limpid Posted November 19, 2012 Administrator Share Posted November 19, 2012 Isn't there a theory that posits that the above traits were either evolutionarily advantageous, or byproducts of other evolutionarily advantageous traits, during our prehistoric past, hence their persistence today? Yes, that is exactly where they came from, but just like living in trees and hunter/gathering it is something we should have moved on from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted November 19, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted November 19, 2012 I always thought their calender ended because they couldnt comprehend thinking this far into the future and so gave up on it Well yeah, exactly. They had to stop at some point. They couldn't just keep carving calendars for an infinite amount of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 The world will eventually end, just not in our lifetime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pelle Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 I thought it ended as they ran out of things to write on. Anyway, it's just a bit of fun for most sane people in the world. But I always wonder, what do the rest of the calendar say about what would happen? What it's all about? Except for ending at a random date making people go panic. And I really do believe that those people are very few, if any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarewsEyebrowDesigner Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 I wouldn't be too bothered if it all came to an abupt end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legov Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 Yes, that is exactly where they came from, but just like living in trees and hunter/gathering it is something we should have moved on from. Except that the hunter-gatherer lifestyle is a conscious choice. While superstition and obedience to authority requires conscious effort to eschew, they are also highly dependent on instinct, which I think is why people usually find it hard to de-convert from religion - human minds just aren't wired that way. In that sense, superstition etc etc is more similar to our desire to eat sugar, salt and fat - a vestige of our prehistoric past that was probably beneficial to us before, but harmful to us now, yet hard to overcome because of our evolution-honed instincts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humanoid Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 I thought it ended as they ran out of things to write on. Anyway, it's just a bit of fun for most sane people in the world. But I always wonder, what do the rest of the calendar say about what would happen? What it's all about? Except for ending at a random date making people go panic. And I really do believe that those people are very few, if any. Just to be absolutely clear on this "end date"; the particular cycle of time called "Baktun", which is supposed to end on the 21st, is only one of 9. There are 3 cycles of time larger than Baktun in the calendar, so on that basis alone it can't be "the end". The Baktun cycle has ended many times previously without anything disasterous happening. There is no archelolgical evidence available to the public to suggest that there is any doomsday scenario that the Mayans associated with this date, although there is some to suggest the date was significant, although the reason why is not known. The only other sources of information are the prophesies and myths (verbal legends) of tribes who claim to be Mayan descendents. And most of the myths claim that there will be a change in consciouness generally and not the end of the planet or vast global catastrophies that wipes out most of the world's population. IF these tribes are right, then it's certainly not doomy but sounds like something positive. Its the doomsday cults (mostly christian) and new agers who have latched on to the myths and calendar for their own fear mongering and/or money making ends. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted November 19, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted November 19, 2012 Spot-on, Ivan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted November 19, 2012 Moderator Share Posted November 19, 2012 Nothing will happen. I know because I have a tin of beans that doesn't expire until 2014. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legov Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 Nothing will happen. I know because I have a tin of beans that doesn't expire until 2014. Brilliant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethRDR Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 I'm not worried, but seeing as "Mayan Doomsday" is an anagram of "and a Yam sodomy" I would definitely advise our Black Country brethren to be extra careful with their bumholes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ingram85 Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 I wouldn't worry about them Gareth, they'll be too busy getting christmas gifts in Toys Am We to notice 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limpid Posted November 19, 2012 Administrator Share Posted November 19, 2012 Except that the hunter-gatherer lifestyle is a conscious choice. While superstition and obedience to authority requires conscious effort to eschew, they are also highly dependent on instinct, which I think is why people usually find it hard to de-convert from religion - human minds just aren't wired that way. In that sense, superstition etc etc is more similar to our desire to eat sugar, salt and fat - a vestige of our prehistoric past that was probably beneficial to us before, but harmful to us now, yet hard to overcome because of our evolution-honed instincts. Hunter/gatherer was not a choice. It's almost certainly what caused the speciation of the homo genus from the other great apes. Adopting farming and forming larger societies was a choice though. People find it hard to "de-convert" from religion because they have been indoctrinated to accept received wisdom since they were small children. Babies are atheist, it's a concious choice to brainwash them into a religion and that brainwashing leaves them open to believing all kinds of superstitious crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legov Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Mr. Mod, I think it's time we move this to the religion thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshVilla Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Just over a month now till the end of the world how u going to spend your last month on planet Earth At least we can't be relegated now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coda Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Get thee to Bugarach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CI Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Just over a month now till the end of the world how u going to spend your last month on planet Earth At least we can't be relegated now Lerner will be delighted, he won't have to spend anything in Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legov Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Just putting it out there again, Mayan descendants are actually scoffing at the suggestion of there being an apocalypse 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Not even sure where the 'end of the world' thing came from. According to the Maya, its the end of one Calendar and the beginning of another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coda Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Only ten days to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts