An alien extraterressial vie point

[Major Tom]

He/she/it was studying the human population. He/she/it watched all the TV media, advertisements, read newspapers and watched movies. He/she/it sent a message home the the human population is 99% black with the white population viewed as ignorant and uneducated.

[Jiminvirginia]

Got to thinking about this. We humans think that ET will be fascinated by us. Why do we assume this? On a galactic scale, with the possibility of scores of intelligent life forms we may be no more interesting than a wet sponge. Now a colony of ants? To an ET that might be worth travelling the galaxy to see.

[Vern Humphrey]

Got to thinking about this. We humans think that ET will be fascinated by us. Why do we assume this? On a galactic scale, with the possibility of scores of intelligent life forms we may be no more interesting than a wet sponge. Now a colony of ants? To an ET that might be worth travelling the galaxy to see.

Here's the problem -- we've been communicating in the Electro-magnetic spectrum for more than 100 years. If ET is within 30 light years of us, he's had time to hear us and reply -- and he hasn't. Either he isn't there, or he doesn't care.

And every year that goes by, the distance to a civilization we can communicate with increases by half a light year. We are already at the point that distance is so great that it won't matter if there's anyone out there or not -- we won't be able to communicate with them because those who send the communication will be long dead before we get a reply.

[lyman]

Here's the problem -- we've been communicating in the Electro-magnetic spectrum for more than 100 years. If ET is within 30 light years of us, he's had time to hear us and reply -- and he hasn't. Either he isn't there, or he doesn't care.

And every year that goes by, the distance to a civilization we can communicate with increases by half a light year. We are already at the point that distance is so great that it won't matter if there's anyone out there or not -- we won't be able to communicate with them because those who send the communication will be long dead before we get a reply.

whoa,


that's deep

and spot on,

maybe one day we will have warp drive, or find the spice and start to fold space, or even develop the Infinite Improbability Drive.
maybe, or maybe not

meanwhile, Bob sends a message, and better leave notes for his grandkids, or great grandkids, incase someone comes by and answers,

[Vern Humphrey]

Let's do a simple thought experiment; Assume that we established communication with another civilization a hundred years ago -- and we can understand their language. And assume we sent them a list of questions in 1919 and are just getting their answers now.

Make up a list of all the burning scientific questions of the year 1919. Then go through that list and strike out all the questions that we have since answered on our own. And strike all the questions that were based on an erroneous view of the science involved.

How many questions would you have left? Basically, none.

[Clark Howard]

" I cannot understand why earthlings who eat chicken fingers will not allow me to have cat juice".

[JB White]

Earthlings...they force their children to ingest bovine lactose. Savages!

[dogtag]

Maybe the Aliens will ask:

Can you grow lots of food on your world ?
Is there plenty of water ?
How strong is your military ?

[Vern Humphrey]

Maybe the Aliens will ask:

Can you grow lots of food on your world ?
Is there plenty of water ?
How strong is your military ?

Where are they stationed?
What kind of weapons do they have?

[RED]

What is interesting is the thought of visitors that comes to visit us from 30 light years away. If they receive a message that took 30 years to get there and decide to visit us and can travel at the speed of light it would take 30 years to get here. But according to Einstein, if you travel at the speed of light, you are traveling back in time. If that is so, they would arrive at the same instant the message was sent.

Reminds me of a Thermos bottle. It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold. How does it know the difference?

[dogtag]

Reminds me of a Thermos bottle. It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold. How does it know the difference?

It hears what you say.
When you pour hot stuff in, you say "Wow, that's hot"
And if cold, "Jeezus, that's cold"