 2012? Anyone remember Y2K? Wasn't that also only beleived by America? (No? yes?)
Point is, America loves negativity and the idea of the apocolypse, it's tools for making people convert to Christianity.

As a Christian man myself, I always wonder why such blanket statements are made that seem to be inclusive of 'all' Christians. I for one, and no Christian church I have ever attended in my life has ever preached a doctrine to me on the pagan beliefs of Aztecs. That goes against our most basic tennants....to look to the stars or other 'gods' for answers. I don't want to be on my soapbox here, 'cause this place is about games and fraggin', but in a basic nutshell a true Christian would say that only Christ himself knows when the end is coming, and He tells us to live our lives in a way to be pleasing to Him as if the end were around the corner because we just don't know. Revelations only says that the 'Time is soon', but it could be an allegory since many are of a mindset that God lives outside normal time and space. He tells us not to worry, for being stressed and worrisome for things we do not know will rob us of our life and happiness.....but I'll admit I do indeed think about this stuff from time to time.

Anyway...sorry...I gotta go unlock a Mass Effect achievement now. Darn Geth!

Alotak:
Yes but only one has to be correct because it will not matter then.

The only way of knowing when one is correct is when it no longer matters. Once you hear "the world ends tomorrow" so many times, you just tune it out, and it works for any value of 'tomorrow' you want to use.

Regarding the Mayan calendar not being written out past a certain point, you've got lesserdemon's post with one very good reason, and here's another: they didn't see a need to. They may have figured they could work on it some more in the thousands of years they already mapped out. How many people do you know who have used, or even seen, a calendar beyond the next year? Is the world going to end next year on January 3rd because that's the last day printed on some 2008 calendars?

2012? Didn't x-files predict it to be 2026 or something? And the Star Trek Eugenics wars were supposed to be first in 1970's, then 1980's, then 1990's, etc.

The most credible things are the ones that predict a technological singularity/judgment day (although it seems closer to 2050, and it is impossible to predict what will happen) - UK already built Skynet. :)

Okay, it's safest to bet the world will not end in 2012. Hell, if it dosen't, you win, if it does- we're all going to be inanimate hydrogen.

Now, my other wagers- who IS the antichrist?

3/1- Vladimir Putin
20/1- David Cameron
Even Money- Ben Stiller
20000/1- Anyone from Tunbrigde Wells.
2/1- Chuck Noriss- Anyone registered on this forum.
400/1- Flea.
1/10- Jacob Zuma
1/10,000- Sasha the Khornate Weimaramr.
1/1000- Another weimaramr
2/1- Bob Saget.
5/1- Billy Connoley.
2/1- Another Scot.
1/2- Anyone of Scots descent.
5/1- A scientologist
1/100,0000,000,000,000- Maragret Thatcher
1/6x10 (power of)1,200- Fruit of the union between Margaret Thatcher and Satan.
1/1- A republican.

Spinwhiz:
Nobody can predict the end of the world. Civilizations have been trying it for thousands of years and if I'm not mistaken, they've been wrong.

Jan 19th, 2038, at 03:14:07 that's the end of time as we know it :)

Alone Disciple:

As a Christian man myself, I always wonder why such blanket statements are made that seem to be inclusive of 'all' Christians. I for one, and no Christian church I have ever attended in my life has ever preached a doctrine to me on the pagan beliefs of Aztecs. That goes against our most basic tennants....to look to the stars or other 'gods' for answers. I don't want to be on my soapbox here, 'cause this place is about games and fraggin', but in a basic nutshell a true Christian would say that only Christ himself knows when the end is coming, and He tells us to live our lives in a way to be pleasing to Him as if the end were around the corner because we just don't know. Revelations only says that the 'Time is soon', but it could be an allegory since many are of a mindset that God lives outside normal time and space. He tells us not to worry, for being stressed and worrisome for things we do not know will rob us of our life and happiness.....but I'll admit I do indeed think about this stuff from time to time.

actually most of stuff in christianity was borrowed heavily from other gods, so doing it now is just par for the course, Christianity is like the microsoft of religions, they do a lot of embrace and extend, much in the same way m$ does it too.

and revelations was mostly about the roman empire if anything

Anton P. Nym:
It wasn't the end of their calendar; Dec 21, 2012 is just when the Mayan calendar changes epochs. It's like all those god-botherers who got all fussed over 1999-2000, or 999-1000 looking back in historical records.

However, I'm seriously tempted to start selling end-of-the-world kits to the gullible and pounding the drums over every possible doomday looming. Anybody know when the Chinese calendar gets all inauspicious-like?

-- Steve

Came here to say this.

Fondant:
Okay, it's safest to bet the world will not end in 2012. Hell, if it dosen't, you win, if it does- we're all going to be inanimate hydrogen.

