The End of the World

[Mike_D202]

FYI fellas, most of the pictures found on the internet of "giant skeletons" are hoaxes. This picture, for example, is one of the ones circulating the net:

It was part of a photoshop contest titled "Archaeological Anomalies". You can view the entries here:

http://www.worth1000.com/cache/contest/contestcache.asp?contest_id=447&display=photoshop

You'll probaly see a bunch of other "giant skeleton" photos on that site as well.

 

[Superhobo]

Maybe scientists will accidentally create a man-made blackhole and suck our planet into itself, lol.

"Watch it! We're not aware of it now, but there may be a killer on the loose. Chances are that our planet is on the menu of a real Black Hole.

We won't notice it right away. You see, the trouble with Black Holes is that they are, well, kind of black. You don't really see them -- until they suddenly knock on our door.

And `knocking' is an understatement. Suddenly, we'll notice a weird disturbance of the outer parts of our solar system. The cosmic debris that makes up the Oort Cloud -- the outer edge of our solar system -- starts acting strange. The orbits of the outer planets Pluto and Neptune might become disturbed. Out of nowhere, planets will change course.

Cosmologists will ring the alarm bell -- if they don't decide it's better no-one knows what's coming. But after a while, even amateur astronomers will notice there's something odd going on. For example, they might notice that one day, planets like Jupiter or Saturn are no longer there.

Oh boy, will that bring about some panic on Earth! A Black Hole, a real Black Hole is speeding through our solar system! Scientists on TV will bring the bad news: one year, two perhaps, but then it will all be over. Perhaps some politicians will make a feeble attempt to nuke the Black Hole. But that's so stupid. You can't blow up something that is not really an object -- but a hole.

After some time -- will it be years? months? -- the Black Hole finally closes in on our planet. Suddenly, our entire planet is lifted from its orbit around the Sun. In a tiny fraction of a second, it accelerates to the speed of light, and zooms off, destination Black Hole.

Once there, something highly unusual happens. The Earth suddenly stretches out, forming a sort of thread, with zero thickness (no, really!). In that shape, it will be sucked into total nothingness, as the Black Hole devours our planet with everything and everyone on it. There will be no explosions or woes of agony -- all that is sucked up too.

And that's not even the worst possibility. More likely, the Black Hole will pass our planet at some distance. It won't swallow the Earth. But it will definitely take a swing at the planet's orbit around the Sun. Like a giant catapult, it will kick away the Earth, off into deep space. Earth will become a lost planet, covered in coldness and darkness forever.

No need telling that on a planet like that, life is absolutely impossible. We may hold out for a while, clinging to all the technology we can think of, but after that we'll definitely die a horrible deep space death. No Sun is no heat -- but also, no plants, no plankton, no tidal forces and as a result, no climate, no atmosphere and no oxygen. Thank you very much, mr. Black Hole!

So, what is a Black Hole, really?

A Black Hole is, in essence, the corpse of what once was a star. When a star with at least five times the mass of our Sun runs out of fuel, it implodes. It's own gravity presses it together -- and presses it together some more, until there's nothing really left. What you have then is a Black Hole: a tiny speck of matter (well, matter isn't the right word, really), but with immense mass.

Because of that, Black Holes have an unimaginable gravity. So strong is their gravity, even light can't escape from it -- that's why the darn thing is called `Black Hole' in the first place (the term `Black Hole' was coined in 1969 by John Wheeler, who got tired of using the tongue twisting term `gravitationally collapsed stars' all the time).

Black Heart: Black Holes are believed to be at the center of each galaxy. They cannot be spotted directly, however; astronomers have to look around it, where they may see matter being sucked into the hole.

And the bad part is, no-one knows how big the threat is. There might be a Black Hole heading our way as we speak. We do know that every once and a while, another star pays our solar system a visit. So it's only common sense to assume we should sometimes bump into a dead star, too. A star, you would see that one coming. A Black Hole -- you wouldn't.

