Do you think the world will end in 2012?

[The Czech Republic 0]

God has to wipe out catholism before wiping out the sinners?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

If he took step 1 there'd be no need for step 2 BAH-ZING!

[Black Lushus 0]

[CBright7831 0]

I have worried about 2012 being the end.  I keep thinking... ONLY 7 years left?  No fucking way!  I don't want to believe it, but something inside is making me beleive it.  It freaks me the fuck out... all I know is... if that next pope dies in December of 2012... start freaking out...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's pretty much me.

[CBright7831 0]

God has to wipe out catholism before wiping out the sinners?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Well I remember a link a while back saying that after this pope, whenever the next one dies is when the end of the world will happen. It could very well happen in 2012.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why didn't they pick a younger pope?

[Guest Brian]

Self-fulfilling prophecy? The more they scare the shit out of you, the more you convert.

[The Metal Maniac 0]

That, and there are many people who don't think that Popes should have really really long reigns, and since they just had one of those, why not cut this other guy a break and give him a few years?

 

That's how it was explained to me, anyway.

[Stephen Joseph 0]

You do realize that people have prediceted we'd run out of food, water, oil, etc.. for a long time now, yet technology keeps marching us along just fine

 

We're not running out of shit, we just develop new technology that uses shit more efficiently. Necessity is the mother of all invention.

[Slayer 0]

Come to think of it, back to the oil thing, how come we haven't figured out how to make synthetic petroleum yet? We can make synthetic fabrics, synthetic motor oil and synthetic culture, as well as duplicate living organisms, but we can't make synthetic petroleum.

 

I'm reminded of couple years ago when there was that whole "What would Jesus drive?" campaign. Phil Hendrie said "Jesus would drive a huge gas-guzzling Hummer because all he'd have to do is wave his hands and voila, more gas"

[Jericholic82 0]

Come to think of it, back to the oil thing, how come we haven't figured out how to make synthetic petroleum yet? We can make synthetic fabrics, synthetic motor oil and synthetic culture, as well as duplicate living organisms, but we can't make synthetic petroleum.

 

Don't say that or else youll get put on the island (like homer simpson)

[Hank Kingsley 0]

Earth blows up along with the rest of the universe when a Tralfamadorian test pilot presses a starter button.

 

Duh.

[Skywarp! 0]

Here is another article on the "Long Emergency" (oil crisis). It sounds pretty damn worrisome. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/_/id/7203633

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

The world can't end fast enough. The one thing I seriously want to see in my lifetime is armageddon, and I will do everything in my power to make that happen.

[Ed Wood Caulfield 0]

Is there a specific time when this would happen?

 

Yep. December 21, 2012 is supposedly the day the world will end.

 

Or it is the day we will all turn into hippies since there are some who believe that December 21, 2012 will be the day humankind enters the "Age Of Aquarius": a world full of peace, love, and understanding.

 

Exit Mundi explains:

 

The Maya's didn't really believed in endings: their conception of time was circular, with every end being the beginning of something new. So, 2012 shouldn't be an exception.

 

Also, the Maya's had a highly developed philosophy of the cosmos. They saw the cosmos as the true mother of things. Consequently, the Maya's thought the cosmos is all around us, and within us. Every plant, every animal, every man is sheer Cosmos.

 

So, New Age philosophers say, December 21st 2012 will be the day on which this inner cosmos is reconnected to the divine outer cosmos. The Sun will mount its unique position to  form a `gateway' between the Universe and the souls of every living creature on Earth. Our linear conception of time will crumble, and with it, fear and hatred will vanish. It will be purification at it's very best, when everyone is soaked in cosmic understanding and divine love.

 

So there it is: on December 20th, you'll kick your dog, yell at your spouse and cheat on cards. But a day later, you'll be calmed down into a peaceful dude with nothing but love and understanding to guide you in life. Even though it's mid-winter, it'll be summer of love for all humanity.

 

I hope 2012 isn't the end, but I do think it's possible there's 7 more years left till the end of the world.

 

The theory about our inner cosmos being reconnected with our divine outer cosmos sounds pretty silly though.

[Open the Muggy Gate 0]

Is there a specific time when this would happen?

 

Yep. December 21, 2012 is supposedly the day the world will end.

 

Or it is the day we will all turn into hippies since there are some who believe that December 21, 2012 will be the day humankind enters the "Age Of Aquarius": a world full of peace, love, and understanding.

 

Exit Mundi explains:

 

The Maya's didn't really believed in endings: their conception of time was circular, with every end being the beginning of something new. So, 2012 shouldn't be an exception.

 

Also, the Maya's had a highly developed philosophy of the cosmos. They saw the cosmos as the true mother of things. Consequently, the Maya's thought the cosmos is all around us, and within us. Every plant, every animal, every man is sheer Cosmos.

