A great example of a prophecy creating mass hysteria was the prediction of the world ending in 2012. Instead of people being skeptical, it instilled fear and panic. Los Angeles Times reported that Government agencies such as NASA received a high volume of calls in regards to the world ending in December of 2012. Who would've thought that a government agency would have to calm hundreds of people due to a misunderstanding and false prophecies? A NASA spokesperson confirmed that there were 200-300 calls a day from people around the world. It just goes to show how much fear and concern so many people had. I recall the topic of the world ending in 2012 being all over youtube and social media during that time. Like everyone else, I was also concerned and worried but glad the apocalypse never came to fruition.
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Hi Emily, The thought of a world-ending catastrophe inciting widespread terror is absolutely odd. It's interesting yet scary, how conspiracy theories and apocalypse prophecies may drive people to drastic measures such as stockpiling food or constructing bunkers. It's incredible that over half of Americans are preparing for an uncertain future. The 2012 apocalypse forecast starkly demonstrates how quickly panic can spread, overwhelming even official bodies such as NASA with anxious calls. It's a striking reminder of the significant effect such prophesies have on our collective thinking, demonstrating the great strength of shared concerns, even if they're often unfounded.
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