Now, if you're a devoted science fiction fan, perhaps you don't worry too much. There are all kind of great fantasy stories about what lies beneath the Black Hole (remember the 1979 Walt Disney-movie `The Black Hole'?)

And indeed, no-one really knows if a Black Hole isn't in fact some kind of gateway. It might lead to another part of the Universe, or even to an entirely different Universe. So falling into a Black Hole may be a fun thing to do after all.

Well, those sci-fi fans overlook one minor detail. Before `passing' the Black Hole, your body turns into a tail of spaghetti. Also, the atoms you are made of are ripped to pieces. So if it's Black Hole day, bear this in mind: once you get to the other side -- if there is one -- you won't be sending any postcards home." Exit Mundi, "Eaten By a Black Hole"

 

[The Spectre]

FYI fellas, most of the pictures found on the internet of "giant skeletons" are hoaxes. This picture, for example, is one of the ones circulating the net:

It was part of a photoshop contest titled "Archaeological Anomalies". You can view the entries here:

http://www.worth1000.com/cache/contest/contestcache.asp?contest_id=447&display=photoshop

You'll probaly see a bunch of other "giant skeleton" photos on that site as well.

I see you put in the key word "most". So some are real!? Now we are getting somewhere.

 

[Mike_D202]

Well I havent seen all of them, but the ones that I have come acrossed have been proven to be fake (I'm a big paranormal/cryptzoology fan so I love stuff like this).

BTW, the "man-made black hole theory" is one of my biggest fears. That would suck.

 

[The Spectre]

No, really -- you just don't want to know this. There’s a remote, but extremely terrifying possibility our planet is about to be swallowed from within by a man-made black hole. In fact, our planet could be booby trapped with baby black holes already.

Is there anything that can stop a black whole? I mean, if two black holes of the exact same size met, can they cancel each other out?

 

[TBadora]

We won't notice it right away. You see, the trouble with Black Holes is that they are, well, kind of black. You don't really see them -- until they suddenly knock on our door.

This is some fascinating stuff Superhobo. Did you hear about that black whole that was observed by a telescope a few months back. I am not sure about the date. Scientists weren't sure if it was a black whole, but they were surprised about how close it was to our solar system.

 

[Superhobo]

This is some fascinating stuff Superhobo. Did you hear about that black whole that was observed by a telescope a few months back. I am not sure about the date. Scientists weren't sure if it was a black whole, but they were surprised about how close it was to our solar system.

Naw, I haven't heard about that. Makes me wonder, though.

 

[TBadora]

Here's one:

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/09/12/new.black.hole/index.html

 

[Leto Atrides]

If you really want to learn about it: Watch some documentaries on the subject on youtube. Tomorrow, go to your library and read some books about it. People spend many years of their lives researching this stuff and it really isn't fair for an 'average joe' to just sit back and write it all off as 'crazy' without having and solid understanding about the subject. If you aren't interested in the subject than don't talk about it as if you know stuff on it.

I was genuinely asking you what you have to say, but you feel the need to be condescending about fringe pseudoscience for God knows what reason. I don't think I can take you up on your offer though. I'm pretty sure there will be nothing in my library on this subject, as it's a college library that has actual scholarly work.

Do you really think this is conventional archaeological wisdom? Or even not widely looked down upon by the the majority of experts? Presumably, it may be in the library, in a parapsychology section with such reputable books as Chariots of the Gods and Holy Blood Holy Grail.

Also, it's not as if I don't know anything about these sorts of ideas, I do remember something from my days of reading the Future Horizons catalog in 6th grade.

 

[Unkown]

Well, since there was a beginning I think there will be an end. But when that will be, who knows? Newton said 2060 and he was amazingly brilliant. Maybe he's right.

So were the Mayans,and there calender reaches up to 2012,which might not be the end,but a new era of human...an evolution.

