When did you first hear about 12-21-12, and in what context (positive or negative)?

I first heard about it around 2002-ish when reading about the work of John Mayor Jenkins and others, and most of the early stuff I read about was not doom and gloom, but actually quite positive, if memory serves me correctly.

I ask this because the date has only really gone mainstream the last 5 years or so, and the doom angle has really been pushed above all else. I get the impression that TPTB are aware of the potential positive influences surrounding this date, thus the fear and misinformation campaign. I think they have largely succeeded in completey altering, in the minds of the general population (as well as many here), what this date is really about. I believe the doom will most likely be a bust, or if does happen it will be more a creation of the fear and misinformation agenda than anything legitemately connected to the 12-21-12 date.

What do you all think?