1) Do you think this will be the year we will have conclusive, irrefutable proof that any of the “evidence” of extra-terrestrial existence makes at least the technologies of other civilizations (if not the little green men themselves—or Klingons or Wookies) an established fact?
2) If we conclude #1 is “TRUE” so what? What difference will it or should it make to our efforts to communicate? To our Space Force (will that survive regime change?) to protect us from Aliens of ill intent? And how would this new “fact” fit into your grand cosmology of how humans fit into the Big Picture?
👽 I’ll probably leave my own response in a comment. Please feel free to do the same. Or write something elsewhere and drop the link in a comment. May the Force be with you. 🪐
1. No. Although I 100% believe intelligent life is out there - I don't think it's ever contacted us, on purpose or by accident of us picking up a signal. Also, if the govt. had that kind of proof I think we'd have known by their actions. The lack of interest in the space program since the Apollo program shut down suggests we aren't worried about anybody that may be out there.
It seems like if a remote civilization could send occupied vehicles into our atmosphere, they could surely send out energies as communications or otherwise that we would have detected by now. OTOH I'm not sure our space program lack of activity is related to anything other than a faltering global economy and a step back from excellence in science--which, for its own sake, is no longer interesting to the masses.
I think it might because if they are traveling across galaxies, they are way ahead of us. Their technologies for civilization building, communications--and for war--outpace ours by orders of magnitude. And since WE are a bellicose species, I suppose we assume others will be also?
Being ahead of us in technology does not automatically apply confrontation in my mind. Just the opposite. When they see the pathetic lives many are living on earth, they may want to help. I hope as we get smarter we can think more about helping others.
Interesting take: the assumption that vastly greater power might be used to assist rather than usurp or destroy. Since many must assume a Darwinian universe, what's in it for them? No kin selection; no mutualism since we are so puny. We have nothing to offer--except a round rock of resources they might exploit, with humanity's extirpation as collateral damage for the greater good of Tralfamador.
Are we to assume other universes do not have intrinsic problems? We can't keep up with the needs of U.S. people. Maybe this contributes to why we don't waste resources exploiting weaker countries, who have resources we could use.
1. No. Although I 100% believe intelligent life is out there - I don't think it's ever contacted us, on purpose or by accident of us picking up a signal. Also, if the govt. had that kind of proof I think we'd have known by their actions. The lack of interest in the space program since the Apollo program shut down suggests we aren't worried about anybody that may be out there.
It seems like if a remote civilization could send occupied vehicles into our atmosphere, they could surely send out energies as communications or otherwise that we would have detected by now. OTOH I'm not sure our space program lack of activity is related to anything other than a faltering global economy and a step back from excellence in science--which, for its own sake, is no longer interesting to the masses.
When speaking of other civilizations on other planets we seem to always go to "protecting" ourselves from these aliens. Why is that?
I think it might because if they are traveling across galaxies, they are way ahead of us. Their technologies for civilization building, communications--and for war--outpace ours by orders of magnitude. And since WE are a bellicose species, I suppose we assume others will be also?
Being ahead of us in technology does not automatically apply confrontation in my mind. Just the opposite. When they see the pathetic lives many are living on earth, they may want to help. I hope as we get smarter we can think more about helping others.
Interesting take: the assumption that vastly greater power might be used to assist rather than usurp or destroy. Since many must assume a Darwinian universe, what's in it for them? No kin selection; no mutualism since we are so puny. We have nothing to offer--except a round rock of resources they might exploit, with humanity's extirpation as collateral damage for the greater good of Tralfamador.
Are we to assume other universes do not have intrinsic problems? We can't keep up with the needs of U.S. people. Maybe this contributes to why we don't waste resources exploiting weaker countries, who have resources we could use.