 

[The Spectre]

I was genuinely asking you what you have to say, but you feel the need to be condescending about fringe pseudoscience for God knows what reason. I don't think I can take you up on your offer though. I'm pretty sure there will be nothing in my library on this subject, as it's a college library that has actual scholarly work.

Do you really think this is conventional archaeological wisdom? Or even not widely looked down upon by the the majority of experts? Presumably, it may be in the library, in a parapsychology section with such reputable books as Chariots of the Gods and Holy Blood Holy Grail.

Also, it's not as if I don't know anything about these sorts of ideas, I do remember something from my days of reading the Future Horizons catalog in 6th grade.

Are you saying works on Mayan Civilization are pseudoscience? Do you even know what parapsychology is?

 

[TBadora]

I was genuinely asking you what you have to say

I believe I answered your question, to the best of my ability.

but you feel the need to be condescending about fringe pseudoscience for God knows what reason.

Reason? You've accused me of knowing nothing about the Mayans, then when I prove you wrong you try and change the argument into one about giants. You ask me about my beliefs in the existence of giants. When I answer your question there, you jump back to the Mayan topic again, arguing that studies on Mayans aren't interesting anyway and then you make up something about "Flying Magic Atlantean Aliens building the Pymaids". Presumably you believe that studies on the Mayan civilization are not credible enough to be taken seriously, and that the topic along with prophecies predicted by Mayans are therefore pseudoscience. Clearly you believe you know better than to trouble yourself with Mayan Civilization, and that this subject is inferior to whatever it is that you study.

I don't think I can take you up on your offer though. I'm pretty sure there will be nothing in my library on this subject, as it's a college library that has actual scholarly work.

Clearly you are the one being condescending here, implying that this subject is below the level of your 'college' level of studies. I assure you, the studies in Mayan Civilization are at University level and are in fact directed towards Graduate studies:

http://fhss.byu.edu/anthro/Degrees/MA Anthro/MA_Courses.htm

In case you'd have difficulty picking a book, I recommend this text:

http://www.sup.org/book.cgi?book_id=4816 4817

Do you really think this is conventional archaeological wisdom? Or even not widely looked down upon by the the majority of experts? Presumably, it may be in the library, in a parapsychology section with such reputable books as Chariots of the Gods and Holy Blood Holy Grail.

Also, it's not as if I don't know anything about these sorts of ideas, I do remember something from my days of reading the Future Horizons catalog in 6th grade.

You obviously don't know that Parapsychology is an actual academic field in which even you can study in 'college' or University, and therefore there are people working/researching in the field for their Masters and Ph.D's (thereby making it 'scholarly').
Presumably, your knowledge on this matter still comes from book catalogs and not actual books. Otherwise we wouldn't be having this argument, would we?

Now for my genuinely sincere question to you:
Which college do you study at and what is it you study?

 

[Leto Atrides]

I believe I answered your question, to the best of my ability.

Reason? You've accused me of knowing nothing about the Mayans, then when I prove you wrong you try and change the argument into one about giants. You ask me about my beliefs in the existence of giants. When I answer your question there, you jump back to the Mayan topic again, arguing that studies on Mayans aren't interesting anyway and then you make up something about "Flying Magic Atlantean Aliens building the Pymaids". Presumably you believe that studies on the Mayan civilization are not credible enough to be taken seriously, and that the topic along with prophecies predicted by Mayans are therefore pseudoscience. Clearly you believe you know better than to trouble yourself with Mayan Civilization, and that this subject is inferior to whatever it is that you study.



Clearly you are the one being condescending here, implying that this subject is below the level of your 'college' level of studies. I assure you, the studies in Mayan Civilization are at University level and are in fact directed towards Graduate studies:

http://fhss.byu.edu/anthro/Degrees/MA Anthro/MA_Courses.htm

In case you'd have difficulty picking a book, I recommend this text:

http://www.sup.org/book.cgi?book_id=4816 4817



You obviously don't know that Parapsychology is an actual academic field in which even you can study in 'college' or University, and therefore there are people working/researching in the field for their Masters and Ph.D's (thereby making it 'scholarly').
Presumably, your knowledge on this matter still comes from book catalogs and not actual books. Otherwise we wouldn't be having this argument, would we?

