# Do you believe the world will end in 2012? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020 "2011-09-29T15:41:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/1 "2011-09-29T15:41:02Z")
Pretty simple. The TV is full of TV shows from Mayan Calendars to shows that claim ancient prophets saying the world will have a cataclysmic end next year. Does anybody buy this shit? Is someone on the DOPE running scared? ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/2 "2011-09-29T15:45:51Z")
Okay, I’ll bite first. No. And I doubt you’ll get very many different answers here. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/3 "2011-09-29T15:46:27Z")
I’m reasonably sure it will end for a lot of people, since we do have this strange custom of dying, but I don’t think it’ll end up “for reals”. I also think you may want this in IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/4 "2011-09-29T15:47:34Z")
Reported for forum change. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/5 "2011-09-29T15:47:58Z")
Reported. Gonzo, you have been here long enough to know this is an IMHO question. And while I’m on the subject, worries about imaginary doomsday scenarios detract from awareness of very real threats which have no definite “arrival” date, but which would be no less pernicious (talking about global warming and other environmental disasters). ---
**Author:** ![DaveBfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DaveBfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveBfd)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/6 "2011-09-29T15:56:20Z")
Obviously it is not the end. The people who make those shows (on history at least) are the biggest crazies I have ever heard. Somehow lizard people, “greys,” aliens on the moon/mars, nibiru or planet x, mayan calenders and the “NWO” all that tie into each other in some way and the ultimate goal is to control the people on earth. It is truly comical if you actually try to understand it. There is no evidence for any of it at all, yet somehow it all works and ties together for them. I am really disappointed by some shows, and I have no clue why the stations are even playing them. I am seriously upset that I have friends who buy into their crap just because it is on TV. Wrong forum though… ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/7 "2011-09-29T15:59:45Z")
Our calendar ends every 365 (or 366) days and then starts over again. Theirs takes umpty-ump thousand years to end and then starts over again. So? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/8 "2011-09-29T16:07:48Z")
No. IMHO, this belief that things will end and save us from the consequences of our activities is an emotional cop-out. Hoping the Rapture or the Mayan Apocalypse will happen is like hoping the math teacher will be sick so you don’t have to take the exam you didn’t study for, or running up your credit cards and then deliberately getting in a car crash so you don’t have to pay the bill. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/9 "2011-09-29T16:09:41Z")
We have our share of people with arcane beliefs, on this board. I bet lots of them believe the end is near. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/10 "2011-09-29T16:12:36Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > We have our share of people with arcane beliefs, on this board. I bet lots of them believe the end is near. Maybe… but I’d doubt they’d admit it. As for me, nope… don’t think 2012 will be much different than any other year. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/11 "2011-09-29T16:12:39Z")
Wait, I thought the world was supposed to end this October. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/12 "2011-09-29T16:14:45Z")
Didn’t it end already? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/13 "2011-09-29T16:19:45Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Didn’t it end already? It ended over 1200 years ago, but they haven’t finished the paperwork. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/14 "2011-09-29T16:22:57Z")
I predict the World will end before I hit the “Submit Reply” button. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/15 "2011-09-29T16:56:11Z")
I believe it will end and then be instantly re-created as it was at the exact moment it ended. You’ll have to be paying _really, really_ close attention to notice it. ---
**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/16 "2011-09-29T17:02:12Z")
It will, but only if I manage to find my Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator. ---
**Author:** ![SmithCommaJohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@SmithCommaJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmithCommaJohn)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/17 "2011-09-29T17:04:21Z")
The world might end on December 21, 2012. But I don’t think it’s more or less likely to happen on that day than on any other day. ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/18 "2011-09-29T17:05:25Z")
It’ll end in 2012 only if Michelle Bachmann or some other looney like Herman Cain get elected. 😃 My most serious answer: nah. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/19 "2011-09-29T17:08:13Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Reported. Gonzo, you have been here long enough to know this is an IMHO question. > > And while I’m on the subject, worries about imaginary doomsday scenarios detract from awareness of very real threats which have no definite “arrival” date, but which would be no less pernicious (talking about global warming and other environmental disasters). You have been alive long enough to know a question with essentially a yes or no answer belongs in questions. It may be a poll question. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/20 "2011-09-29T17:12:03Z")
OBVIOUSLY, nobody who’s a regular on the SDMB believes the world will end next year. That shouldn’t surprise anybody. What WOULD surprise countless SDMB regulars is how few devout Christians are worrying about the End. I sometimes wonder if apocalyptic nuts attract more attention from atheists who want to mock them than from the Christians the doomsayers are supposedly trying to appeal to. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020.md?page=2)