# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/61 "2011-09-30T07:55:02Z")
No poll? No absolutely not. But I think the options should be more involved: A) The Mesoamericans predicted the world will end, in 2012, and it will! Forever! B) The Mesoamericans predicted the world will end, in 2012, and it will! But a new world will be born in it’s ashes. C)The Mesoamericans predicted the world will end, and it will! But a new world will be born in it’s ashes. And it doesn’t have to be 2012. D) I don’t know what they actually said, but whatever it was, it ain’t gonna happen (or maybe I do know, but it still ain’t gonna happen). E) There will be some new agey significant event in 2012 instead of actual world splosion. F) The calendar ends in 2012 but this is no more significant than the odometer going back to zero. G) The calendar doesn’t even end in 2012. H) Oh hell, there’s lots more options but I’m getting bored of listing them. I’m working from memory, so excuse any gross errors. My understanding is, they did believe that the world was destroyed four times before and we are in the “fifth sun”. Presumably the mythology holds that our world might also be destroyed by some new cataclysm, but be likewise reborn again. But, I don’t think this had any relationship to 2012. In fact, some “future date” references are past the 2012 date. 2012 is just the end of the calendar in the same way that a car odometer goes back to zero. But it depends. The calendar is weird, with cycles of 20 and 18, for the most part, and the largest 20 cycle is in question. They weren’t consistent. Some sources imply that after we hit 20 on the biggest place holder, then we roll over to 1 on the next place, which would make all the other places go to zero. Other sources imply that then it goes to 21, which would be kind of weird considering the rest only go to 20 or 18, but whatever, they didn’t have national standards bureaus. Either way, it’s just like Y2K - they didn’t usually bother listing the part of the date that would stay at zero for thousands of years, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t exist. We may not have bothered writing dates out as 9/9/1990 but that doesn’t mean we thought that writing the date as 9/9/90 meant we thought the world would end at the year 2000. As far as I recall, there’s only one actual direct reference to the 2012 date, and it’s somewhat vague, and some of the symbols are worn away. I think the calendar is just a way to measure astronomical data, particularly the transit of Venus. To recap: 1. They probably do believe the world will end, but then it will be reborn. 2. The world ending has nothing to do with 2012. 3. 2012 is one possible odometer reset, but not the only one. 4. 2012 might be referenced in one vague statement, but it’s not an ongoing theme. 5. Regardless of mythology, it’s a religious belief. It has no bearing on real world events (other than astronomical transits). 6. Best (worst?) case scenario, there’s some kind of alignment of memes that entrains our brains to placebo something neato. But, a longshot. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/62 "2011-09-30T08:06:31Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > 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. I am totally stealing that, let me know where to send the royalties. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/63 "2011-09-30T08:23:20Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I am totally stealing that, let me know where to send the royalties. I would postdate the check to Jan. 1, 2012, just to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/64 "2011-09-30T08:30:35Z")
Yes! The world will end in 2012 and I will stop farting when that happens. ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/65 "2011-09-30T09:32:00Z")
I’m Sure [Deep Thought](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Thought_(The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy)#Deep_Thought) would have told you that the Earth will end when MS install a Service Pack and it all ends with a ‘BIG BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH’… ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/66 "2011-09-30T09:37:54Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > I would postdate the check to Jan. 1, 2012, just to be sure. still can be cashed - don’t you mean 2013? ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/67 "2011-09-30T10:44:22Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > I’m posting from the heart of Mayan civilization: They don’t. I have read a statement from an elderly Mayan who said that it is one of several calendars that will end in 2012 (to start from the beginning again). ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/68 "2011-09-30T11:43:21Z")
If Rush disband next year, the end of the world won’t be far behind. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/69 "2011-09-30T12:08:17Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Aw, man, don’t tell me I’m storing up all this freeze dried food, ammo, fuel, ponchos, heirloom seeds, how-to books, tools, wax, matches, raw wool, commo equipment, gold, toilet paper, liquor, antibiotics, solar panels and tobacco _for nuthin’!_ Oops. Forgot hookers. How do you store hookers? ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/70 "2011-09-30T13:22:17Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Oops. Forgot hookers. How do you store hookers? Don’t know, but frozen works less well than you’d think. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/71 "2011-09-30T13:33:49Z")
That would be a matter of personal taste. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/72 "2011-09-30T13:37:47Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > That would be a matter of personal taste. I thought the taste was hardly affected at all… ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/73 "2011-09-30T13:44:39Z")
The world could end today; one misstep, one fast bus, game over. Why sweat it? PS- I thought the only way hookers can be stored was in a house with red satin & velvet furniture. PPS- Zathura, adult edition? PPPS- If one of them gets their arm caught in a window & I’m SO taking my chances with the aliens… ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/74 "2011-09-30T14:05:59Z")
**Most assuredly NOT**. The Bible (Belive it or not) teaches that no man knoweth the day nor the hour that the end will occur. Anyone claiming to know is a _ **false prophet.** _ ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/75 "2011-09-30T14:17:25Z")
For approximately 2% of the population, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/76 "2011-09-30T19:57:50Z")
Anyway the world can’t end, because there are too many cool movies coming out. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/77 "2011-10-01T04:31:16Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Oops. Forgot hookers. How do you store hookers? > [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Don’t know, but frozen works less well than you’d think. Me, I just tie them down. I think the end of the world is happening right now, judging by how I feel. Looking back, those tequila shots last night were a bit too much on top of the beer. And the Jagermeister. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/78 "2011-10-01T05:12:42Z")
Not unless we try really, really hard. So who’s with me!? ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2011, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/79 "2011-10-01T05:15:56Z")
Will the world end? No. Will the entire world go into economic meltdown? I sure hope not, but it can’t be ruled out 100%. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020/80 "2011-10-02T02:28:47Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > **Most assuredly NOT**. > > The Bible (Belive it or not) teaches that no man knoweth the day nor the hour that the end will occur. Anyone claiming to know is a _ **false prophet.** _ This. I do believe the world will end someday (more likely sooner than later) … but it’s pretty much a given it won’t be in December 2012. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-the-world-will-end-in-2012/598020.md?page=5)