[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Thor

Think of the variables, gravity, temperature, comets/cosmic collisions, and 100's of other things that could have drastically changed evolution of intelligent life.

Well thats definitely a point being debated, extremophiles can exist in extreme heat/cold and in very toxic enviornments. Question is on such a harsh planet could anything evolve beyond the very simple structure we find on earth of these extremeophiles.

That's precisely what I'm saying. It could be that the more complex life (or a life form) becomes, the more it evolves in one direction. I mean, think of Earth examples. You get more strangeness, and more variety, in the simpler creatures, the smaller ones, the ones that rely on their brains less. You get things that CAN survive without oxygen, without water, in heat, cold and radiation. But, as far as we know, they remain very simple in structure.

Plus you have to factor in that higher life forms will use tools. For them to use tools they would have to develop structures at least slightly similar to us in terms of appendages and brains. Now I understand, they will form their tools based on how their bodies evolved, not vice versa. Something that evolved with pincers, would have tools suited for them. But if they've conquered space travel, it's safe to assume they've created and worked with tools for a long time. And would bare at least a little resembelance to us in that respect. (Unless of curse you're going all out there with energy beings or thought beings or whatever, and in that case, we probably wouldn't be aware of them anyway)

Originally Posted by Thor

We can take some queues from our own evolution and that of our planets micro organisms and fauna. We have some idea of what certain conditions would favor in terms of evolution, temperatures, etc..

But wouldn't that make what I was saying more likely?

Originally Posted by Thor

With the vast size of the universe its very possible if there is plentiful life all around it that there are somewhat similar beings to us, but likely they will have very few things in common with us other than intelligence.

Agree, I just see both trains of thought as possibilities with their own merit. I can definitely see it either way.

Originally Posted by Thor

I don't discount any of those possibilities, I just in the frame of this debate am talking about the obvious coincidence the aliens people describe seeing are all very human like and I think most people who are skeptical agree that's a sure sign of them being false claims.

True enough. It is easier to make up what you're familiar with. Doesn't mean the underlying idea behind it is poor though. But I agree, could mean they are probably lying, (or just confused and fooling themselves).

Originally Posted by Thor

I agree, and yeah I don't buy the idea they would not contact us if they came all this way, nor would Roswell be likely considering IF aliens could come all this way using such amazing technology to do it, I doubt they'd then crash into our planet.

Haha kinda like driving all the way home from Montreal without incident and then hitting your next door neighbour as he backs out of his driveway? Could happen... But yeah, a craft that can withstand faster than light travel or the stress of a wormhole type rip, could probably take a puny earth electrical storm.