# May 21st, the end of the world. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 7, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825 "2011-03-07T19:55:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/21 "2011-03-08T19:23:04Z")
> [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](#): > > I guess I better hurry up if I’m gonna buy a new car! The clock’s a-ticking! Try to schedule it so your first payment is due May 22. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/22 "2011-03-08T20:19:13Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > But but but… everyone on the mommy message boards is freaking out about 12/21/12. It’s the end of the _Incan_ calendar! No no no. All the predictions work out to be the same, that’s why they HAVE to be true!!! I mean, what are the chances that both Christianity AND pre-Columbian Mayan prophecies converge, unless It’s All Part Of A Higher Plan That Only A Few Have Glimpsed? How can the two predictions be the same, when their dates are over a year apart? Very simple. First, that’s a classic fencepost error on the 2011 date. Whoever did that arithmetic forgot that our reckoning begins with calendar year 1, not 0. It’s the same fallacy that makes most people think the 21st Century began at midnight of Jan. 1st, 2000. That accounts for the year. But the two dates are still off from each other by about 7 months. Well that’s because the Christian prophecy is based on a Gregorian calendar, and the Mayan New Year [falls in July of the Gregorian calendar](http://www.123newyear.com/newyear-customs/mayan-new-year-customs.html). That accounts for the difference between May and December. But we’re still off by a few days - May 21st versus December 12th. Where’s that come from? Well remember, the European Contact with the Maya was in the early to mid 1500s, when the _Julian_ calendar was still in use (the [Gregorian Calendar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar) reform happened in 1582). That was when Pope Gregory “dropped” 10 days from the calendar that year to get it back in sync with the true solar calendar due to incorrect the leap year calibration under the former Julian convention. So we need to subtract 10 days from the pre-Columbian Mayan date to account for the difference. What’s that you say? That’s one too many days, we were only 9 days off (21-12)? Yes, but remember the _time zone difference_! Pope Gregory was in Rome, which is east of the Prime Meridian and the Maya were in the Yucatan south of Mexico far to the west. When the sun rises in Rome it’s still night time in Guatemala. So not only do the two predictions JIVE but it suggests the End Of Days will be a rolling wave going east to west, following the rising sun! Make sure to get Raptured from New Zealand to avoid that line at the Heavenly check-in counter! ---
**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:** [March 8, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/23 "2011-03-08T20:58:33Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > No seriously. They’re putting together 72-hour survival kits. I guess if you get through the first 72 hours of the end of the world you’re golden. Well, by that time, you should know whether you’re facing The End of Oil, or The Zombie Apocolypse, or Rebellious Computers, or what… ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/24 "2011-03-08T21:22:47Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > How can the two predictions be the same, when their dates are over a year apart? Very simple. First, that’s a classic fencepost error on the 2011 date. Whoever did that arithmetic forgot that our reckoning begins with calendar year 1, not 0. It’s the same fallacy that makes most people think the 21st Century began at midnight of Jan. 1st, 2000. [This person didn’t forget.](http://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/judgment/judgment.html) > [@](#): > > 4990 + 2011 – 1 = 7,000 > > (One year must be subtracted in going from an Old Testament B.C. calendar date to a New Testament A.D. calendar date because the calendar does not have a year zero.) ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/25 "2011-03-08T22:40:15Z")
Some young film maker really needs to join these people for the next couple months and make a documentary. All the interviews with it’s members all leading up to the big… nothing. What an awesome film to be able to see their reactions on May 21st and begin to document all their excuses on May 22nd. Please tell me someone is making this film. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/26 "2011-03-08T23:37:47Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Some young film maker really needs to join these people for the next couple months and make a documentary. All the interviews with it’s members all leading up to the big… nothing. What an awesome film to be able to see their reactions on May 21st and begin to document all their excuses on May 22nd. > Please tell me someone is making this film. I wish I could. Ever read the book, _When Prophecy Fails_? The one thing that _won’t_ happen is for them to say, “I guess we were wrong, and the world isn’t coming to an end after all! Maybe we relied too much on our interpretation of the Bible.” More likely, they will recalculate and come up with a new and improved date. Sure, a few members on the fringe will drop out, but most of them will recycle the whole process. “We just had a small problem. But we’ve got it now!” ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/27 "2011-03-09T01:04:49Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > Make sure to get Raptured from New Zealand to avoid that line at the Heavenly check-in counter! Good idea! Add in our small total population and large proportion of godless heathens and you’re practically guaranteed to get a first-class seat if you get Raptured from here. 🙂 **shiftless** , have you asked the owner to sign over the house to you? Date the contract to May 22nd? As an act of charity you understand, I mean, they won’t be needing it, and an act of charity of that magnitude wouldn’t go astray surely… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/28 "2011-03-09T01:26:47Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Well, by that time, you should know whether you’re facing The End of Oil, or The Zombie Apocolypse, or Rebellious Computers, or what… I’m assuming all three, of course. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/29 "2011-03-09T01:50:30Z")