Now, my other wagers- who IS the antichrist?

3/1- Vladimir Putin
20/1- David Cameron
Even Money- Ben Stiller
20000/1- Anyone from Tunbrigde Wells.
2/1- Chuck Noriss- Anyone registered on this forum.
400/1- Flea.
1/10- Jacob Zuma
1/10,000- Sasha the Khornate Weimaramr.
1/1000- Another weimaramr
2/1- Bob Saget.
5/1- Billy Connoley.
2/1- Another Scot.
1/2- Anyone of Scots descent.
5/1- A scientologist
1/100,0000,000,000,000- Maragret Thatcher
1/6x10 (power of)1,200- Fruit of the union between Margaret Thatcher and Satan.
1/1- A republican.

My bet is on Robo-Hitler.

I know if I'm a hard-working Mayan calender maker who's just finished carving a Great Cycle into a stone wheel with a stone chisel, I'm several hundred years into the future, and some idiot suggests we go for another Great Cycle, it's going to be the end of his world. With a stone chisel.

EDIT:

zari:
2012 eh. That sucks, my first long service leave doesn't roll around until 2015.

You don't even get leave for the end of the world? Man, that's tough!

Hey, where's my naked blue physicist to take me to the antarctic?

Reason the world will end:

http://ipower.ning.com/netneutrality2

I've heard some stuff about major stuff happening in 2012, honestly I think it marks a major advancement in human achievement.
2012 is when China plans to establish the moon base, and also when that bad move I've already pointed out is supposed to happen.
I think it is also the year when japan plans on activating it's fully working real sized Gundam...
Actually, no. I was wrong. That will be the end.

It's astounding the number of people who really don't understand the importance of December 22nd 2012. It's not the end of the world its the end of an era.

The Mayan civilization, the origional promulgators of this myth, claimed to have survived through 3 "changes of the Earth". These changes of the Earth were characterized by massive geographical changes (including at least once a change in the color of the sky). The Mayan's thought that the next "change of the Earth" was scheduled for December 22nd 2012.

Can we expect the sky to turn green? Obviously not. The question then arises, what kind of change can we expect? The approximated beginings and endings of Mayan era's tend to line up with the approximate begining and endings of astrological ages (ever hear that song from the play Hair, "This is the Dawning of the Age of Aquarious"? It's kind of like that.) The Mayans thought they had a way of predicting the exact day that an astorlogical age would begin and obviously they thought that December 22nd 2012 was the first day of the age of Aquarious.

The question that remains is what's likely to change between the Piscean Age and the Aquarian Age? How can we know that it's happened? In Piscean Ages we tend to find a stricter set of rules (both formally and culturaly.) and stronger sense of community and more direct human contact (for good or bad. wars and whathaveyou.) Aquarian Ages are more distant and devoted to the pursuit of intelligence. We'll probably see an upswing in science (much in the way we have for the last hundred or more years whereas earlier in history it didn't exist) Less human contact (here we all are chatting on a forum with people we will probably never meet.) and less importance put on things like self reliance and individual power (we see more and more organizations like the EU popping up.)

Now, is any of this likely to actually happen in reality? Who knows, it doesn't really matter. However, let me gaurantee you, it's a lot more likely than the end of the world and it's what the Mayans actually intended to indicate.

Society is on an complete down turn violence is rife, food is scarce and we are reproducing to the point of extinction.

Heres my theory, Wilhelm Reich a scientist from the early part of last century spoke of the punctuationist theory of evolution. This basically according to my understanding states that there are certain events that alter the course of evolution. I am of the opinion that Global warming is ours, we need to allow it to happen to alter the way we are interacting with the world.

Okay now I sound like a nut but its early in the morning and I am tired hence the spelling mistakes.

Khedive Rex:
It's astounding the number of people who really don't understand the importance of December 22nd 2012. It's not the end of the world its the end of an era.

The Mayan civilization, the origional promulgators of this myth, claimed to have survived through 3 "changes of the Earth". These changes of the Earth were characterized by massive geographical changes (including at least once a change in the color of the sky). The Mayan's thought that the next "change of the Earth" was scheduled for December 22nd 2012.

Can we expect the sky to turn green? Obviously not. The question then arises, what kind of change can we expect? The approximated beginings and endings of Mayan era's tend to line up with the approximate begining and endings of astrological ages (ever hear that song from the play Hair, "This is the Dawning of the Age of Aquarious"? It's kind of like that.) The Mayans thought they had a way of predicting the exact day that an astorlogical age would begin and obviously they thought that December 22nd 2012 was the first day of the age of Aquarious.

