Dangers of 2012 Conspiracies

Recently I have found myself drawn to the 2012 forums and as that day approaches more and more people on ATS will start to read it. Not only that but our membership is going to sky rocket with people who want to fill themselves with all the 2012 information they can get their hands on. We on ATS have to recognise this and as a result be responsible in the information we give these people. Above all else we should be aware that these people will most probably be fearing what they think of as being a impending doomsday.

As fearful people write threads and fearful people respond and this fear we are only going to multiply the fear and this could have dire consequences. My primary fear is a ATS suicide pact, or even such a group becoming associated with ATS. What is ATS as a whole going to look like the day after if we find out that 50 of our members have gone through with a suicide pact based on what they have read on this site? I don’t want people thinking I am saying that it will be the blame of ATS, rather that we should be mindful of this possibility when writing our threats. It is reasonable to expect this is going to happen, people may commit suicide based on the 2012 conspiracies they have read about on this.

This has happened before in the case of the 1997 Heaven’s Gate UFO religion were in a mass suicide pact 39 members of the group killed themselves. I we should expect the same to happen after 2012, we should be making every effort to discourage anything like this. As it stands these threads are full of scare mongering, we need more threads being sceptical of 2012 to bring some balance to the argument.

I do not know what is going to happen on 21/21/12 nor am I going to pretend to. The word might end, then again it could end tomorrow for all i know. Does anybody else agree with me or hold similar fears?




[edit on 30-7-2010 by kevinunknown]

reply to post by kevinunknown


I have wondered about this, too. After reading some of those threads, I do think there are people out there who will believe anything.

You can see comments from people who are truely upset, and who have bought the whole 2012 scenario, just based on what they have read on ATS. Scary!

I had to laugh while visiting my parents just before Y2K. My Mom, who never talks about conspiracy theories, had hoarded all sorts of food, and jugs of water all over the house!

It was great fun, teasing the heck out of her for years to come, after that one!

I have no idea what, if anything, will happen. But I think as the date draws nearer, food companies, insurance companies, the Government, etc. will start fear mongering more. I think there is a good chance that fuel, non-perishable food items, medications and other commodities will sky-rocket in price. If nothing happens, probably all will return to normal within a few weeks. But rest assured, there are going to be those individuals and companies who will try to capitalize on it and make a quick buck. As BlancaRose stated about her mother, I'm sure lots of people, starting around the middle of next year, will start doing the same thing.

I know in the past the suicide pact has been an issue. I have never even considered it being one for the 2012 Doomsday conspiracy though. It seems absurd but I suppose that's just my mindset.

I don't know what will happen come 2012. I can't imagine that anyone really knows for sure. But to have a suicide pact on it ... Well, I would have to assume that these individuals have some sort of mental issues to decide on something like this.

But you can't stop people from posting about it. It's an area of interest to many. Nor can anyone say for every doom & gloom thread there needs to be a positive one. As the time gets closer, we'll see many more of them spring up. Though, there's a problem when someone makes a thread about it and then others jump in with no real logical observations just outright calling the ones worried stupid or something of the likes. It can get ugly at times.

As far as a solution, I don't know. Maybe a disclaimer saying to basically to take it with a grain of salt. (Which everyone should be doing anyway) and maybe a link to a suicide hotline or something of the sorts.

I really don't want to see people not being able to handle this. What a sad waste it would be.

Just my 2 cents

I condone this suicide pact if that is the "easy way out" that some see as the only answer, but clearly ATS has enough pro and con where such a dreadful thing is less likely.

Personally I feel the up-and-coming suicides will be the ones who cannot cope the moment the dollar is gone. I know the dollar is already defunct, but I mean when it is done: I can see a day when the dollar is sewn in the holes of tattered clothing to keep them together. I can even name several people close to me that would opt out because they fear financial loss so tremendously.

Seriously, anyone who puts food away, stores water, and eliminates debt is someone that is not thinking suicide! To "tease someone for years to come" over such a thing is sick and demented.

I never was a part of Y2K internally; no part of it moved me to fear because long before that I began giving away anything of value. I did not want to own anything. I did not want to owe anything. I literally wanted to become a non-person. It was in 1993 when I first became debt-free, and I walked into 2000 debt-free. I am still completely debt-free.

If anything ATS will save a few lives. The validation of others outweighs the negative input from some members on ATS. Sometimes just knowing that we are not alone in our "craziness" we are better able to face those fears. Unless I am missing something I do not think I have even seen any posts that have solicited 'suicide pacts', or suicide in general, nor do I see any 'cult' activity going on.

Originally posted by Greensage

Seriously, anyone who puts food away, stores water, and eliminates debt is someone that is not thinking suicide! To "tease someone for years to come" over such a thing is sick and demented.

My Mom even had to laugh at herself. It was funny. I went to use the bathroom at her house, and found, I kid ya not, 50 gallon containers of water, plus the bathtub was full. I guess you had to see it for yourself!

It's been about 10 years, and I'm sure she still has cans of greenbeans!

I hate to sound too terribly callous about this, but I don't think it should be encumbant upon anyone here to post anything by way of warnings or disclaimers regarding end-times prophecy. Let us go about our business, and for those weak-minded enough to enter into suicide pacts, let Darwinism take its course.

i find the only thing scary about 2012 is other people not voicing there thoughts, the silent one's make me nervous, what are they up too? and why do they buy ammo by the truck load?

reply to post by Legion2112


Let me ask you a hypothetical question, how would you feel if you wrote a thread, in this thread you claimed to have proved that the world was about to end and the 2012 crowd were right all along. Then you find out the next day that a group of people read your thread and killed themselves before the impending apocalypse.

reply to post by kevinunknown



Why do I get the feeling, since your first post, that you are only here to somehow make a case against conspiracy theory in general and alternative subjects?

