i guess people like to be scared of the end, otherwise we wouldn't predict the "end" all the damn time.
what bothers me is the people who , like the op said, would or have killed themselves "before it to not die in the predicted date".
wtf?
even if you're a religious nut job, as far as i know, most religions are AGAINST suicide(except in special cases) , and imply a serious punishment for those that do.
so, how can you, a religious/superstitious person, afraid of going to hell, commit suicide?
when that is a sure-fire way of going to hell or even worse, remain as a ghost or other tortured spirit on earth?
wouldn't you rather, you know, wait for it to happen, and then at least be given a chance to go to heaven/whatever at the judgement moment?
as for me, i don't care, i always leave the option open, just in case, and if it happens, so be it,i'm not scared of smth like that.i'm more scared of an earthquake that might crush my house on me or a car crash or anything else that might happen any given moment of my life..