Off-Topic :
Fairfax Underground
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"But Drake said scientists at SETI were excited by the possibility of using lasers to send super-bright flashes of light into space for a tiny fraction of a second. The flashes could theoretically be seen up by an advanced civilization up to 1,000 light years away, and Tarter said infrared versions of the devices could possibly send beams even further."
I don't think this is a great idea. What if one of these super-bright lasers hits an alien in the eye, blinding him? That could be an interstellar act of war.
I found the bit about mankind becoming undetectable over time due to technological advances an interesting point.
As a whole, I guess something is alien only if we define it that way. That being said, it is foolish to think that an 'alien' would only come in a humanoid form.
I read a story a while ago that a Mars Rover attempted to find life by pouring water into the ground. Something about how water would have killed the organisms they were hoping to find, and they should have used hydrogen peroxide (I think).
The point is, I agree: the search for extraterrestrial life is hindered by people thinking that alien life would have anything in common with humans.
Also... I was in the Natural History museum once, and there was a wall display stating that scientists are now starting to consider the possibility that life came from other places in meteors and such (or at least the right proteins and acids did). The environment on Earth was conducive to creating life as we know it.
The only problem I have with that theory, though, is how amazingly balanced our ecosystem is (outside of human intervention, of course).
MrMephisto Wrote:
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> I don't think this is a great idea. What if one
> of these super-bright lasers hits an alien in the
> eye, blinding him? That could be an interstellar
> act of war.
Assuming they can travel at light speed here to pay us back for the annoyance, that would be 2000 years from now and I doubt anyone sending the light will care.
Actually I read an article that our movement to digital communications from regular radio and analog is decreasing our signal output by a huge extent, so it will actually become harder for any civilizations to pick us up.
Then I thought that an advanced civilization probably has the same "problem" and we wouldn't pick them up either. So anyone we pick up would be dummies.
Harry Tuttle Wrote:
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> How could we possibly tell an alien species from a
> terrestrial species?
Let's see...terrestrial means of Earth, so alien/extra-terrestrial would be some form unakin to ours.
That's where you're wrong, my friend. These super-intelligent creatures have mastered the art of traveling through worm-holes. They could come back and punish us an hundred years ago for an offense that will take place a thousand years from now.
Shit, why do you think all these earthquakes, mudslides, and meteorites are assaulting us now? ...Payback's a bitch!
Remove the wool from your eyes pgens! If you aren't a part of the solution, you're part of the problem!
pgens Wrote:
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>
> Assuming they can travel at light speed here to
> pay us back for the annoyance, that would be 2000
> years from now and I doubt anyone sending the
> light will care.
Harry Tuttle Wrote:
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> That's where you're wrong, my friend. These
> super-intelligent creatures have mastered the art
> of traveling through worm-holes. They could come
> back and punish us an hundred years ago for an
> offense that will take place a thousand years from
> now.
>
> Shit, why do you think all these earthquakes,
> mudslides, and meteorites are assaulting us now?
> ...Payback's a bitch!
>
> Remove the wool from your eyes pgens! If you
> aren't a part of the solution, you're part of the
> problem!
ok Wrote:
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> Let's see...terrestrial means of Earth, so
> alien/extra-terrestrial would be some form unakin
> to ours.
Did you read the article? It's about trying to find extra-terrestrial species that are already "hiding" on Earth...
I was wondering, since they're already on Earth, how we would be able to tell the difference. Especially since there are so many different types of life on this planet.
Harry Tuttle Wrote:
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> How could we possibly tell an alien species from a
> terrestrial species?
>
> Edit: By alien I mean extra-terrestrial..
Harry Tuttle Wrote:
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> ok Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Let's see...terrestrial means of Earth, so
> > alien/extra-terrestrial would be some form
> unakin
> > to ours.
>
> Did you read the article? It's about trying to
> find extra-terrestrial species that are already
> "hiding" on Earth...
They said it would be in a form that we wouldn't expect (since we have long anticipated a humanoid like form). So, therefore, once identified, we would theoretically be able to differentiate between said extra-terrestrial (non human form entity) and ourselves. If they manifested into a form and evolved, over time, into an accepted terrestrial being, like a dolphin or whale; we would be able to differentiate after becoming aware of their extra-terrestrial origin.
> I was wondering, since they're already on Earth,
> how we would be able to tell the difference.
> Especially since there are so many different types
> of life on this planet.
>
>
> > so funny!
>
> I know, right?
eesh Wrote:
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> Harry Tuttle Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > So... We just need to stick hot metal in their
> > blood?
>
>
>
>
LOL, I was just about to post the shorter version of that scene.
That movie had me and my brother so scared out of our minds we couldn't sleep!
tyt Wrote:
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> They said it would be in a form that we wouldn't
> expect (since we have long anticipated a humanoid
> like form).
so funny!
> So, therefore, once identified, we
> would theoretically be able to differentiate
> between said extra-terrestrial (non human form
> entity) and ourselves.
So what you're telling me is, in order to differentiate between extra-terrestrial and terrestrial beings, we'd have to identify the extra-terrestrial beings?
How would we make the first identification? (My original question)
> If they manifested into a
> form and evolved, over time, into an accepted
> terrestrial being, like a dolphin or whale; we
> would be able to differentiate after becoming
> aware of their extra-terrestrial origin.
Ok, how would we become aware of their extra-terrestrial origin? (My original question)
> > > so funny!
> >
> > I know, right?
>
>
> not really.
Harry Tuttle Wrote:
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> tyt Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > They said it would be in a form that we
> wouldn't
> > expect (since we have long anticipated a
> humanoid
> > like form).
>
> so funny!
>
> > So, therefore, once identified, we
> > would theoretically be able to differentiate
> > between said extra-terrestrial (non human form
> > entity) and ourselves.
>
> So what you're telling me is, in order to
> differentiate between extra-terrestrial and
> terrestrial beings, we'd have to identify the
> extra-terrestrial beings?
>
> How would we make the first identification? (My
> original question)
>
>
> > If they manifested into a
> > form and evolved, over time, into an accepted
> > terrestrial being, like a dolphin or whale; we
> > would be able to differentiate after becoming
> > aware of their extra-terrestrial origin.
>
> Ok, how would we become aware of their
> extra-terrestrial origin? (My original question)
>
>
> > > > so funny!
> > >
> > > I know, right?
> >
> >
> > not really.
>
> I know, right!?
Eat a dick...let's talk about how unfunny you are.
Harry Tuttle Wrote:
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> Well, shit! Why didn't you just say that in the
> first place? Then we wouldn't have had to witness
> what a big-fucking-stupid you are...
>
> anonimal Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > We wouldn't be able to
TheMeeper Wrote:
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> eesh Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > The creepiest scene in the movie, the head
> > spider.
>
> IIRC, that's the scene where Wilford Brimley is
> giving a guy a defribillator, and these big jaws
> pop out the guy's chest and bite his arms off!
>
> LOL, one of the best sci-fi/horror films of all
> time.
YES!
Kaboom!
*splat*
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Being vague is almost as fun as that other thing.