Mayan Armageddon? I doubt it.
According to the Mayan calendar, the end of the world will occur on Dec. 21, 2012. Totally scary, right? Well, that's not exactly true, and I'd like to talk to you about it for a few minutes.
You see, as a former student of ancient Mayan culture (yeah, who knew, right?), I can tell you that this isn't necessarily true: The Mayan calendar does end on Dec. 12, 2012 -- but there is not reason given, it just ends. Nope -- no dire instructions or warnings about another planet smashing into Earth, or a god smiting the people for their sins.
It's safe to assume that perhaps the Mayans simply ran out of scrolls or pottery to scrawl the calendar on, or they figured it's so far in the future no one will even remember it then.
Well, as the year swiftly approaches, people are getting scared. As if there was seriously anything you could do if the world is really set to end. Whatcha gunna do? Fly up into space on a rocket? OK, so then what? ... Or maybe burrow yourself so far underground that you pop into Middle Earth? OK, so then what?
People -- please calm down. Take a deep breath and listen to reason for a moment.
This site, designed by Sony Pictures, is a *viral marketing site* for an upcoming movie. See, on the right side of the screen? That's Oliver Platt -- an actor who is presumably playing the chief of staff. Good casting, actually, but that's beside the point.
This article from respected online science website and Captivate partner LiveScience cites sources who call out the site as 'reprehensible' and 'disgusting' -- can't anyone take a joke anymore? A follow-up to the blog post on Livescience brings more of the science (Thankfully) to light on the subject.
Here, a NASA scientist debunks the rumors of the End of the World in a way that not only everyone can understand, but will leave even the most stout nut jobs questioning their staunch beliefs in Armageddon.
Please, forward liberally and often -- and stop attacking viral marketing sites aimed to be FUN in place of actually educating yourself on a hot-button topic.
You see, as a former student of ancient Mayan culture (yeah, who knew, right?), I can tell you that this isn't necessarily true: The Mayan calendar does end on Dec. 12, 2012 -- but there is not reason given, it just ends. Nope -- no dire instructions or warnings about another planet smashing into Earth, or a god smiting the people for their sins.
It's safe to assume that perhaps the Mayans simply ran out of scrolls or pottery to scrawl the calendar on, or they figured it's so far in the future no one will even remember it then.
Well, as the year swiftly approaches, people are getting scared. As if there was seriously anything you could do if the world is really set to end. Whatcha gunna do? Fly up into space on a rocket? OK, so then what? ... Or maybe burrow yourself so far underground that you pop into Middle Earth? OK, so then what?
People -- please calm down. Take a deep breath and listen to reason for a moment.
This site, designed by Sony Pictures, is a *viral marketing site* for an upcoming movie. See, on the right side of the screen? That's Oliver Platt -- an actor who is presumably playing the chief of staff. Good casting, actually, but that's beside the point.
This article from respected online science website and Captivate partner LiveScience cites sources who call out the site as 'reprehensible' and 'disgusting' -- can't anyone take a joke anymore? A follow-up to the blog post on Livescience brings more of the science (Thankfully) to light on the subject.
Here, a NASA scientist debunks the rumors of the End of the World in a way that not only everyone can understand, but will leave even the most stout nut jobs questioning their staunch beliefs in Armageddon.
Please, forward liberally and often -- and stop attacking viral marketing sites aimed to be FUN in place of actually educating yourself on a hot-button topic.
Labels: Mayan calendar
This entry was posted by Amber, on Wednesday, June 17, 2009. You can
leave your response
. 
