Do you think we should attempt contact with aliens?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of whether humanity should attempt to contact extraterrestrial civilizations. Participants explore various perspectives on the implications, feasibility, and historical context of such efforts, touching on both speculative and practical aspects of the topic.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that contacting aliens could be safe if targeting stars similar to or younger than the Sun, while others express skepticism about the existence of advanced civilizations within 500 light years.
  • One participant notes that previous broadcasts, such as 'Howdy Doody', have already sent messages into space, raising concerns about how such communications might be perceived by extraterrestrial beings.
  • There is mention of METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence) as an organization focused on sending messages to potential extraterrestrial intelligences.
  • Some argue that the topic is largely speculative and may not yield practical benefits, viewing the discussion as a waste of time despite its interesting nature.
  • A participant humorously speculates about the potential for a future encounter with aliens, suggesting that communication might be hindered by vast time gaps between messages.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions, with no clear consensus on whether contacting aliens is advisable or practical. Some emphasize the speculative nature of the discussion, while others highlight the historical context of previous communications.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the uncertainty surrounding the existence of advanced civilizations and the implications of attempting contact, with some expressing doubts about the feasibility of meaningful communication across vast time scales.

spacefan
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I would like to know your opinion about this.

Do you think we should try to contact aliens?

I think it's safe as long as we choose stars as old as the Sun or younger.

I also think that, if a nearby civilization hasn't contacted with us yet, it's probably because they don't have the means to do so.

Actually, according to Claudio Maccone, there are probably no advanced civilizations within 500 light years.

There is an organization called METI, that tries to message extraterrestrial intelligence. More info here.
 
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It's all speculation and if you ask 10 different people, you'll get 11 different opinions with emphasis on different aspects of the whole thing. Personally, I think it can be interesting speculation but as a practical matter it's a waste of time.
 
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We've already, albeit somewhat inadvertently, messaged the whole Universe ever since the first episodes of 'Howdy Doody' being broadcast in UHF, so let's please hope that 'they' like USA TV.
 
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While funding remained erratic, as Carl Sagan indicates*, NASA and other agencies have run SETI programs for decades. Not all projects involved passive listening. We have transmitted coded signals into space along with radiating "I Love Lucy" re-runs before cable TV predominated.

That bird has flown.​
The die is cast.​
That ship has sailed.​
The cat ("meorrw") is out of the bag.​

*re: Sagan's novel and film and popular astronomy show.
 
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Someday a flying saucer will land on the National Mall, loudpeakers will engage, and we will hear a booming Cuban-accented voice, "Lucy...I'm home!"
 
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phinds said:
It's all speculation and if you ask 10 different people, you'll get 11 different opinions with emphasis on different aspects of the whole thing. Personally, I think it can be interesting speculation but as a practical matter it's a waste of time.

Beeeep! :mad:
 
sysprog said:
We've already, albeit somewhat inadvertently, messaged the whole Universe ever since the first episodes of 'Howdy Doody' being broadcast in UHF, so let's please hope that 'they' like USA TV.

The aliens are going to think we are some weird beings if all they see is howdy doody.
 
Hi Flatland:

My opinion for a variety of subtle reasons: Communication with distant aliens cannot do the people of Earth any more harm than not communicating with them, if any such beings actually exist.

Regards,
Buzz
 
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spacefan said:
there are probably no advanced civilizations within 500 light years
If true, I'm not convinced that "communication" is possible.

Us: AD2020: "Hey there!"
...
...
Them AD3020: "Wazzup!"
Us: AD3020: "Hey cool, how you guyz doing?"
...
...
Them: AD4020: "What?"
 

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