 

So, New Age philosophers say, December 21st 2012 will be the day on which this inner cosmos is reconnected to the divine outer cosmos. The Sun will mount its unique position to  form a `gateway' between the Universe and the souls of every living creature on Earth. Our linear conception of time will crumble, and with it, fear and hatred will vanish. It will be purification at it's very best, when everyone is soaked in cosmic understanding and divine love.

 

So there it is: on December 20th, you'll kick your dog, yell at your spouse and cheat on cards. But a day later, you'll be calmed down into a peaceful dude with nothing but love and understanding to guide you in life. Even though it's mid-winter, it'll be summer of love for all humanity.

 

I hope 2012 isn't the end, but I do think it's possible there's 7 more years left till the end of the world.

 

The theory about our inner cosmos being reconnected with our divine outer cosmos sounds pretty silly though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I'm even more scared of that!

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I find it funny that the people here that are so worried about the end of the world have sigs of sexual nature.... that won't help you get into Heaven, guys.

 

 

On another note, my friend brought the oil crash situation to my attention some years ago, and I've been researching ever since. What they say about it is true. We're almost done.

[CBright7831 0]

Some poster posted this on another board where I made the same topic:

 

Hi, I'm new here, but I thought I'd give my two cents on this post

 

First off, the Mayan calendar is 6 years off so their calendar says the world will end in 2006 NOT 2012

 

Secondly, some prophet or another a couple of hundred years ago said that after the greatest Pope who ever lived died a new Pope, who would take the name of Benendict, would be in office when the end of the world came

 

So there are two pieces of the puzzle, and they go together because many consider the late Pope the greatest Pope to ever live , and here we are 1 year away from 2006

 

Of course two points make a line not a pattern, it would take at least three points for this to hold up as a valid argument in the scientific community.

 

 

It gets you thinking doesn't it?

 

To which I replied:

 

Yes, and it scares the ever loving shit out of me.

 

It makes me want to go to church again.

[tekcop 0]

Yes, and it scares the ever loving shit out of me.

 

It makes me want to go to church again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why does an ancient Mayan religion saying the world is going to end make you want to go to a Christian church? I'm not going to get all anti-Christianity or anything but that makes no sense.

 

Edit: Also, I've never heard of the Mayan calendar being off. I've always heard that it was closer to what is correct than our current one. So 2012 sounds much better than 2006.

 

Add that to the fact that the name of the so called prophet saying shit about Pope's and shit isn't named.

[Ed Wood Caulfield 0]

While I think the Oil Crash is possible, I just have a hard time believing it's going to happen as soon as this year, like some people are predicting. Something about that doesn't seem right. I think it'll most likely happen sometime between 2009-2050.

 

Anyway, there's a website that made a timeline of what could happen once Peak Oil occured:

 

1-5 years post-peak:  Major recession comparable to those experienced during the artificially created oil shortages of the 1970's.

 

5-15 years post-peak:  Recession worsens into a second Great Depression.

 

15-25 years post-peak:  Society begins to collapse.  Conditions in the United States begin to resemble those in the modern day former U.S.S.R.

 

25-50 years post-peak:  Societal collapse worsens.  Conditions in the United States begin to resemble those in modern day Iraq: electrical grid collapse, clean water shortages, super high unemployment, military police state.

 

50-100 years post-peak:  Society begins to stabilize, albeit in a form drastically different than anything most of us have imagined.

 

Although some of the things the guy thinks will happen because of the oil crash seem kind of odd:

 

What's going to happen when recently industrialized China decides it needs what little cheap oil is left as bad as the United States does?

 

World War III

[CBright7831 0]

Yes, and it scares the ever loving shit out of me.

 

It makes me want to go to church again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why does an ancient Mayan religion saying the world is going to end make you want to go to a Christian church? I'm not going to get all anti-Christianity or anything but that makes no sense.

 

Edit: Also, I've never heard of the Mayan calendar being off. I've always heard that it was closer to what is correct than our current one. So 2012 sounds much better than 2006.

 

Add that to the fact that the name of the so called prophet saying shit about Pope's and shit isn't named.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

True, true.

[tekcop 0]

True, true.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Also, if it makes you feel better, people have been predicting the end of the world for nearly as long as we have been in existence. Remember Paul thought Jesus was coming back during his lifetime and that didn't happen. God knows how many people were saying horrible things about the years 2000 and 2001, but nothing happened there. You're just worrying too much. Go outside, play some baseball, and forget about silly things like the end of the world. Even if it does happen, there's nothing you can do to stop it. Just enjoy yourself before that happens.

[Jingus 0]

Earth blows up along with the rest of the universe when a Tralfamadorian test pilot presses a starter button.

