The point I was making is that the modern assumption is that simply based on the odds and the number of stars there must be other intelligent life at there but since we have no idea what the odds of intelligent life developing are we really don't know how likely it is. If look at our planets we have had life here for about 3.8 billion years and it took most of that just to get beyond the single cell. Even after we developed multi cellular life it took another billion years to get us.
I agree with all of that. The biggest point that I totally agree with is on a universe scale, the window for civilization is less than a blink. Like you said, on a planet capable of sustaining life and all the stars are aligned (HA!) and all that, it took billions of years to get to human, and the extremely brief "blaze of glory" window is practically nothing compared to the time it took to get there.
If we look at all the tens of millions of species that did develop and the fact that only three developed real intelligence and two of those went extinct I think the evidence points intelligence being a very occurrence.
We like to assume others are there because it makes us feel better but I think that until proven otherwise we should assume we are alone and truly rare and unique occurrence. We shouldn't waste what could be the universes only shot at sentience.
We like to assume others are there because it makes us feel better but I think that until proven otherwise we should assume we are alone and truly rare and unique occurrence. We shouldn't waste what could be the universes only shot at sentience.
Somewhat agree with some of it. I definitely wouldn't say that we are the universe's only shot at sentience. It happened in the solar system, it can happen somewhere else someday. It would be safer to say that humanity will not encounter intelligent aliens.
An interesting thought I had that may be worth discussion.
- 29/09/2011 07:22:01 PM
743 Views
I definitely agree with the first part.
- 29/09/2011 08:32:33 PM
572 Views
why do you think only those options would be available?
- 29/09/2011 08:35:53 PM
424 Views
Well just look at the history of Earth. And the cultural/advancement disparity would be FAR greater. *NM*
- 29/09/2011 08:58:52 PM
158 Views
Could be cultural domination.
- 29/09/2011 09:32:18 PM
441 Views
In one particular space opera, it's a mix and probably the best situation possible for humans.
- 29/09/2011 10:21:42 PM
586 Views
Unless their advancement is so great they are VERY ethically enlightened, her fears seem valid.
- 30/09/2011 03:04:40 AM
488 Views
I think I've met a few aliens...
- 30/09/2011 01:31:55 AM
430 Views
Those know it all holier than thou all powerful vegan aliens are SO annoying.
- 30/09/2011 06:40:30 AM
408 Views
The big issue is energy density, IMHO.
- 30/09/2011 02:53:39 AM
509 Views
That's so perfect. 
- 30/09/2011 06:43:31 AM
449 Views
- 30/09/2011 06:43:31 AM
449 Views
I still agree with the view they are unlikley to intentionally punish us.
- 30/09/2011 09:35:13 AM
429 Views
We really have no idea how rare advance technologies societies are
- 30/09/2011 02:00:56 PM
549 Views
That's a really good point.
- 30/09/2011 04:34:28 PM
461 Views
The doomsdays options don't really hold up well though
- 30/09/2011 05:22:57 PM
477 Views
hmmm
- 30/09/2011 07:51:42 PM
335 Views
Yeah but that's just a variant of "Highly advanced aliens who for some reason are totally stupid"
- 30/09/2011 10:21:34 PM
556 Views
I didn't mean to imply that were not talking to us because they looked down on us
- 01/10/2011 01:07:02 AM
502 Views
Re: I didn't mean to imply that were not talking to us because they looked down on us
- 01/10/2011 02:50:42 AM
498 Views
of course I can't say, that was my point
- 30/09/2011 07:42:55 PM
426 Views
I was totally agreeing with you until I wasn't.
- 30/09/2011 08:09:08 PM
560 Views
Re: If life formed, why might there not be fossil fuels equivalent to, or greater than, our own? *NM*
- 01/10/2011 03:16:23 AM
229 Views