You do realize that this site is here to discuss conspiracy theory and alternative subjects?

I just don't buy that "compassion and concern" for people that might kill themselves because of a CT not comming true.

I feel it's more like subconscious insults, you know "they're all crazy, paranoid and suicidal"

What was it last week? "Conspiracy is religion"?

In fact it reminds of someone else that is always looking out for the "gullible paranoid" people, but whatever.

Just my opinion, from day one, sofar you haven't dissapointed in confirming my views.

It's good to see that almost nobody falls for it, though.

reply to post by Point of No Return


Well I did say you might hate me.......

Your post does deserve a response, I can understand why you might think I am just on hear to make a anti-conspiracy case, that is not the case. Whist yes I am very critical and sceptical of all conspiracies I know that some of them are true or have element of truth to them. I have even written a couple of my own conspiracy theories on this site and I intend to write more. I however am quite moderate, I don’t really go for the UFO’s, NWO, 9/11, paranormal and 2012 conspiracies.

Quite interesting that you brought up one of my threads about conspiracies being a form of religion, nice to know I am memorable. Within that thread there were quite a few people agreed with me. With regards to the “nobody is falling for it” statement, they are not falling for anything rather some are agreeing with me. Granted they are a minority most people hate what i have to say, but i don’t really care all that much. I have even had U2U’s form members confiding that they hold similar views.

With regards to this particular thread it is reasonable to assume that there is going to be some cases of suicides related to 2012 conspiracies, we have seen it happen in the past and i do fear that it will happen leading up to 21/12/12. I sincerely hope I am wrong.

Your thoughts manifest.

reply to post by EQUAL73


Do you mean that if a group of people believe something is inevitable then it will happen. So if people believe they are going to die on 21/12/12 then they will commit suicide just because they think that is how it is meant to end?

reply to post by kevinunknown


Then I would've shaken my head at the fact that people had decided to take that route, but not for a second would I have regretted posting the information. Information is what you make of it. If it compels you to action or inaction, or, in your hypothetical, mass suicide it doesn't change the fact that it's simply information.

My responsibility ends where your inability to handle bad news begins. I'd rather be informed and screwed than ignorant and blissful.

Not that it matters. Off topic I don't really give 2012 Mayan prophecy any more credence than the Book Of John. It may happen, it probably won't, and there's nothing we can do about it anyway.

reply to post by kevinunknown

I speculated just that in one of your other threads regarding 2012.

I understand your concern and agree with people being mindful when posting but people need to make educated decisions on their own. If they come here and take only the impending doom attitude from posts instead of determining some sense of reality then there are other issues at hand. The vast majority of members are adults and should have a mind that's able to think for themselves. I don't see this as much different than saying listening to Ozzy and Metallica will make you bite animal heads off and kill your parents. I've listened to both and haven't done either. Unfortunately, what you and I speculate has the potential to become true and probably will, at least somewhere in the world. But the truth is that things happen in life and everyone has to wisely choose their decisions and outcomes.

The Mayans never predicted ANYTHING for 2012..... Their calender just stops just like the other like 10 that they have just stop on random dates for no reason. There have been "predictions" of the end of days for quite a LONG time now.

And none of them have come true, and these are people that are ACTUALLY predicting the end of the world. The mayans NEVER did predict it. Look it up, it's a hoax designed for you to go out and but tons of supplies and look like fools.

All you are doing is spreading fear and becoming ignorant. Don't believe what they tell you. The people that run this world want you in constant fear. Whether it is fear or death, terrorism, end of the world, viruses, and who knows what else they will use in our future. I can't wait untill Jan 1, 2013 so I can flame up all the morons who so easily believed in this garbage.

reply to post by Reign02

Or the fear of the world ending on the wrong date. You'll be about a week and a half late waiting until January 1 to flame people as the Mayan calendar ends on December 21.

Originally posted by Reign02
The Mayans never predicted ANYTHING for 2012..... Their calender just stops just like the other like 10 that they have just stop on random dates for no reason. There have been "predictions" of the end of days for quite a LONG time now.

And none of them have come true, and these are people that are ACTUALLY predicting the end of the world. The mayans NEVER did predict it. Look it up, it's a hoax designed for you to go out and but tons of supplies and look like fools.

All you are doing is spreading fear and becoming ignorant. Don't believe what they tell you. The people that run this world want you in constant fear. Whether it is fear or death, terrorism, end of the world, viruses, and who knows what else they will use in our future. I can't wait untill Jan 1, 2013 so I can flame up all the morons who so easily believed in this garbage.

They predicted many things. Their whole calendar system is based in astrology. Not astronomy, though it was used. Every single day has a prediction of some sort.

Since we had only a single codex to study, I postulate that modern man knows very little about the correct interpetations of their calendar.

Originally posted by Three_moons
reply to post by Reign02

 

Or the fear of the world ending on the wrong date.

You'll be about a week and a half late waiting until January 1 to flame people as the Mayan calendar ends on December 21.

Yea I know when it ends..... smart@$$ I just want to be sure that 2012 ALL together is over

reply to post by sticky

I was in Mexico a couple of years ago, we visited a few of the Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula. My friend speaks fluent spanish, so I got him to ask one of the locals, who was selling callenders about the 2012 thing. The guy replied it is something westerners have come up with and has nothing to do with the end of the world. the guy basically laughed at us stupid gringos.

It was enough for me to realize the Mayan aspect to the 2012 conspiracy is complete bunk.

However, I believe 2012 doe provide the entrepreneur with some ways from making money from the gullible.