 

Duh.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Damn, SS, I wish you came around more often. Drop on by at The Pit sometime.

[Guest BrokenWings]

What's going to happen when recently industrialized China decides it needs what little cheap oil is left as bad as the United States does?

 

World War III

 

Hey, I'd never even thought of that. That's even scarier, and quite plausible.

 

I don't know much on the subject, is there any government funding going towards finding a new source of energy?

[Ed Wood Caulfield 0]

Well, I know that the Bush Administration knows about Peak Oil. Infact, Bush's Energy Advisor has said that things could get REALLY bad by 2015. Like we could all be living like it's 1765 by 2015. However, I don't know if there is any goverment funding going towards a new source of energy. All I know is that Bush and Co. know that an oil crash is possible.

 

There are alot of Peak Oil believers who believe the War In Iraq is proof that the U.S. goverment is doing something to prevent the oil crash, since all the oil in Iraq could prevent an oil crash from happening for atleast 25 years. Plus, they say just taking all the oil in Iraq and using it in the U.S. is much easier than spending time thinking of a new source of energy. Some of the Peak Oil believers say the reason Bush didn't just come out and say the War In Iraq is because of Peak Oil, is because an announcement like that could cause mass panic in the streets, and cause the stock market to crash.

 

Not every scientist believes Peak Oil is real, or is going to happen real soon. Like global warming, some scienctists believe Peak Oil is going to happen soon, while some scientists believe we still have much time. Some scientists believe Peak Oil won't happen until 2037, 2050, even 2152!

[The Metal Maniac 0]

Add that to the fact that the name of the so called prophet saying shit about Pope's and shit isn't named.

 

He was probably talking about St. Malachy.

[Skywarp! 0]

In the link I posted in this thread a while back, I find the scariest part to be the author's assertion that as we need to begin once again having an agricultural society to thrive, the suburbs will go down in history as the worst allocation of land resources the world has ever known.

 

And China will fight us tooth and nail for oil when things start getting desperate.

[Guest Mosaicv2]

As I fast-forward 7 years from now, I can see people celebrating new years as 2013 is about to come and nothing strange occurs and seven months later... people do the same thing they usually do. Ok, nothing going to about because people thought and said the end of the world was to come in the new century and it didn't, people are just paranoid fuckheads, sok?!

[Prime Time Andrew Doyle 0]

The world aint gonna end any time soon, and we will find a way to create synthetic oil & gas, like what was said on the previous page about neccessity being the mother of inventions or something to that effect. When push comes to shove, somebody will come through with a way to create it.

[Stephen Joseph 0]

Stop Commiting Malthusian Vices you crazy Oil Crashers! Each and every one of these doomsday run out of resources predictions runs right into this logic trap.

 

Mathusian Vice

At the time Malthus wrote, most societies had populations at or near their agricultural limits. But by the late 20th century, the new agricultural technologies of the green revolution had greatly expanded agricultural production throughout the world, and what famines still occurred were largely caused by war or political unrest rather than crop failure.

 

In addition, most technologically developed countries had by this time passed through the demographic transition, a complex social development in which total fertility rates drop drastically in response to lower infant mortality, more education of women, increased urbanization, and a wider availability of contraception. By the end of the 20th century, these countries could avoid population declines only by permitting large-scale immigration. On the assumption that the demographic transition would spread to less developed countries, the United Nations Population Division estimated that human population would peak in the late 21st century rather than continue to grow until it exhausted available resources.

 

Another problem is that there is no strong evidence that the human population—nor any real population—actually follows exponential growth. In plant or animal populations that are claimed to show exponential growth, closer examination invariably shows that the supposedly exponential curve is actually the lower limb of a logistic curve, or a section of a Lotka-Volterra cycle. Also, examination of records of estimated total world human population ([1] [2]) shows at best very weak evidence of exponential growth:

 

 

 

Clearly this is close to linear. In fact, the correlation coefficient is practically the same for linear growth, or very slow exponential growth (with a characteristic time of about 60 years).

 

The annual increase graph is worse; for exponential growth, it should itself be an upward trending exponential curve whereas it has actually been trending downward since 1986. Also the rate of increase should increase, whereas, of the increase between the early 1950s and today, five-sixths occurred in the 1950s and the first half of the 1960s (presumably attributable to the Green revolution); it then rose to a peak in 1989 and has since declined to levels approaching those of 1970.

 

 

 

Though short-term trends, even on the scale of decades or centuries, do not necessarily disprove the underlying mechanisms promoting a Malthusian catastrophe over longer periods, the relative prosperity of the human population at the beginning of the 21st century, and the apparent failure of spectacular predictions of mass starvation or ecological collapse made by activists such as Paul R. Ehrlich in the 1960s and 1970s, has led many people, such as economist Julian Simon, to question its inevitability.

 

His book The Ultimate Resource, later reissued as The Ultimate Resource 2, is a criticism of the conventional wisdom of population growth and resource consumption. In it, Simon challenged the notion of a pending Malthusian catastrophe — that an increase in population has negative economic consequences; that population is a drain on natural resources; and that we stand at risk of running out of resources through over-consumption. His critique was praised by Nobel Laureate economist Friedrich Hayek, but also attracted many critics, such as Paul R. Ehrlich.

 

A wager between Julian Simon and Paul Ehrlich was made in 1980 over the price of metals. Simon had been challenging environmental scientists to the bet for some time. Although Ehrlich noted that the five metals in the wager were not critical indicators and said so at the time, he and two other scientists agreed to the bet after consulting with colleagues. Simon won the bet. In 1995 he issued a challenge for another bet. Ehrlich refused, and proposed instead that they bet on a metric for human welfare. Ehrlich offered Simon a set of 15 metrics over 10 years, victor to be determined by scientists chosen by the president of the NAS in 2005. There was no meeting of the minds, because Simon felt that too many of the metrics measured attributes of the world not directly related to human welfare, e.g. the amount of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. [1] (http://dieoff.org/page27.htm) [2] (http://www.overpopulation.com/faq/People/julian_simon.html)

 

Julian Simon has been quoted as saying, "We have in our hands now - actually in our libraries - the technology to feed, clothe, and supply energy to an ever-growing population for the next 7 billion years."

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wager_between...nd_Paul_Ehrlich

Julian Simon and Paul Ehrlich entered in a famous wager in 1980, betting on a mutually agreed upon measure of resource scarcity over the decade leading up to 1990.

 

Simon had Ehrlich choose five of several commodity metals. Ehrlich chose 5 metals: copper, chrome, nickel, tin, and tungsten. Simon bet that their prices would go down. Ehrlich bet they would go up.

 

Julian Simon won handily and, per the terms of the wager, Ehrlich paid Simon the difference in price between the same quantity of metals in 1980 and 1990 (which was $576.07).

 

Simon offered to raise the wager to $20,000 and use any resources at any time that Ehrlich preferred, but the two were unable to reach an agreement on the terms of a second wager.

 

But understanding that Simon wanted to bet again, Ehrlich and climatologist Stephen Schneider counter-offered, challenging Simon to bet on 15 current trends, betting $1000 that each will get worse (as in the previous wager) over a ten year future period.

 

The trends they bet would continue to worsen were:

 

The three years 2002-2004 will on average be warmer than 1992-1994.

There will be more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in 2004 than in 1994.

There will be more nitrous oxide in the atmosphere in 2004 than 1994.

The concentration of ozone in the lower atmosphere (the troposphere) will be greater than in 1994.

Emissions of the air pollutant sulfur dioxide in Asia will be significantly greater in 2004 than in 1994.

There will be less fertile cropland per person in 2004 than in 1994.

There will be less agricultural soil per person in 2004 than 1994.

There will be on average less rice and wheat grown per person in 2002-2004 than in 1992-1994.

In developing nations there will be less firewood available per person in 2004 than in 1994.

The remaining area of virgin tropical moist forests will be significantly smaller in 2004 than in 1994.

The oceanic fisheries harvest per person will continue its downward trend and thus in 2004 will be smaller than in 1994.

There will be fewer plant and animal species still extant in 2004 than in 1994.

More people will die of AIDS in 2004 than in 1994.

Between 1994 and 2004, sperm counts of human males will continue to decline and reproductive disorders will continue to increase.

The gap in wealth between the richest 10% of humanity and the poorest 10% will be greater in 2004 than in 1994.

Simon declined the bet, and used the following analogy to explain why he did so:

 

"Let me characterize their [Ehrlich and Schneider's] offer as follows. I predict, and this is for real, that the average performances in the next Olympics will be better than those in the last Olympics. On average, the performances have gotten better, Olympics to Olympics, for a variety of reasons. What Ehrlich and others says is that they don't want to bet on athletic performances, they want to bet on the conditions of the track, or the weather, or the officials, or any other such indirect measure."

 

Now, can we move on from such nonsensical talk about running out of shit?

[Skywarp! 0]

Say what you will; fossil fuels are finite. I still believe this will be a humongous problem in our lifetime.

[Slickster 0]

What's going to happen when recently industrialized China decides it needs what little cheap oil is left as bad as the United States does?

 

World War III

 

Hey, I'd never even thought of that. That's even scarier, and quite plausible.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Hey, a 60-man battle royal isn't all that bad. Keep your chin up and read this book; it'll make you feel better.