Now for my genuinely sincere question to you:
Which college do you study at and what is it you study?

I think you misinterpreted my statements. I asked you about this belief in Giants, to which you responded that I should go to do research on my own, as if this were a conventional subject of study, which it most certainly did not, and did so in a tone that suggested I was asking you for easy answers. I was asking you about your personal ideas on the subject (some very large people? 30 foot creatures of myth? Just in ancient times or later?), and you simply told me to go read a book.

As far as Mayans, you seem to have completely misinterpreted my statements. I said that the only approaches towards discussing whether they predicted some disaster were either:
1. A discussion on just how advanced their knowledge of math and science. We can't really do this, because as you said, we don't have sufficient knowledge and understanding of how they did what they did. This seemed to be your opinion, that they as a people had the ability to do this themselves.
2. A supernatural approach, which I was making light of. I was pretty sure your ideas had nothing to do with any of these. As they're supernatural we can't really discuss them in a objective way.
Since we don't understand 1 enough, and can't prove 2 in any way, I didn't think there was much to talk about. The giant is a recurring theme in many cultures, possibly as a result of them having existed, and the idea has a lot more "meat" and fodder for discussion.

These ideas are "fringe science", which I'm trying to use in as neutral idea of the phrase as possible, and you are treating them as conventional historical/anthropological/etc. ideas. This I take issue with, and your attitude that I need to read up on these subjects before I can question their legitimacy or even inquire a believer about them.

I brought up parapsychology, which is studied in some universities, usually in the topic of ESP and that sort of thing. I was referring more specifically to other branches which support ideas of hyper-advanced ancient peoples, extraterrestrial influences on them, the supernatural, etc. which are often of very dubious scientific merit, aren't peer-reviewed, and are at times outright refuted and still stay in print and circulation without change. It's not a very specific term, and I probably could have picked a more specific one.

My college (because that's what the institution I'm in is, I noticed you put it in quotes as if I was using jargon or the wrong term) isn't really of issue, but I'm studying archeology.

 

[Mike_D202]

Do you guys really wanna be arguing about Mayans when 2012 rolls around?

Yea, thats what I thought

 

[YsoSerious]

It amazes me people actually believe the whole Mayan thing and dismiss the fact that the Bible says no one knows when the final day will occur.The Bible did not say no one but the mayans will know when the last day occurs.So since we dont know when and it just might be tomorrow, I say we all just drink it up today!

 

[TBadora]

I think you misinterpreted my statements. I asked you about this belief in Giants, to which you responded that I should go to do research on my own, as if this were a conventional subject of study, which it most certainly did not, and did so in a tone that suggested I was asking you for easy answers. I was asking you about your personal ideas on the subject (some very large people? 30 foot creatures of myth? Just in ancient times or later?), and you simply told me to go read a book.

Correction:
1)Your initial reaction to my belief that giants could have existed was ridicule:

But I was saying you have to be kidding in that you think giants are real.

2)You then tried to get me to tell you more about what I know about giants in a crude attempt at creating more ridicule. You then state that your question is sincere, so I decided to answer it very plainly:

I don't believe Giants currently exist. I believe there is evidence that points to the direction that they had existed in the past. But you probably wouldn't want me to go into that one either, because there is nothing I can show or write to convince you of anything, is there?

3) Then, when I answered your question, you decide to go back and try and bring ridicule into the Mayan discussion by bringing in some of your own ideas:

It's just the Mayan calendar thing either ends up being just raw speculation about their math with no solid answers, or crazy "Flying Magic Atlantean Aliens building the Pymaids" type theories. Either way there's not much raw evidence you can show and it's not as interesting to talk about.

