# Just another apocalypse gone by? The end of the Mayan Calendar. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 1, 2007, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926 "2007-11-01T21:26:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/21 "2007-11-02T14:14:54Z")
I keep telling you folks…it’s only the end of the Fifth World. It’s the beginning of [the Sixth](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadowrun). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/22 "2007-11-02T14:23:19Z")
End of the world? Spare me your petty problems: I’ll turn 30 in 2012. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/23 "2007-11-02T14:23:44Z")
There must be a way to turn a profit on this. If I can just find a true believer in mid-2012 and buy all his stuff at fire-sale prices, then I’ll be set. Assuming, of course, that there actually is no apocalypse (or any rouge asteroids). ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/24 "2007-11-02T14:40:20Z")
**KGS** > [@](#): > > a rouge asteroid may strike the Earth I thought Nostradamus said it was going to be more of a mauve color. I think **jjimm** summed it up very neatly: > [@](#): > > End-of-world-predictions that failed: thousands (possibly more) > End-of-world-predictions that succeeded: none Yeah, I guess “the End of the World” isn’t what it used to be. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![nd\_n8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/25 "2007-11-02T14:46:02Z")
Should we plan a massive Dopefest at Milliway’s for 12/21/12? Probably a good idea to get our reservations in now then to beat the crowd. ---
**Author:** ![nd\_n8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/26 "2007-11-02T14:47:49Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] I can assure you that he’s madder than Mad Jack McMad, winner of the Maddest Man in Christendom competition, seven years’ running. [/QUOTE] Official Nominee for **“Best Quote Ever”** 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/27 "2007-11-02T14:54:14Z")
[QUOTE=WideEyedCosmos] I’m more interested in the astronomical phenomena of that date than the mythology associated with it. Although, I find it very interesting and suggest everyone check out the link above directing you to the History Channel special about that particular date. Here’s a quote of the text which reads below the screen… > [@](#): > > **…but many oracles of doom throughout history have a disturbingly accurate track record…** [/QUOTE] I’m having a hard time figuring that one out. How many end-of-the-Earths has anyone successfully predicted? By my count we have only had approximately zero end-of-the-Earths so far. So the best case for anyone so far is 0 for 0 with one trial pending. That doesn’t qualify as disturbingly accurate in my book ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/28 "2007-11-02T15:02:01Z")
[QUOTE=wolfman] I’m having a hard time figuring that one out. How many end-of-the-Earths has anyone successfully predicted? By my count we have only had approximately zero end-of-the-Earths so far. So the best case for anyone so far is 0 for 0 with one trial pending. That doesn’t qualify as disturbingly accurate in my book [/QUOTE] Hey, if I were dead wrong all the time, that’d disturb _me_. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/29 "2007-11-02T15:12:00Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Furthermore, I once had the misfortune of reading a Terence McKenna book, and I can assure you that he’s madder than Mad Jack McMad, winner of the Maddest Man in Christendom competition, seven years’ running. His involvement in this nonsense doesn’t add any weight to your speculation. [/QUOTE] nice use of Blackadder there jjimm. ---
**Author:** ![nd\_n8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/30 "2007-11-02T15:12:31Z")
[QUOTE=wolfman] I’m having a hard time figuring that one out. How many end-of-the-Earths has anyone successfully predicted? By my count we have only had approximately zero end-of-the-Earths so far. So the best case for anyone so far is 0 for 0 with one trial pending. That doesn’t qualify as disturbingly accurate in my book [/QUOTE] No, but I look at it this way, They’re Due. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/31 "2007-11-02T15:54:57Z")
[QUOTE=nd\_n8] No, but I look at it this way, They’re Due. [/QUOTE] So are the Chicago Cubs. When they win the Series I’ll start worrying about the end of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/32 "2007-11-02T15:56:11Z")
[QUOTE=wolfman] I’m having a hard time figuring that one out. How many end-of-the-Earths has anyone successfully predicted? By my count we have only had approximately zero end-of-the-Earths so far. So the best case for anyone so far is 0 for 0 with one trial pending. That doesn’t qualify as disturbingly accurate in my book [/QUOTE] No _ **true** _ oracle of doom has yet tried to predict a date for the end of the Earth, therefore they haven’t got any wrong. Aren’t you impressed? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/33 "2007-11-02T16:07:54Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster] Source: [Mesoamerican Long Count calendar - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_Long_Count_calendar#2012_and_the_Long_Count) [/QUOTE] It goes farther than that. From _1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus_ by Charles C. Mann, Appendix D, “Calendar Math”: > [@](#): > > Although extant Long Count dates have only five positions for numbers, the Maya knew that eventually that time would pass and they would have to add more positions. Indeed, their priestly mathematicians had calculated _nineteen_ further positions, culminating in what is now called the _alautun_, a period of 23,040,000,000 days, which is about 63 million years. Probably the longest named interval of time in any calendar, the _alautun_ is a testament to the grandiosity of Mesoamerican calendries. Just as the _tzolk’in_ is one of the most impeccably circular time cycles ever invented, the Long Count is among the most purely linear, an arrow pointing straight ahead for millions of years into the future. Italics in the original. Not that I expect this infusion of facts to dissipate the fantasies of the doomsday pornographers or anything. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/34 "2007-11-02T16:10:01Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] So are the Chicago Cubs. When they win the Series I’ll start worrying about the end of the world. [/QUOTE] Feh. Entropy’s more likely than the Cubs. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/35 "2007-11-02T16:10:27Z")
[QUOTE=wolf\_meister] Yeah, I guess “the End of the World” isn’t what it used to be. 🙂 [/QUOTE] No, no! It’s _exactly_ what it used to be! At least so far, that is. If the world does in fact end, _then_ the End of the World won’t be what it used to be. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/36 "2007-11-02T16:14:58Z")
Wrong thread! Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/37 "2007-11-02T16:18:02Z")
[QUOTE=nd\_n8] Should we plan a massive Dopefest at Milliway’s for 12/21/12? Probably a good idea to get our reservations in now then to beat the crowd. [/QUOTE] Or anywhere else we can get to (perhaps Chicago). And eat/drink lots of chocolate. And discuss rogue rouge. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/38 "2007-11-02T16:26:02Z")
[QUOTE=nd\_n8] No, but I look at it this way, They’re Due. [/QUOTE] So the end of the world’s going to have great pizza? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/39 "2007-11-02T16:26:14Z")
[QUOTE=nd\_n8] No, but I look at it this way, They’re Due. [/QUOTE] That’s right. It’ll all average out in the end. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926/40 "2007-11-02T16:27:12Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] doomsday pornographers [/QUOTE] There’s a band name for you… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-another-apocalypse-gone-by-the-end-of-the-mayan-calendar/424926.md?page=3)