2012 Mayan apocalypse rumors have dark side

By Hum
in Science News & Discussion

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Grand Master

Anibal P

Posted
Posted

It's already been done. There was a conversion from Mayan to Gregorian calendar and that date came to be Dec 21st. Leap days have already been accounted for.

Did they also factor in the few years lost between all the conversion from one calendar to another, and from Popes and kings "adjusting the calendar to suit their needs?

Grand Master

Astra.Xtreme

Posted
Posted

ok then, tell me, didn't some scientists find a larger Mayan calendar? or was my friend pulling my leg on that one too? (this is what i get for not doing my own research on it :pinch: )

I think the Mayans had 3 different calenders, but the one that created the whole "end of the world" conspiracy was their Long Count calender.

Grand Master

Astra.Xtreme

Posted
Posted

Did they also factor in the few years lost between all the conversion from one calendar to another, and from Popes and kings "adjusting the calendar to suit their needs?

They used a conversation called the "GMT Constant". Not really sure what it entails, but I'm sure the people involved with the conversation wouldn't forget about the bigger details like that. There are fine details involving Venus or something that some people disputed on, but most scientists believe the 12/21 date to be true.

Grand Master

redfish

Posted
Posted

I'd argue its healthy for people to think about their own death, especially at that age when their life is ahead of them; it helps keep things in perspective. Depression can also be healthy.

The problem here is with the people who actually take seriously the idea that the world is going to end because the Mayan calendar predicts it. I'd guess they have emotional problems other than simply being depressed.

I have no problem with NASA debunking these things, maybe helping some people out, its just weird that it has to be a priority at all.

Grand Master

Anibal P

Posted
Posted

I'd argue its healthy for people to think about their own death, especially at that age when their life is ahead of them; it helps keep things in perspective. Depression can also be healthy.

The problem here is with the people who actually take seriously the idea that the world is going to end because the Mayan calendar predicts it. I'd guess they have emotional problems other than simply being depressed.

I have no problem with NASA debunking these things, maybe helping some people out, its just weird that it has to be a priority at all.

It needed debunking, it took a huge leap of faith to go from end of Mayan Greater Calendar Cycle to "zomg end of the world!!!!!!!!!!'"

Proficient

oliver182

Posted
Posted

I'd argue its healthy for people to think about their own death, especially at that age when their life is ahead of them; it helps keep things in perspective. Depression can also be healthy.

The problem here is with the people who actually take seriously the idea that the world is going to end because the Mayan calendar predicts it. I'd guess they have emotional problems other than simply being depressed.

I have no problem with NASA debunking these things, maybe helping some people out, its just weird that it has to be a priority at all.

The problem is that the Mayans didn't predict anything. It just marks the end of a cycle, like any other calendar does. It just got blow out of proportion by the media.

Experienced

thejohnnyq

Posted
Posted

people seem to forget the fact that that date on the mayan calendar would have technically happened around March of this year because of leap year that we added in that the mayans didn't do on their calendar

Guess your math is a little off?

They forgot .25 days (about) from the start of their calendar, so that is almost 1281.5 days or 3 years and 6 months off.

Lets not also remember that they "predicted solar events" that had to be translated from their dates to ours, and map out lunar events and planet movments.

Grand Master

Ambroos

Posted
Posted

There is no evidence that the Mayans didn't believe that after this era there wouldn't be another. They just thought it signifies a sort of major advance in human consciousness or something similar. And I sort of believe that is already happening. With the openness of information right now, all the protests, the Arab Spring, ... we could just be transitioning to a new type of civilization that is based on real equality and honesty.

Or well, at least I can dream about that.

  • nekkidtruth and fusi0n
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Grand Master

LaP

Posted
Posted

The problem is that the Mayans didn't predict anything. It just marks the end of a cycle, like any other calendar does. It just got blow out of proportion by the media.

But why do you assume the new cycle will be exactly like the previous one?

I mean the end of this cycle might very well be the end of the life as we know it.

Proficient

oliver182

Posted
Posted

But why do you assume the new cycle will be exactly like the previous one?

I mean the end of this cycle might very well be the end of the life as we know it.

It didn't end on the last cycles, why would it now?

  • Astra.Xtreme
  • Like 1
Grand Master

Ambroos

Posted
Posted

It didn't end on the last cycles, why would it now?

People think that because the mayas only made them for 13 cycles, and this is the end of those 13. It's be like saying the world will end on december 31 2099 according to Microsoft because Windows doesn't support any dates past that. Sort of, on a different scale obviously. But just because nobody's made a calendar for it doesn't mean it won't be there.

Mentor

(Account no longer active)

Posted
Posted

1. In Mayan culture, a big celebration is held when the end of the calender is reached. In no way has it anything to do with the world coming to an end.

2. Different Mayan groups each had their own calender (ending at different times).

3. If you ask a Mayan what they think of the world ending on the 21st, they will think you're crazy.

Do your research people! The media won't. All they care about is $$$ and brainwashing people.

  • oliver182 and Hum
  • Like 2
Grand Master

soniqstylz

Posted
Posted

people seem to forget the fact that that date on the mayan calendar would have technically happened around March of this year because of leap year that we added in that the mayans didn't do on their calendar

Too bad you're pulling that out of your ass.

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