4)That was when I was no longer interested in any serious discussion with you about the matter. I then stated that if you are interested in the subject, for you to go out and do your own research and come up with your own beliefs:

If you really want to learn about it: Watch some documentaries on the subject on youtube. Tomorrow, go to your library and read some books about it. People spend many years of their lives researching this stuff and it really isn't fair for an 'average joe' to just sit back and write it all off as 'crazy' without having and solid understanding about the subject.

5)Then, once again, you reveal your real intentions (creating ridicule) and your real opinions on the subject matter. You then try and state that the whole subject is 'fringe pseudoscience' not 'fringe science' as you claim later on:

I was genuinely asking you what you have to say, but you feel the need to be condescending about fringe pseudoscience for God knows what reason. I don't think I can take you up on your offer though. I'm pretty sure there will be nothing in my library on this subject, as it's a college library that has actual scholarly work.

Do you really think this is conventional archaeological wisdom? Or even not widely looked down upon by the the majority of experts? Presumably, it may be in the library, in a parapsychology section with such reputable books as Chariots of the Gods and Holy Blood Holy Grail.

Also, it's not as if I don't know anything about these sorts of ideas, I do remember something from my days of reading the Future Horizons catalog in 6th grade.

5) I then prove to you that almost everything you stated in the previous quote is wrong. As I highlight, once again, your true intentions on the subject matter: RIDICULE. At this point I'd kindly ask you not to talk about this stuff ever again with me.

Unfortunately you leave me no choice but to run through you last post and address the inaccuracies in your claims:

As far as Mayans, you seem to have completely misinterpreted my statements. I said that the only approaches towards discussing whether they predicted some disaster were either:
1. A discussion on just how advanced their knowledge of math and science. We can't really do (Yes we can!, if you had carefully read my statement on what the Mayans knew you'd have known) this, because as you said, we don't have sufficient knowledge and understanding of how they did what they did.(You are confusing what I said. I said that we don't know everything they knew, and that there is a lot they knew that we still have to discover for ourselves, which could explain a lot about them. The stuff we do know about them is enough to give them a lot of credit for what they knew. This is why they are so popular. Not simply because they were 'smart for their time') This seemed to be your opinion, that they as a people had the ability to do this themselves.
2. A supernatural approach, which I was making light of. I was pretty sure your ideas had nothing to do with any of these. As they're supernatural we can't really discuss them in a objective way. The supernatural approach comes out when you try and figure out how they knew what they knew. It is purely based on how you decide to look at it. (ie: you could believe that modern advancement in technology is purely because aliens have been giving us their technology. I may argue that it is because we have a better understanding of nanotech, due to a greater awareness on the subject matter as a global population)
Since we don't understand 1 enough, and can't prove 2 in any way, I didn't think there was much to talk about. The giant is a recurring theme in many cultures, possibly as a result of them having existed, and the idea has a lot more "meat" and fodder for discussion.
But then "you'd have to be kidding to think giants are real".

These ideas are "fringe science" (you said 'fringe pseudoscience', why are you changing it now?), which I'm trying to use in as neutral idea of the phrase as possible, and you are treating them as conventional historical/anthropological/etc. ideas. This I take issue with, and your attitude that I need to read up on these subjects before I can question their legitimacy or even inquire a believer about them.

Let's face it, you are in the crowed that believes that everything that the popular media dubbs 'myth', 'paranormal', 'pseudoscience', or anything else of the like; To be 'crazy' without actually thinking critically about any of it. You won't even bother reading a book about the subject matter to try and make up your own mind. Evidently you thought that discussion on the Mayans and the giants fell into the same category and you tried to capitalize on it by making and example out of me. Now that you've been proven wrong on many counts, you try and change the scenario by making it into one of misunderstanding. Give it up.

I brought up parapsychology, which is studied in some universities, usually in the topic of ESP and that sort of thing. I was referring more specifically to other branches which support ideas of hyper-advanced ancient peoples, extraterrestrial influences on them, the supernatural, etc. which are often of very dubious scientific merit, aren't peer-reviewed, and are at times outright refuted and still stay in print and circulation without change. It's not a very specific term, and I probably could have picked a more specific one. I don't want anything to do with parapsychology for the moment because it has nothing to do with what our discussion was originally about. I agree that you could have picked a better term to use in your assault on the subject matter at hand. So I am gonna let that one slide.