The question that remains is what's likely to change between the Piscean Age and the Aquarian Age? How can we know that it's happened? In Piscean Ages we tend to find a stricter set of rules (both formally and culturaly.) and stronger sense of community and more direct human contact (for good or bad. wars and whathaveyou.) Aquarian Ages are more distant and devoted to the pursuit of intelligence. We'll probably see an upswing in science (much in the way we have for the last hundred or more years whereas earlier in history it didn't exist) Less human contact (here we all are chatting on a forum with people we will probably never meet.) and less importance put on things like self reliance and individual power (we see more and more organizations like the EU popping up.)

Now, is any of this likely to actually happen in reality? Who knows, it doesn't really matter. However, let me gaurantee you, it's a lot more likely than the end of the world and it's what the Mayans actually intended to indicate.

Haha, with all the different views floating around on this forum, do you have any websites or such? I love reading into this sort of stuff.

Ehgn, time don't matter to me, I'm ready to die.

Actually there is evidence. Head to the search engine of your choice and search "Planet X". That's what will happen.

awesome-x:
Actually there is evidence. Head to the search engine of your choice and search "Planet X". That's what will happen.

right, try looking that up at bad astronomy and get shown how wrong that idea is

awesome-x:
Actually there is evidence. Head to the search engine of your choice and search "Planet X". That's what will happen.

It doesn't exist...
And it certainly isn't going to ram into the earth.

TheKnifeJuggler:

awesome-x:
Actually there is evidence. Head to the search engine of your choice and search "Planet X". That's what will happen.

It doesn't exist...
And it certainly isn't going to ram into the earth.

More wagers.

How many nuclear warheads will be fired at the celestial body meant to destroy the earth before said celestial object disintergrates?

1/10- None- there will be no such object
5/1- Below 10
8/1-Between ten and twenty-five
12/1-Between 25 and 50.
50/1- 50-100
100/1- More than 100
100,000,000/1- Not enough, and we all perish in a firey apocalypse.

I've read somewhere that the Earth's heartbeat (somewhat important in meditation) is at 7.8 beats per second, and in 2012 it will be at 13 beats per second and start getting slower. I'll try to find the link.

Edit: http://www.secondattention.org/articles/slowing_time.asp
Paragraphs 4-6 sort of explain it. Something about the Schumann Resonance.

I say both opportunity and disaster await those that prepare and those that don't.
Night into day into night into day ...
night into moon into day into night into moon....
into warm into hot into dry into cold into wet into....
grow grow grow your boat...fire it as you please...merrily merrily merrily merrily... wave it in the breeze. Have a million nice ones. GOD forgives all except the one that hates GOD

z121231211:
I've read somewhere that the Earth's heartbeat (somewhat important in meditation) is at 7.8 beats per second, and in 2012 it will be at 13 beats per second and start getting slower. I'll try to find the link.

Edit: http://www.secondattention.org/articles/slowing_time.asp
Paragraphs 4-6 sort of explain it. Something about the Schumann Resonance.

Anne Brewer's article is an amazing collection of unrelated things and unsupported statements. I checked into her credentials, and those of Gregg Braden (her source on Schumann Resonances being the 'heartbeat' of the Earth), and they primarily deal in the realm of pseudoscience. Harmless pseudoscience, at least.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schumann_resonance
It's a bit technical to chew through, but it's no heartbeat, and kills the assertion that "For decades, the SR measured 7.8 cycles per second. In 1980, it started increasing. By 1993, Norwegian and Russian scientists published reports of the SR pulsing at 8.6 cycles per second. Currently, it is believed to be around 12 cycles per second, hence the feeling of time passing more quickly. At 13 cycles, the Earth will be at a zero point magnetic field, and in two or three days it will start turning in the opposite direction". We already have peak resonance frequencies at 14.3, 20.8, 27.3 and 33.8 Hz. So, applying Anne/Gregg's logic, the world has stopped, turned the opposite direction, stopped again, turned, stopped, etc. We're a washing machine!

Also, search for "Schumann Resonance 8.6" and you'll gain ESP, some sort of powered quartz crystals, the best meditation ever, hair regrowth, something about UFOs, and other wonderfully useful things.

Ok, I spent too long on this, but it was a fascinating adventure proving the old adage 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing'.

We repo (what we sow) sum
Live by the stone chisel-die by the stone chisel.

TheKnifeJuggler:
Reason the world will end:
http://ipower.ning.com/netneutrality2

I do love this, I saw it on Digg not that long ago. I have to wonder why people who had allegedly discovered this, and now have confirmation from Bell Canada and Verizon that it will happen, are not going straight to the media. No, they're putting it on youtube. Talking about spreading awareness.
/rant

Also, this website, which claims to explain 12/21/12, is terrifying. There's far too many capital letters, it's telling me millions of people will die violent deaths, and there's the scariest picture ever in the top right corner.
Remind me not to google things about the apocalypse again.