September 23 fear seems to be very widespread this year, 2017 (Personal observation from September 21, Washington State)

So, last night, an older person I know (he is a middle eastern man with a wife and two daughters, who has about 20-years on me), wanted to talk to me about September 23.  He heard a rumor the world was going to end through an online video and it got him a little unnerved.  Typically when I talk to this man, he is upset about the spraying of the skies, and people not seeing what is going on above their head, but right now it is the September 23 hype.  I told him if he is truly worried, the only real things he can do at this moment are mentally prepare himself if something horrific happens, and make sure he has supplies at home to take care of his family, such as water and food that doesn't require energy to prepare (dried fruits, canned fruits / vegetables / nuts / energy bars, etc.).

After I got done talking to him, I had to run to the grocery store to grab something for my girlfriend.  When I got to the store, an employee, seemingly a manager, was dealing with a homeless man in front of the store who was screaming the world was going to end September 23.  The store employee told the man she was going to have to call the police if he did not stop, or go somewhere else.

The back-to-back events got me thinking, how viral is the fear for September 23 this year?  Each year, there is doom and gloom for September 23, but it appears this year it has reached a wider audience.  The question then becomes, with so many people expecting the worst, how the does alchemic principle of "mentalism" play in?