My college (because that's what the institution I'm in is, I noticed you put it in quotes as if I was using jargon or the wrong term) isn't really of issue, but I'm studying archeology.

I put 'college' in quotes because that is th term you used. I mean nothing else by it.


I really don't feel like talking to you anymore about the subject matter. I'd ask you to drop it, as will I, so that we can spare others who are trying to discuss issues about the 'End of the World'. Evidently our discussion on the matter has gone off into a tangent and needs to be dropped ASAP.

 

[The Joker_1000]

For all we know, we could find a planet suitable for living if the world will truly come to an end. Hell, our race could end up spreading all over the universe over the course of the next few million years.

 

[SuperFerret]

You know what's funny? Back in the fifties and sixties people genuinely thought that the year 2000 would be like the Jetsons. That's only fourty to fifty years ago. Keeping that in mind, imagine what 2012 would've looked like to the Mayans imagination.

 

[The Joker_1000]

I'm hoping that we can become more civilized as far as technology goes. I'm also hoping that evolution will take place over the next few million years which I guess all depends on us now.

 

[unstoppable]

probably in a decade or so

 

[Damien Rage]

wow. I've always felt something like this was possible. Ith videos on youtube were interesting (loved the music). This is why I am glad my mother and I kept the the vacation house in VT after my grandmother passed. WE used to talk about stuff like this even when I was a kid. We both hope to be safe in the middle of nowhere. I plan on moving there in 2010. I wanna enjoy the sunshine state just a little longer.

Now I gotta ask...what does it mean by the poles shift? Is that like North and South would become like East and West? How would the planet rotate? If it stopped rotating, would gravity cease?

...so interesting. I forget who said it (was on the first page I think) about how their going to welcome the end with open arms. Yeah...I'm gonna sit in the pasture with a 6pack and watch it all happen =^)

 

[Carcharodon]

wow. I've always felt something like this was possible. Ith videos on youtube were interesting (loved the music). This is why I am glad my mother and I kept the the vacation house in VT after my grandmother passed. WE used to talk about stuff like this even when I was a kid. We both hope to be safe in the middle of nowhere. I plan on moving there in 2010. I wanna enjoy the sunshine state just a little longer.

Now I gotta ask...what does it mean by the poles shift? Is that like North and South would become like East and West? How would the planet rotate? If it stopped rotating, would gravity cease?

...so interesting. I forget who said it (was on the first page I think) about how their going to welcome the end with open arms. Yeah...I'm gonna sit in the pasture with a 6pack and watch it all happen =^)

No, we'd still have gravity if the earth stopped rotating. That's a simple matter of mass.

By pole shifts, we're actually talking about North becoming South and South becoming North (purely pertaining to the electromagnetic field surrounding earth). That's all. It's really nothing to worry about, except for electronics that utilize those magnetic fields.

What would be interesting, however, is to see just how migratory animals that are thought to use the EM field to navigation adjust to the shift.

 

[Damien Rage]

No, we'd still have gravity if the earth stopped rotating. That's a simple matter of mass.

By pole shifts, we're actually talking about North becoming South and South becoming North (purely pertaining to the electromagnetic field surrounding earth). That's all. It's really nothing to worry about, except for electronics that utilize those magnetic fields.

What would be interesting, however, is to see just how migratory animals that are though to use the EM field to navigation adjust to the shift.

oooh...ok. thank yery very much.

LMAO yeah would the animals all get lost??? Compasses point South instead of North? Would we even live long enough to find out the answers?

I'm so curious...

 

[The Joker_1000]

So, in the next few million years, what can we expect from evolution?

 

[A.X.L]

TBadora believes in giants ? - comedy gold