Why are so many people so stupid an think the world is going to end in 2012?

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Question:
I’ve done my research and all it says by the mayans is that there clock restarts over on Dec. 12 2012. It doesn’t say anything about them saying the end of the world. And I think most people are making this story up to get people to do stupid things like the y2k and 6/6/06 where then they thought the end of world would come then but it didn’t.

Why do people think the world is going to end in 2012? Who cares what the Mayan Calendar says?

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Question:
Isn’t there no proof that the world is going to end in 2012?

According to scientists and astronomers, is the earth going to experience a polar shift in 2012?

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Question:
Has there ever been an apocalyptic prophecy with as much credibility? Does the Winter Solstice 2012/Mayan end of the world Prophecy have any validity?