Aliens?

They are here, and they are illegal!

Honestly though, I like to believe.  It’s not crucial, nor am I diehard about it, I just keep the possibility open (same with the Yeti, Sea Monsters, and Elvis).  A group of friends (me included) had a theory in high school that humans are the result of a drunken alien species spree to our planet.  They found primates, had a little bestiality, and then took off.  And here we are.  :-)

Even though the universe is quite expansive, I’m not sure that alone justifies life elsewhere.  That’s where my skepticism comes in.

If life exists on 1 in a billion worlds, then the universe is LITTERED with life.

And I am not so arrogant as to believe that our little world is the ONLY world with life, nor the only world with intelligent life (I mean Dolphins and Whales on our planet… certainly Humans are not intelligent life :-P )

I don’t believe in the existence of aliens, or of any physical life originating outside our planet.

I also expect that I will be alone on this forum with that belief. I very rarely find people online who share my perspective on this particular issue.

@ncscswitch:

And I am not so arrogant as to believe that our little world is the ONLY world with life, nor the only world with intelligent life (I mean Dolphins and Whales on our planet… certainly Humans are not intelligent life :-P )

I know this wasn’t addressed to me, Switch, but I have to respond.  My skepticism is rooted in the proof of something, not arrogance.  I’m entirely open to life elsewhere, I just don’t automatically assume that it exists because the universe is so large and planets are numerous.  Other life exists, or it doesn’t.  Although, do I recall correctly the detection of bacteria on Mars at some point?  That’s a start…just need some proof of extraterrestrial life.

Actually, the bacteria on Mars that were first detected by Viking were a chemical error in the test caused by components of Martian soil.

However…

There is evidence that we have indeed seeded Mars with anaerobic bacteria via Viking and other probes.  Despite our best efforts to sterilize, some bacteria hitched a ride, and indications are they are flourishing…

Some famous Scientist made an equation to calculate the possibility of INTELLIGENT life other then ours in the universe. The curve was from 1000-1,000,000 I think. I believe in Aliens, I believe that most of the ancient myths are based upon them. Long live the MAYAS!

I have to agree, Switch.  Too many possible environments in the universe for there not to be life of some sort.  I also agree with the dolphins and whales being the intelligent agents of thisk planet.

I don;t think the current seeding of Mars will ever come to fruition.

We’ll be there and change things far more than those bacteria long before they can have any impact.

Aliens exist and they want to interact only with intelligent life forms… we do not quality as such. We can keep doing stupid pet tricks to humor them ( using CETI…etc)  but in the final analysis these forms of primitive communication will be broadcast as cultural fodder for the underclass peasants to enjoy on the human channel.Thats how we rate in the Milky Way.

“Bacteria” type life==abundant     intelligent life that has advanced technology like computers,etc==EXCEEDINGLY rare

I would agree Hydra.

Personally, I think single cellular and/or viral type life forms (of whatever core composition: carbon, silicon, etc) is probably going to end up being fairly common… I think 1 in 100,000, possibly MUCH more common.

More advanced life (multicellular), probably 1 in 1,000,000 or so.

Advanced multicellular probably in the 1 in 2,000,000 range (pretty short step from multicellular in general to advanced life forms like insects, reptiles, etc.

Significantly advanced (technological) life… probably 1 in 1,000,000,000 (one in a billion)

My own personal opinion…

Aliens would be in awe of us humans.  I wonder what they thought when they watched all of our wars and unrest.  Especially world war two with all the armies marching straight to death.  They would give us respect and remember not to screw with us.  Perhaps they are rueing the day when we can space travel go to their planet and subjugate them.  Ever wonder if we are the first life forms in the universe and others are sprouting but we are the more advanced.  Would we be the aliens that we are so afraid of that would come and conquer the planet.  Probably.  Watch out galaxy, here we come.  Team human, lords of the universe!!!

When i watch ants fight cockroaches I am not in AWE as you put it. IN fact id just sooner step on both of them for the indignity of having to put up with their futile struggles. “Aliens” have seen savages fight for primitive survival on other planets and its boring except for the Jerry Springer crowd. I would hope otherwise but i know better then to expect the Vulcans to arrive anytime soon.

I was thinking more of lemmings when I read that post… (the early 90’s PC game…)

Not if we are the first people in the universe and everyone else is behind us.  Anyhoo if spock showed up, we’d put nine grams in his head and put him in the dirt.  Old human custom.  The awe would be for bravery, self sacrifice, that stuff – not violence.

@ncscswitch:

Personally, I think single cellular and/or viral type life forms (of whatever core composition: carbon, silicon, etc) is probably going to end up being fairly common… I think 1 in 100,000, possibly MUCH more common.

Haven’t been here in a while (noticed, anyone?), but I felt it important to point out that viruses aren’t life…they are actually kinda creepy when it comes to that.

@balungaloaf:

Aliens would be in awe of us humans.  I wonder what they thought when they watched all of our wars and unrest.  Especially world war two with all the armies marching straight to death.  They would give us respect and remember not to screw with us.  Perhaps they are rueing the day when we can space travel go to their planet and subjugate them.  Ever wonder if we are the first life forms in the universe and others are sprouting but we are the more advanced.  Would we be the aliens that we are so afraid of that would come and conquer the planet.  Probably.  Watch out galaxy, here we come.  Team human, lords of the universe!!!

I would think that if aliens discovered us before we discovered them, they would not be in awe of us.  My bet would be that they would be superior, at least technologically.

Anyone ever read Harry Turtledove’s World War 2 series?  I can’t remember the name exactly, but lizard-like extraterrestrials come to subjugate the Earth in the middle of WW2.  Interesting, but very out there.  I’ve always thought that the human race would never see peace within until there was a common enemy (aliens) without.

Ah yes, the Independence Day scene with the Iraqi and Israeli airmen standing together getting the orders via Morse Code for the big attack…

Ill bet somewhere those “locust” aliens types are out their… just destroying what they can for fun and profit… I hope they are like Cylons