Was the 2012 'End of the World' Prediction Financially Successful?

No one has counted the money in the piggy bank yet, even though the whole hoopla was solely designed to sell a thrilling idea to the gullible. Books have been written on the subject, even Hollywood contributed, but what went to the 2012 account is unknown. If it wasn't for the Internet, which is becoming a junkyard of ideas which compete with ads for the screen space, the whole Mayan doomsday connection would have to buy a plenty of Viagra. The whole scenario became in its broadness a brutally stupid set of claims, but we are more or less brutally stupid species, so the blitzkrieg waged against common sense didn't suffer from logistic problems and made it all the way to December 21, 2012..

There was a slight positive side to the almost decade-long fear mongering: due to the notoriety of the issue, some folks decided to click on legitimate sources to learn at least something about the Mayan-Aztec culture.

I bet it was for many and I bet for some people it made them broke.
I just hope everyone learns from this and no one again falls for some charlatans BS.
I hope the people who conned the gullible can sleep at night and I hope what comes around goes around.

You know, If you google the Actual Mayan 2012 Prophecy, not a single one is right. So how do we even know what the actual prophecy is, right? As I understand, You don't actually read the calendar in words. I'm not sure, but it's not important for this. But the native indians? Nostradamus, who was notoriously correct and incorrect? You forget that there are some unexplainable and unconfronted experiences we all have to face, and I think with the right light, you could maybe see the mayan prophecy of "end of the way of life" as something unexplainable, so the easiest way to say it is just that "end of the way of life".

Or maybe, you just dont like the hoopla of the bandwagoning. Which, I agree. Those links should be clicked more, ESPECIALLY, in schools.

I agree that the media basically took advantage of all of the dooms-dayers but at the end of the day, the majority of people are bred to be consumers. It wont be long before there is another cash grab fad, another doomsday etc to keep the masses distracted.

Personally, I believe 2012 was a shift in consciousness. For example, growing up my family and I would watch CNN/FOX for our mainstream news source. Nowadays we can see and even prove the medias lies and corruption and all over the world people are questioning what they've been spoon fed their entire lives. That in itself is the start of something incredible.

Of course many cashed in .. there's money in fear.. even John Cusack cashed in on the whole thing in a movie called simply "2012" back in 2009 ...

Fear is money... it always will be .. you have two types of people:

1. The people who want to be afraid so they pay you money to scare them.. books, movies.
2. The gullible who don't want to be afraid so they pay you money to comfort them.. you sell them bunkers, guns, survival gear and they will always think everything is a sign of the end... living in fear for all times.

Both #1 and #2 mean money for someone..

Of course, there's also us in the #3 crowd who just don't buy into it .. and take life as it comes, living in the moment... you know, logic and evidence based people.. who use critical thinking =)

Doesn't everybody try to play on the whole end of the world bit? From the y2k backup floppies, fallout shelters of the cold war nuclear scare, to making reality shows about people who prepared for 12/21/12. We have become more aware of what is going on though, capable of sorting fact from fiction so end of the world claims are only an entertaining passing thought now. As for making money off of the subject, there will always be fear mongers that will be out to make a quick buck. The only way they can be stopped is if the people take some time research the claims, and make an educated decision. If they want to spend their savings on water filters, back up generators, dehydrated food, and rifles, what can we really do?

Man....so many people cashed in on the fear...it's a sad-sad thing really.

People are afraid of what they do not know or understand....and those that cashed in on this...I think there is a special place in Hell for people like that.

People are weak. They are uneducated. They see these "special presentations" pop up on TV and they watch them....they then think there is reason to fear. They sink lots and lots of money into protecting themselves....drives a new market....and then...poof....nothing happens.

It is not to say that being prepared is bad....but there is a definite smell here that no one can deny....it's a familiar smell....one called bullsh!t.

IF the world is going to end....do you really want to be around for that? Do you really think you are so important that you must make it through? I don't....God willing, I hope I go out in the first wave...I have no desire to live in a post apocalyptic world....those of you that do might want to get psychiatric help...you are freaking sick in the head. Why? Why be a part of suffering? To have power? Hope your power kills you...you are not well in the melon....

The end of the world crap made a lot of super duper psychopathic f'ers extremely wealthy.....why?...because the sheep threw money at them....how damn sad is that?

If the world is going to end...my goal is to be on the first wave heading out...not being some ridiculous puke left behind with a gun and a supply of food...what a prick that guy is going to be....

Great thread!

It was a money maker and I can only weep at all the other more useful items like scotch tape or aspirin that went unsold as a result.

Look at it this way:

If you want to go to an island for vacation you have to pay. So, if you wanted to ascend to the 5th dimension why not cough up a few thousand quid, bucks, franks, euros etc.... In the movie, which was more realistic than the prophecy, people paid one billion. Small change to open your heart chakra, chakra-ching.

To be serious: shame on the con-artists who fed off of fear and hope. I hope their vibration descends to the strength of a cheap message chair, the kind someone gives to the Salvation Army.

So how do we even know what the actual prophecy is, right?

What prophecy?

The end of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar is not a prophecy. There was never a "prophecy" regarding the end of the calendar. It's pretty clear why there was so much confusion and angst over this - people didn't even bother to to the base research to realize this was much ado about nothing. They believed in prophecies that didn't exist, and killer planets that never arrived, and also don't exist.

And I don't think was a "plan" to get money. Maybe a few folks made a few bucks on some books - but I think much more money was made for the year 2000 fiasco, by far.