@worldnick"the point is about the vastness in relation to the amount of time life may have existed in it and our own assumptions that if we had existed that long we would have found a way to communicate at interstellar distances."Well, if they've found a way to bend the laws of physics *we* haven't so all that interstellar communication would be invisible to us anyway. We're stuck with radio which is painfully slow (when talking stellar distances), hard to aim, and far too easily lost in the noise of the universe.
If aliens are aware of our nuclear weapons. They are probably laughing their asses off that we are pointing them at ourselves. We are probably the dumbest species in galactic space. I bet their is betting going on somewhere out there on when and how we will wipe ourselves out.
AntithesisVI:Population must be viewed in two dimensions: its current number, and the next generation if all of those people breed according to the habit in their local communities. Seven billion people becomes nine in the next generation, which becomes twelve; because we are not of uniform ages, it is not a strict geometrical progression per generation, but multiple generations fit into a twenty- or fifty-year period.Earth has a finite amount of space, and that is further limited by how much space we can use before we kill off the environment responsible for our air, fresh water and food supply. Imagine if you were sealed in a room where you had to produce your own food and oxygen; two-thirds of your room would be taken up by either plants or equipment to generate oxygen and water, and you would need some way of producing food. While you might find a technological solution that takes up less of your room, you are then entirely dependent on it -- and it in turn is dependent on natural resources such as uranium and metals which must be extracted from earth. Your choice is simple: live in a world of massive impoverished groups waging war against the wealthy who live in machines, or cut back population so we can have normal lives and breathe outside without masks.We can "fit" plenty of people on earth, but their resource needs will then choke the planet, as will their land needs and the amount of waste they generate. History tells us that we cannot implement a plan to affect all people in the next generation, so we must assume the status quo will continue in most areas, with all of its attendant waste and error.
I agree for the most part but, evolution and survival of the fittest seems to lead to bio-diversity and continously upgraded complexity [in species] in the competion over resources. This isn't a "one off" process here, there having been several large scale extinction events which cleared the board but never really changed the game. The long term benefits of "intelligence" in the life game has yet to be seen.
@grimlenn Our armies are pretty small in comparison to ancient armies vs the total ratio of military to population. There are several accounts of ancient armies in the 100 000+ range, Persia, Rome, Ottomans, Etc. China had millions under arms.
hackiavelliNov 29, 2009
@worldnick"the point is about the vastness in relation to the amount of time life may have existed in it and our own assumptions that if we had existed that long we would have found a way to communicate at interstellar distances."Well, if they've found a way to bend the laws of physics *we* haven't so all that interstellar communication would be invisible to us anyway. We're stuck with radio which is painfully slow (when talking stellar distances), hard to aim, and far too easily lost in the noise of the universe.
assassyn360Nov 30, 2009
If aliens are aware of our nuclear weapons. They are probably laughing their asses off that we are pointing them at ourselves. We are probably the dumbest species in galactic space. I bet their is betting going on somewhere out there on when and how we will wipe ourselves out.
Closed AccountNov 30, 2009
AntithesisVI:Population must be viewed in two dimensions: its current number, and the next generation if all of those people breed according to the habit in their local communities. Seven billion people becomes nine in the next generation, which becomes twelve; because we are not of uniform ages, it is not a strict geometrical progression per generation, but multiple generations fit into a twenty- or fifty-year period.Earth has a finite amount of space, and that is further limited by how much space we can use before we kill off the environment responsible for our air, fresh water and food supply. Imagine if you were sealed in a room where you had to produce your own food and oxygen; two-thirds of your room would be taken up by either plants or equipment to generate oxygen and water, and you would need some way of producing food. While you might find a technological solution that takes up less of your room, you are then entirely dependent on it -- and it in turn is dependent on natural resources such as uranium and metals which must be extracted from earth. Your choice is simple: live in a world of massive impoverished groups waging war against the wealthy who live in machines, or cut back population so we can have normal lives and breathe outside without masks.We can "fit" plenty of people on earth, but their resource needs will then choke the planet, as will their land needs and the amount of waste they generate. History tells us that we cannot implement a plan to affect all people in the next generation, so we must assume the status quo will continue in most areas, with all of its attendant waste and error.
chadulDec 2, 2009
All we have to do is set up computers that can connect to the alien ansible network.
rhill938Dec 6, 2009
I agree for the most part but, evolution and survival of the fittest seems to lead to bio-diversity and continously upgraded complexity [in species] in the competion over resources. This isn't a "one off" process here, there having been several large scale extinction events which cleared the board but never really changed the game. The long term benefits of "intelligence" in the life game has yet to be seen.
jlaughDec 8, 2009
Our Star Trek conception of alien life is also based on limited costume and makeup budgets for each show.
jlaughDec 8, 2009
@grimlenn Our armies are pretty small in comparison to ancient armies vs the total ratio of military to population. There are several accounts of ancient armies in the 100 000+ range, Persia, Rome, Ottomans, Etc. China had millions under arms.
earthforce1Dec 10, 2009
Friends of yours?<a class="user" href="http://www.vhemt.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.vhemt.org/</a>
thedrewboy64Dec 15, 2009
The advanced alien beings are just following the Prime Directive.
v3rtex7740Dec 17, 2009
WE *ARE* THE ANT FARM MAN!
v3rtex7740Dec 17, 2009
well played