My thought is that on the face of it, this hasn’t happened before. Why would someone just throw this out there? It’s just one more thing for brittle people to obsess over.
Over the last few years, I have noticed a number of articles heralding what could possibly happen, even if the chances of it happening were almost infinitesimal.
Some of the programming on the cable channels fits this description well. One of my favorites is the new fascination with December 21st, 2012.
Why do they play this stuff up.
I know this doesn’t answer your question. It’s just what occurs to me. I think it’s a valid observation.
Why has the discoveries of science always awed mankind? Especially when it talks of things that overwhelm our wee powers?
I guess the answer would be similar to why do people like to get frights at Halloween?
Hunger for the transcendent in the absence of a God faith, maybe....