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Originally Posted by Thor
That kind of thinking? Its just facts, the signals that could be detected by alien advanced species didn't start broadcasting since the 30's into space, calculating the speed of that sound and how far it has reached, we can tell quite accurately how many possible places 'could have heard us' by now.
Its not many 
If they find us through other means such as we don't know about certainly our chances are different, but this is just our current best guesses at us being detected in a gigantic universe where our tiny little planet has only recently starting making any noticeable noise that alien life could detect. Its what we are doing with SETI, just the reverse. |
What I'm saying is that just because we haven't figured out other forms of communication or detection doesn't mean they haven't. I'm saying that it is very naive to think that we weren't detectable before we invented radio. Who knows if they haven't got telescopes that can see evidence of life from afar?
The comparison to flat earth is a comparison to clinging to what we know and not entertaining what is possible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thor
We used to have a theory on life on other planets roughly called the three bears planet, not too hot, not too cold, just right  It was roughly that we needed a large gas giant like Jupiter to keep us safe, right distance from a sun, water, etc..
But when we started looking at life closer on earth, found extremophiles which can live in 'extreme' (duh) conditions we realized the potential for life on other planets goes up a ton. Europa is a prime candidate in our own universe as it has a frozen top layer with a vast ocean below. Its got a lot of people excited about us finding life in those oceans, we'd only imagine they would be some freaky looking things that would live out there, much like we find at the depths of our oceans.
Well factors for life could be much harsher on other planets, likely is in a lot with life. So maybe they are much smaller, vertabrates, or aquatic life. Maybe their planet is in heavy fog, and they need no eyes, just use of sonar. Maybe they have 8 legs, or no legs.
The simple problem is our exact situation on earth would not ever occur on another planet, the likelyhood is infatisimaly small. Thats not to say its impossible they would have eyes, nose, or even 2 legs/2 arms.. But its still gonna like freakishly different from us. |
OK. As long as you're sure about that. I'm saying that there's no reason why they couldn't look quite similar and if they did, there;'s no reason why they couldn't assume a form that would reduce the shock.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thor
That theory is based on the idea that as a species advances it goes through stages, and at a point where you are so advanced to travel the great expanse of space you would have already been through all the growing pains of primitave species to reach that point.
Again who knows, maybe its wishfull thinking that we expect them to be peaceful, I mean they could look at humans the same we we look at rats |
Well that's a nice theory, but if you look at our evolution you'll see that it hasn't come anywhere close to that. yet we have the capability to destroy ourselves and most of life on earth. And some would even have you believe that there are people out there trying to do just that.
So no, technological brilliance hasn't gotten us any nearer to (as JL put it) A Brotherhood of Man.