Hey! Sorry if I'm not posting this in the correct place, I just joined the site.
Welcome, and yes, there are better boards for this kind of post. We'll move it to Misc in a moment (ideally when you see this response, lest we get a 'where did my post go?' post).
so why do these people keep setting a certain date even though they'll just be proven wrong and end up looking like absolute idiots?
Why do you continue to support a sports team that doesn't improve? Why do you continue to listen to unsuccessful musicians? Faith goes places, especially if you invest a good chunk of your life and/or wealth towards it. If you've just dropped a well paying job for a unnecessary survival shelter, how soon would you confess to being wrong?
Also, is it normal to accept all of the facts on this site on a logical level yet still be worried about the actual date?
If we judge 'normal' solely on the types of people we see posting here, then yes, certainly is. That niggling doubt, that ever present 'what if'… but there's just no need for it.
I will know it's the 21st not because of a fear for what it means, not because of an interest for the solstice, not even because of the numerous calendars I stare at every day at pay little attention to, but because one of the first things I get round to reading on any given day is the contents of this forum, and the inevitable bombardment of posts along the lines of 'It's the 21st and nothings happened'. I couldn't even tell you it was a Friday without opening up the Calendar right now, it just doesn't mean anything to me. Though Fridays tend to have good TV, so maybe it does.
If you actively think about a given date, and in turn what bizarre meaning people have applied to it, you're more likely to be in a mindset of dreading it, even if you know the Earth won't split in two or whatever. Just like looking forward to a driving test or check up at the dentist, I guess. Your car (or mouth) is unlikely to explode, yet still you fear it.