Because they build weird temples... duh!!

I'm pretty sure the prophecies in the context of 'the end' are not about 'the world' but about either 'humanity on Earth' (humanity as in 'the human species' which is not the same as 'intelligent life on Earth' because depending on your viewpoint there are quite some intelligent species out on our planet such as micro-organisms ) or 'planet Earth'.

Now, if this 'humanity on Earth' ends on 21 December 2012 A.D., the year 2012 A.D. was not completed on Earth, therefore arguably not 'real'. So those who believe in the Maya prophecy, before the miscalculation should not reply yes to the thread title question.

My opinion: The Earth has survived rough times previously. It may very well get through rough times again for example a time where the dominating species become extinct. Why would a cycle of life and death not exist on this layer? Why would symbiosis not work around? The theory goes life started with micro-organisms such as Amoebe, and later bacteria and coral.

..but 2012 itself is a buzzword; FUD. Like '2000', or 'terrorism'. The threat is much smaller than seems (in our society the chance is bigger you get struck by lightning or car accident than die because of terrorism).

Human life on Earth is doomed to extinction sooner or later, but the reason this happens is based on reasoning (which we may or may not understand) not based on the prophecy of a cult(ure)/religion. Such is pretty much an appeal to authority. So what matters is the reasoning behind the theory.

One should note the Mayan prophecy does not state 'the end', and from a philosophical point of view 'there is no end' because every 'end' is also a 'beginning'. From food you take from the Earth to the poo you give back to the Earth or the dumb egoism of humanity destroying the Earth, the ecosystem manages itself, and is very much more intelligent than the inhabitants

AFAIK the Mayan prophecy states 'the end of Age of Pisces' and 'the begin of Age of Aquarius' which is based on ancient astrological cult(ure)/religion, observation of the sky, mathematics. It is interesting to note these people were not 'dumb' because in order to build such pyramids you must have architecture knowledge, you must have organizational skills, you must have manpower, you must have mathematics. Interestingly, one can find similar characteristics in structures of what is now known as Egypt. Actually, you can even find references to astrology in modern religions, modern cities, modern architectures.

However 1) that doesn't mean these observations were credible or not. 2) Personally, I've never seen credible astrology. YMMV. 3) (And now it comes...) All the interpretations are nothing more or less than interpretations, and all of them include tons of assumptions or are based on one unproven or shaky premise! Scientists such as NASA OTOH say there is no increased threat human life on Earth will end on 2012. Which is precisely why I believe these people who are talking about 2012 in that context, and selling books about it are merely trying to create their own cult/religion, and make a quick bang out of it. The more interesting research about the Mayan culture is snowed under all this hoompa BS, conspiracies, and mass psychosis.