> [@KRC](#): > > The other was supposed to occur on May 5 of 2000. According to the weird book I read, it would involve the world going off its axis and this would cause lawnmowers to rain from the sky. I was excited because I really needed a lawnmower and I ordered my co- workers to help on the exciting day by catching them. They looked at me funny and backed away. > > Well, the day came and went and soon I realized I’d just have to buy a mower at Sears. Was that book **_5/5/2000_ ICE The Ultimate Disaster** perchance? I used to see that book on the shelf at my local library as a kid and wonder idly if anything would really happen on May 5th, 2000. Funnily enough, there are lots of reviews at the book’s [Amazon page](http://www.amazon.com/Ice-Ultimate-Disaster-Richard-Noone/dp/0609800671) explaining why the book is still super-awesome and relevant despite the unfortunately chosen title and prediction date. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/30 "2011-03-09T06:32:30Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Damn it, why didn’t I join this year’s death pool and pick Everyone in the World? I would have won _easy_. That made me LOL. I for one don’t plan on drinking anything they hand out. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/31 "2011-03-09T07:00:48Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > No no no. All the predictions work out to be the same, that’s why they HAVE to be true!!! I mean, what are the chances that both Christianity AND pre-Columbian Mayan prophecies converge, unless It’s All Part Of A Higher Plan That Only A Few Have Glimpsed? > > How can the two predictions be the same, when their dates are over a year apart? Very simple. First, that’s a classic fencepost error on the 2011 date. Whoever did that arithmetic forgot that our reckoning begins with calendar year 1, not 0. It’s the same fallacy that makes most people think the 21st Century began at midnight of Jan. 1st, 2000. > > That accounts for the year. But the two dates are still off from each other by about 7 months. Well that’s because the Christian prophecy is based on a Gregorian calendar, and the Mayan New Year [falls in July of the Gregorian calendar](http://www.123newyear.com/newyear-customs/mayan-new-year-customs.html). That accounts for the difference between May and December. > > But we’re still off by a few days - May 21st versus December 12th. Where’s that come from? Well remember, the European Contact with the Maya was in the early to mid 1500s, when the _Julian_ calendar was still in use (the [Gregorian Calendar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar) reform happened in 1582). That was when Pope Gregory “dropped” 10 days from the calendar that year to get it back in sync with the true solar calendar due to incorrect the leap year calibration under the former Julian convention. So we need to subtract 10 days from the pre-Columbian Mayan date to account for the difference. > > What’s that you say? That’s one too many days, we were only 9 days off (21-12)? Yes, but remember the _time zone difference_! Pope Gregory was in Rome, which is east of the Prime Meridian and the Maya were in the Yucatan south of Mexico far to the west. When the sun rises in Rome it’s still night time in Guatemala. > > So not only do the two predictions JIVE but it suggests the End Of Days will be a rolling wave going east to west, following the rising sun! > > Make sure to get Raptured from New Zealand to avoid that line at the Heavenly check-in counter! Oh . . . . . DUDE!!! You are awesome. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/32 "2011-03-09T07:20:39Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I wish I could. > > Ever read the book, _When Prophecy Fails_? The one thing that _won’t_ happen is for them to say, “I guess we were wrong, and the world isn’t coming to an end after all! Maybe we relied too much on our interpretation of the Bible.” > > More likely, they will recalculate and come up with a new and improved date. Sure, a few members on the fringe will drop out, but most of them will recycle the whole process. “We just had a small problem. But we’ve got it now!” That’s happened to these folks already: > [@](#): > > But Camping also happens to be the man who once said September 6, 1994, would be the big day. > > He explains now that he originally thought 2011 was the year, but a few verses tripped him up and he concluded that the Great Tribulation might get cut short. There was still scripture he was grappling with, end-time signs that were to come – he points to the gay pride movement as one of them – and truths that had yet to be revealed, “but because of the urgency of time I had to get it out quickly,” he says of his previous warning. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/33 "2011-03-09T07:32:52Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > May 21, 2011? But I’ve got it pencilled in for 2012! Yeah me too. Guess this means we have to reschedule the orgy. ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/34 "2011-03-09T08:58:26Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > But but but… everyone on the mommy message boards is freaking out about 12/21/12. It’s the end of the _Incan_ calendar! > > _snicker_ > > No seriously. They’re putting together 72-hour survival kits. I guess if you get through the first 72 hours of the end of the world you’re golden. Oh, I need a link to that. I don’t think it’s allowed for snark reasons, but if you could PM it to me, I’d be grateful. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DWSKAMS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b3f665/32.png) [@DWSKAMS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWSKAMS)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/35 "2011-03-09T10:33:26Z")
I can skip my anniversary on the 24th! I’m not going to tell my wife though. No reason to upset her. I can also keep putting off that honey-do list she has been bugging me about. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/36 "2011-03-09T11:43:41Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Yeah me too. Guess this means we have to reschedule the orgy. Better yet just have two. I mean really the sky is the limit on orgies. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/37 "2011-03-09T11:43:52Z")
When the end of the world comes, fuck preparation. I’ll be dead, so why prepare anything? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/38 "2011-03-09T11:50:46Z")
My personal calendar had a year 0 so Jan 1, 2000 was the beginning of my millennium. If you live on Chatham Island will you be the first or last to be enraptured. (Chatham island is actually just east of the date line but, being owned by NZ uses the earlier date, but 45 minute later time, so actually greets the new day first in the entire world.) ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/39 "2011-03-09T13:37:37Z")
> [@Lazlo](#): > > Oh, I need a link to that. I don’t think it’s allowed for snark reasons, but if you could PM it to me, I’d be grateful. 🙂 Awww, I’d feel bad. It won’t be long before I’m gonna need their advice about baby ear infections and stuff. But… there are plenty of mommy boards and I bet most of them are equally silly. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825/40 "2011-03-09T15:10:29Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Just in case anyone cares, [here is the incontrovertible logic](http://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/judgment/judgment.html) :rolleyes: behind the date calculation. So in April, can we expect a GD thread complaining that speculators inspired by the example of Nineveh are pushing up the price of sackcloth and ashes, and that we should burn down a few forests to compensate? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-21st-the-end-of-the-world/573825.md?page=3)