Just to make everybody nice and happy...
I read somewhere once that scientists (specifically, virulogists) are certain that with 99.9% probability a mutating virus will be the end of humankind. I'm not talking birdflu, flu pandemics are another kettle of fish.
...so basically everything everywhere is at one point or another going to try and make our species extinct. Hmm.
These theories are not new though, remember that. There was a massive movement who predicted the end of the world in 1984 and cited Nostradamus and Orwell as their proof. And people actually went for this. Then there was the 2000 fiasco, and the reappearance of Nostradamus. And then the subsequent hiding-in-repeated-shame of Nostradamus.
The Bible End Timers have changed too. In the 1960's, the war which sets off the Rapture in the Book of Revelation was to involve Russia and nukes; these days, it's Israel and nukes. The river of blood high as a horse's bridle shite has remained though. I still find that funny.
Anyway. I've lost all faith in anyone or thing who says that the end of the world is coming. They just change their stories to fit the fears and the climate of their times. The Book of Revelation was written for Christians living under Roman rule; Nostradamus was on shrooms.
It's down to us and us alone. Nothing to do with anything mystical, there's no Mayans, no Jesus involvement (another interesting mutation of the Book of Revelation - these days, the anti-Christ is going to 'rise from his seat in the United Nations'. Srsly.) It's us, our wars, and maybe a few diseases or bits of space rock.
And global warming, though I think everybody's past caring about that now, which is truly truly sad. Besides which, it didn't really matter to me in the first place; of far more human importance are the amount of hyped-up wars which are going to appear as the gas and oil reserves fall ever lower.
The Mayans won't be the end of us, God won't, Eros won't. We will. It's just us, and apathy. I don't know how you feel about that, but I get the feeling that some may read that sentence, nod inwardly, maybe think I'm right. I get the feeling that we, as a species, are resigned to apathy now. I mean, look back at this thread. I've seen quite a few posts which tell us just how shit our species is - and that, in itself, is the hallmark of having given up. People think that we, as a kind, are horrible and worthless. Please don't agree with me. We're worth more than that, and if the attitude doesn't change and people don't start thinking we're worth keeping around, well...yeah, it might all be over by 2012.
But mark my words, the Mayans will have had **** all to do with it. It's just us.
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