Intelligent Life

Think about. If we truly consider ourselves intelligent life, and considering all of the information that has been presented, including hard evidence of things like the size of the universe, Earth sized planets being found far more often than expected, and the age of the Universe...

If we truly consider ourselves intelligent beings, what would our assessment of the question: Is there or has there before been intelligent life out there?

And of course the next question, if yes to the above: Have they ever come to Earth?

Well?

What's the difference between a duck?

The chances of us being the only intelligent species in the universe is slim, but at the same time it doesnt mean that there are ET's out there who are more advanced then us, they could be at the same level/just behind/just ahead of us.

People always seem to slap ET's with a label of "super advanced".

My question back is:

Why would they want to come here? Study of a backwards people? If they did come for resources or to conquer they would have done so by now.

Phage
What's the difference between a duck?

Between a duck, and...me? Quite literally nothing, I am a mallard you know.

thekaboose
The chances of us being the only intelligent species in the universe is slim, but at the same time it doesnt mean that there are ET's out there who are more advanced then us, they could be at the same level/just behind/just ahead of us.

People always seem to slap ET's with a label of "super advanced".

My question back is:

Why would they want to come here? Study of a backwards people? If they did come for resources or to conquer they would have done so by now.

I believe they would come here to assess our civilization's position in terms of technological, behavioral, progression etc. I think they would also look for potential allies in us if there is a galactic community.

If it were so, however.

reply to post by 1Providence1


I believe the universe is teaming with life of various forms.
If we can detect planets in habitable zones then a more advanced race has known about us for a very long time.

Phage
What's the difference between a duck?

reply to post by 1Providence1


What ifs are fun, but, that's why we have a Short Stories Forum that allows for all sorts of speculative "What If ... "

What ifs are fun, but, EVIDENCE is better than blind speculation.

As to the OP; in consideration of the sheer size in volume of the universe, without going into any of the spookier aspects of dimensionalities, in addition to the age of the universe, the likelihood for intelligent technological life is a fairly reasonable speculation, but, the very factors which reason in favor for other intelligent technological life somewhere out in the great grand massive ambiguity of the Universe are the very factors which make it quite very improbable that any possible intelligent technological species has ever visited Earth at any time during its 4 Billion year history, especially not any time in the last tiny razor thin slice of 10,000 years time.

AliceBleachWhite
reply to post by 1Providence1

 

What ifs are fun, but, that's why we have a Short Stories Forum that allows for all sorts of speculative "What If ... "

What ifs are fun, but, EVIDENCE is better than blind speculation.

As to the OP; in consideration of the sheer size in volume of the universe, without going into any of the spookier aspects of dimensionalities, in addition to the age of the universe, the likelihood for intelligent technological life is a fairly reasonable speculation, but, the very factors which reason in favor for other intelligent technological life somewhere out in the great grand massive ambiguity of the Universe are the very factors which make it quite very improbable that any possible intelligent technological species has ever visited Earth at any time during its 4 Billion year history, especially not any time in the last tiny razor thin slice of 10,000 years time.

Isn't a hypothesis a "What if"?

1Providence1

Isn't a hypothesis a "What if"?

The common error of the uneducated is to think that "hypothesis" out of nothing has any validity in comparison to a Scientific Hypothesis which are based on Evidence and observations through which predictions can then be made and tested.

It's the same thing with "Theory", where Scientific Theory is observed as law, until sufficiently challenged toward amendment/replacement.

Blind speculation and what ifs are the province of entertainment where consideration based on a foundation of interrelated data sets in where predictions can then be made and tested makes a difference.

Phage
What's the difference between a duck?

Ducks are not measured in what's, everyone knows that, sheesh!

The answer is that one's both the same.

We hold these tooths as self evident.

1Providence1

I believe they would come here to assess our civilization's position in terms of technological, behavioral, progression etc. I think they would also look for potential allies in us if there is a galactic community.

If it were so, however.

I think they would study us, study our evolution.

Put yourself in their shoes, you're part of a futuristic highly advanced and evolved race. Think of them as like beings from the end of A.I., super evolved, beyond the need for speech, transcended passions and explosive emotions.

However you remember learning from your history implants in your brain (that's how I decided they learn) of the ancients Zarlocks (Also I've decided they're called Zarlocks), Zarlocks, who once fought each other over land, who deceived people, even poisoned themselves for FUN! How amazing would it be to see a day in the life, it would be different and wonderful! A perfect way to see how life was and has got to where it is.

Imagine if we could go back and see a day in Ancient Greece, or watch the Egyptians build the pyramids (with perhaps a bit of help from the Zarlocks ).

If they wanted to conquer, they would have ages a go, if they wanted resources, we would know them so we could trade, however, regardless, we can only assume they must be quite scientifically minded, the opportunity to watch a sentient race develop can not be that common.

boncho

Phage
What's the difference between a duck?

Howard you know, Bonch?

reply to post by iRoyalty

I think they would study us, study our evolution.

Why?

Put yourself in their shoes, you're part of a futuristic high advanced and evolved race. Think of them as like beings from the end of A.I., super evolved, beyond the need to speech, transcended passions and explosive emotions.

In which case they've been though all the crap we're going through. So the only motive would be to "help" us along. But if they were so advanced they would know that such help wouldn't actually be help because the only way to learn anything is by doing it.

So...now what? They have a sadistic fascination with watching less advanced civilizations self destruct?

Neat.

thekaboose
The chances of us being the only intelligent species in the universe is slim, but at the same time it doesnt mean that there are ET's out there who are more advanced then us, they could be at the same level/just behind/just ahead of us.

Math says otherwise. Most of the universe is older than us. The chances of meeting anyone at just our level are very, very small.

People always seem to slap ET's with a label of "super advanced".

Having a billion or more years head start would tend to mean most of anyone out there is going to be older than us.

Phage
reply to post by iRoyalty

 

I think they would study us, study our evolution.

Why?

Put yourself in their shoes, you're part of a futuristic high advanced and evolved race. Think of them as like beings from the end of A.I., super evolved, beyond the need to speech, transcended passions and explosive emotions.

In which case they've been though all the crap we're going through. So the only motive would be to "help" us along. But if they were so advanced they would know that such help wouldn't actually be help because the only way to learn anything is by doing it.

So...now what? They have a sadistic fascination with watching less advanced civilizations self destruct?

Neat.

There is another possibility.

These days they seem to be more interested in 'probing' and coring out rectums.

Oh, and messing with our heads because, you know, lulz!

reply to post by JadeStar

Having a billion or more years head start would tend to mean most of anyone out there is going to be older than us.

Or dead.
A billion is a whole lot of years.

thekaboose

Why would they want to come here? Study of a backwards people? If they did come for resources or to conquer they would have done so by now.

In a universe of vast resources and vast energy there is nothing on Earth an advanced alien species would need nor want except perhaps what might be the rarest thing in the universe: Distinct culture and unique individual experiences.

Being able to download our entire history and the memories of all 7 billion people on Earth would probably be childsplay to a Type II or late Type I civilization.

Phage
reply to post by JadeStar

 

Having a billion or more years head start would tend to mean most of anyone out there is going to be older than us.

Or dead.
A billion is a whole lot of years.

edit on 2/13/2014 by Phage because: (no reason given)

They can't all be dead.

What could possibly kill a civilization that is a few million years older than us? Its hard to imagine they'd still be stuck to their home star system much less planet of origin.

Once you're a multiple planet species you're much more likely to survive.

reply to post by JadeStar

Several assumptions at play of course.
Why assume a single billion year old civilization? Why assume they get along?