December 21, 2012. The day we all bite the dust. Supposedly. People are emailing and calling scientists by the masses because they want to know why the world is going to end. What these people should be wondering is where these predictions come from. By doing this, they will realize that it was a ridiculous thing to believe. Books, television shows, and movies are profiting off this paranoia.

Many people feel that this is doomsday because of the Mayan calendar. These people are completely misinterpreting the meaning of the calendar. It is not predicting the end of the world; it is merely denoting that a new cycle will happen on that day. And, contrary to popular belief, the calendar does not end on this date. The cycle ends, not the calendar. The days keep coming after the 21st.

The Mayans found to the cycles to be very important and would celebrate when a new one began; much like how we celebrate centuries.

Many theories have sprouted that attempt to determine what will happen on that day. One of the more popular beliefs is that a planet Nibiru will crash into Earth. It is important to focus on this theory because it represents the others by showing how they are not based on science. NASA has even gone as far as to completely denounce the theory on their “Ask an Astrobiologist” website which serves to answer questions people have. The site claims that they have “received nearly a thousand questions about Nibiru and 2012…”

In 1995, this idea was proposed not by scientists, but by a woman named Nancy Lieder who claims aliens contacted her and told her that the Nibiru collision would destroy Earth. Yeah, she seems to be a reputable source that we all should listen to immediately. When it is between trusting NASA scientists or some lady who probably has conversations with her clowder of cats, well I think you know who I would choose.

To add to all this paranoia we have Roland Emmerich’s upcoming film 2012. The film depicts “doomsday” by showing everything on earth falling into, what seems to be, nothing. Not only does the film represent the lack of knowledge that every other doomsday theorist does, it is merely a shameless attempt to make a buck off of frightened people.

Sure, this might be a fun film to see. But the fact is most of the people who shell out the money to see it will merely be curious as to what they are in for come 2012.

This hysteria has made so much money already. People are making books, television shows, films, websites; all dedicated to “educate” people on what they believe will happen to humanity.

Some people are so afraid that they are willing to do insane things to prepare for the pseudo-end times. Remember Falcon Heene, the balloon boy? Well his father, Richard, claims that he created the hoax so that he and his family could make a television show. He would then take the money he made and use it for, get this, building an underground bunker to protect his family on 2012. Well, if the apocalypse is anything like it is in 2012, an underground bunker will not help them.

This man completely wasted his time and reputation on doing this. His children may be taken under custody, and he is facing federal investigation. All for a half-baked theory that has absolutely no evidence to support it. At least he was not insane enough to actually put Falcon into the balloon. It would have ended in tragedy.

Who are these people and how did they become so crazy and misled? Through misinterpretations, a woman talking to aliens and flat out lies people are being spoon-fed paranoia.

There have been hundreds of doomsday predictions since the beginning of time. Nobody should have had a reason to believe it then, nobody should believe it now. These predictions are made by crazy people who think they are prophets. And, for when the world does not end in 2012, there are about ten doomsday predictions for after 2012.

Do no listen to these people! They are false prophets with an undying thirst for attention. To believe them would be like listening to David Icke and his theory that the world is run by lizard people. It is ridiculous. People are even emailing NASA officials saying that they would rather commit suicide than watch the world croak. Many people are scared and deserve to know why this theory is popular and why it is garbage.

You would think that people would have learned their lesson after Y2K. Everyone scrambled through department stores purchasing every oil lamp, case of water and battery in sight. All for nothing. The price of paranoia is large.

If you are still adamant that the world will end in three years, more power to you. Burrowing your way through all of the scientific evidence and logic that says otherwise takes courage. It tells me that you are a very stubborn person. And ignorance is bliss, especially during the apocalypse. In fact, if it does end, great. Maybe we will see each other when we are floating around in the hollows of space. You can high-five me and say, “I told you so.”