(September 22, 2011 at 3:27 am)Napoleon Wrote: So you seriously think in a universe so uncomprehendibly massive we are the only life out there? Look at the multitude of life on our planet alone. BILLIONS of species.

Forgive me for nitpicking on this, Nap, but actually there is no word like "uncomprehendibly." It should be spelled as "incomprehensibly."

(September 22, 2011 at 3:27 am)Napoleon Wrote: I think it's actually ridiculous to think aliens don't exist.

For you, yes, it is ridiculous to think that aliens don't exist. But that doesn't mean that they do exist, either. Their existence is a question of probability and different people will come up with different estimations. I myself think that it is about 50% likely that intelligent life exists outside of our planet. In other words, I'm in the middle. Maybe they exist or maybe they don't. And I don't think you will disagree with this at all.

On the other hand, however, I've also read in an article that the probability of their existence could be very low according to a mathematical model:

Quote:ScienceDaily (Apr. 19, 2008) — Is there anybody out there? Probably not, according to a scientist from the University of East Anglia. A mathematical model produced by Prof Andrew Watson suggests that the odds of finding new life on other Earth-like planets are low, given the time it has taken for beings such as humans to evolve and the remaining life span of Earth.

Continued here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/200...110124.htm

The difficulties in finding extraterrestrial civilizations are immense. Firstly, the vastness of space. Secondly, the amount of time a civilization might be broadcasting signals is relatively short. For example, the Earth is near silent at this point, and 50 years ago we were pretty much a church bell constantly going off (the way we transmit data has changed greatly). So, it's a bit like playing Marco Polo in a stadium with only one call and response. The whole time we're likely to be moving yet farther away from each other. Even more troubling is the thought that to cross interstellar space a civilization would have command of technology that could easily be leveraged to destroy itself. The more time we go without a signal, the worse our own survival odds become (this is assuming that other civilizations could have existed, or may exist).

All in all a fun thing to discuss.

I prefer to go the route of questioning the vast technological superiority in the first place. Perhaps aliens are just parasites riding in the belly of a "living ship" that they domesticated, rather than created. Such is the beauty of fantasy.

Finding life elsewhere and finding alien civilizations are entirely different things. Also, finding life and whether or not life existed are different subjects entirely Rayaan. If the candle burns out on earth, and somebody comes poking, they wont find us, but we will have been here, eh? Life arose very early in earth's history (this was surprising to the scientific establishment at first). Since we only have our own example to draw conclusions from, the odds that life can or would have arose on a planet similar to our own are pretty damn good (barring some unknown or misunderstood mechanism). On the other hand, having only our own earth as a sample size is pretty weak.

Little gray men and spaceships, pretty damn low. But super high on fun.

I think it's pretty much statistically impossible that we are the only life to have ever existed in the universe, or even this galaxy, when you consider how many planets there are likely to be.

Whether we'll ever find another one or not - pass. Literally impossible to tell because we don't know how technology will develop.

Regarding the OP, is it any surprise that somebody who describes themselves as 'spiritual' is generally credulous? Probably believes in voodoo as well.

Lets see ....

Where can I put three more posts to get my 2000 Medal. Oh, here's a useless thread.

(September 22, 2011 at 9:47 am)Rhythm Wrote: Finding life elsewhere and finding alien civilizations are entirely different things. Also, finding life and whether or not life existed are different subjects entirely Rayaan.

I agree with you. Those are two important distinctions.

There may exist life elsewhere but the probability that they are an advanced alien civilization is less likely - and the probability of us finding them - is even lower.

Finding an advanced alien civilisation would be both cool and scary.

The meeting of advanced civilitsations with less advanced ones does not have a good track record for the less advanced ones.

(September 22, 2011 at 12:40 pm)downbeatplumb Wrote: Finding an advanced alien civilisation would be both cool and scary.

The meeting of advanced civilitsations with less advanced ones does not have a good track record for the less advanced ones.

True....

(September 22, 2011 at 4:32 am)Rayaan Wrote: Forgive me for nitpicking on this, Nap, but actually there is no word like "uncomprehendibly." It should be spelled as "incomprehensibly."

Whatever dude, I was pissed out my brains when I made that post. Surprised I managed to string together a half decent sentence.

Quote:

(September 22, 2011 at 3:27 am)Napoleon Wrote: I think it's actually ridiculous to think aliens don't exist.

For you, yes, it is ridiculous to think that aliens don't exist.

Thanks that's what I said.

Quote:But that doesn't mean that they do exist, either.

I know, and that's why I didn't say that

Quote:Their existence is a question of probability and different people will come up with different estimations. I myself think that it is about 50% likely that intelligent life exists outside of our planet. In other words, I'm in the middle. Maybe they exist or maybe they don't. And I don't think you will disagree with this at all.

I understand that it is rather hard to put an estimate on the probability, but I personally cannot see how we can be the only living things in the universe. The diversity of life on this planet, the size of the universe itself, life can often survive in very harsh environments, we have already proved we can create life in an extraterestrial environment, all these things don't just mean jack squat. Sure you can't say for sure, but it's more fucking evidence than for a god, yet you still believe that don't you?

Quote:On the other hand, however, I've also read in an article that the probability of their existence could be very low according to a mathematical model:

Quote:ScienceDaily (Apr. 19, 2008) — Is there anybody out there? Probably not, according to a scientist from the University of East Anglia. A mathematical model produced by Prof Andrew Watson suggests that the odds of finding new life on other Earth-like planets are low, given the time it has taken for beings such as humans to evolve and the remaining life span of Earth.

Continued here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/200...110124.htm

Rayaan there are I reckon just as many if not more studies made which suggests that the probability of alien life is very high. In fact I'd be willing to bet that the vast majority of scientists think it's more likely than not that aliens exist.

I think a better question than is there intelligent life out there is would an hypothetical, intelligent alien race see us as anything more than a virus infecting the universe. Even if said race was not hostile or violent, would they really want to take the chance that the stupidity and violence that dominates the human race could spread beyond the Earth?

It is highly likely that an advanced race would see us as a stain upon the universe, ready to spread its influence, and it would decide to nip the problem in the bud.

(September 22, 2011 at 1:26 pm)Faith No More Wrote: I think a better question than is there intelligent life out there is would an hypothetical, intelligent alien race see us as anything more than a virus infecting the universe. Even if said race was not hostile or violent, would they really want to take the chance that the stupidity and violence that dominates the human race could spread beyond the Earth?

It is highly likely that an advanced race would see us as a stain upon the universe, ready to spread its influence, and it would decide to nip the problem in the bud.

You are rying to think like an alien. there is no possible way you could know what an aliens thought process would be like.

Just as you cannot really know what a wolves thought process are like.
if you try to empathise you are just thinking what a human would in that situation.