Comments on: Trading my fingers for aliens http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/ Skepticism. Critical thinking. Podcast. Community. Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:46:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Andy Kaiser http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2804 Andy Kaiser Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:21:12 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2804 <i>Also, people thinking that the universe is so huge and that this means that there must be life someplace, should add that the form of life may be bacterial or such and far removed from popular science fiction accounts.</i> ...and... <i>The sheer number of stars and galaxies suggests that the chances of life existing on other planets are pretty good.</i> For those who are interested in the discussion regarding the existence of aliens, you may also be interested in this week's article: <a href="http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/19/the-drake-equation/" rel="nofollow">The Drake Equation</a> Andy Also, people thinking that the universe is so huge and that this means that there must be life someplace, should add that the form of life may be bacterial or such and far removed from popular science fiction accounts.

…and…

The sheer number of stars and galaxies suggests that the chances of life existing on other planets are pretty good.

For those who are interested in the discussion regarding the existence of aliens, you may also be interested in this week’s article: The Drake Equation

Andy

]]> By: nick farrantello http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2796 nick farrantello Fri, 17 Apr 2009 01:51:55 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2796 Thanks for all the comments everyone. I guess I should clarify something. I doubt the existence of flying saucers not the existence of aliens on other planets. Like M Parrott, I also think there probably is life in the universe. The sheer number of stars and galaxies suggests that the chances of life existing on other planets are pretty good. The last I heard science put the number of stars in the universe at “great googly moogly to the tenth power.” But once you invoke those mind blowing numbers you have to continue with that line of reasoning. What are the chances that aliens would be interested in us? one over great googly moogly? Thanks for all the comments everyone. I guess I should clarify something. I doubt the existence of flying saucers not the existence of aliens on other planets. Like M Parrott, I also think there probably is life in the universe. The sheer number of stars and galaxies suggests that the chances of life existing on other planets are pretty good. The last I heard science put the number of stars in the universe at “great googly moogly to the tenth power.” But once you invoke those mind blowing numbers you have to continue with that line of reasoning. What are the chances that aliens would be interested in us? one over great googly moogly?

]]> By: Gary Peterson http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2794 Gary Peterson Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:13:19 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2794 I can already imagine changes in food cuisine! Yum Yum ;-) Imagine the sexual orientations? Those who feel they are Taxed Enough Already would surely use up their ammo blasting these heathen aliens?! Otherwise, yes, those would be delightful outcomes! I can already imagine changes in food cuisine! Yum Yum ;-) Imagine the sexual orientations? Those who feel they are Taxed Enough Already would surely use up their ammo blasting these heathen aliens?! Otherwise, yes, those would be delightful outcomes!

]]> By: DB Skeptic http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2793 DB Skeptic Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:38:36 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2793 <i>Finally, why is it that people think it would be so cool if there were aliens from outer space?</i> What?! Have you not seen the movie "Men in Black"?! Answering more seriously, I can tell you why it'd be cool for me: Because it would bring about worldwide change in the following areas: 1) <b>Science research</b> - This would blast through the roof. More science is a good thing. 2) <b>Decrease in religious emphasis</b> - Most of the world's religions would have to be rethought or discarded. At the very least, they'd have far less of an impact than they do now. This assumes, of course, that any aliens we meet aren't religious missionaries out to spread the Word of K'th'kr'uth'bx. If so, that could get sticky. 3) <b>Better Lifestyle Through Intergalactic Competition</b> - We're no longer competing country by country, race by race. We've got a galactic civilization to compete with! Maybe it's too optimistic, but I can see this causing humans to get along better and cooperate to improve our species as a whole. Yes, that's right - we CAN all get along! Andy Finally, why is it that people think it would be so cool if there were aliens from outer space?

What?! Have you not seen the movie “Men in Black”?!

Answering more seriously, I can tell you why it’d be cool for me: Because it would bring about worldwide change in the following areas:

1) Science research – This would blast through the roof. More science is a good thing.

2) Decrease in religious emphasis – Most of the world’s religions would have to be rethought or discarded. At the very least, they’d have far less of an impact than they do now. This assumes, of course, that any aliens we meet aren’t religious missionaries out to spread the Word of K’th’kr’uth’bx. If so, that could get sticky.

3) Better Lifestyle Through Intergalactic Competition – We’re no longer competing country by country, race by race. We’ve got a galactic civilization to compete with! Maybe it’s too optimistic, but I can see this causing humans to get along better and cooperate to improve our species as a whole. Yes, that’s right – we CAN all get along!

Andy

]]> By: Gary Peterson http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2791 Gary Peterson Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:47:42 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2791 I agree there is no evidence for aliens from outer space, and one cannot argue from absence. I would like however a piece by astronomers or astrophysics types on the problems of space travel and the problems of such life forms being able to make such distances. Also, people thinking that the universe is so huge and that this means that there must be life someplace, should add that the form of life may be bacterial or such and far removed from popular science fiction accounts. Would evolution be the same? Finally, why is it that people think it would be so cool if there were aliens from outer space? That is, what is it about us that motivates such wishfulness? I agree there is no evidence for aliens from outer space, and one cannot argue from absence. I would like however a piece by astronomers or astrophysics types on the problems of space travel and the problems of such life forms being able to make such distances. Also, people thinking that the universe is so huge and that this means that there must be life someplace, should add that the form of life may be bacterial or such and far removed from popular science fiction accounts. Would evolution be the same? Finally, why is it that people think it would be so cool if there were aliens from outer space? That is, what is it about us that motivates such wishfulness?

]]> By: M Parrott http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2790 M Parrott Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:30:25 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2790 I completely agree with the statement of the piece. However I'd question the use of the word "alien". Yes there is no evidence for their exsistance, but you can't possibly prove that they do not exsist. Now UFOs are bull, but aliens quetionably. I prefer to remain agnostic on aliens. There is no evidence for or against their exsistance, but it'd be cool if they did. I completely agree with the statement of the piece. However I’d question the use of the word “alien”. Yes there is no evidence for their exsistance, but you can’t possibly prove that they do not exsist. Now UFOs are bull, but aliens quetionably. I prefer to remain agnostic on aliens. There is no evidence for or against their exsistance, but it’d be cool if they did.

]]> By: Gary Peterson http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2787 Gary Peterson Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:20:28 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2787 Good piece that made some good points about believers and those actually open-minded. Open mindedness means I must follow where the evidence leads, not just be open to wild and unlikely ideas. Believers seem not to have grasped that basic idea. Also, when it comes to things like ESP, the actual findings of scientific research in psychology show interpersonal communication, nonconscious mimicry, and hosts of other findings to be far more wondrous and fascinating than the psychic woofle dust. Good piece that made some good points about believers and those actually open-minded. Open mindedness means I must follow where the evidence leads, not just be open to wild and unlikely ideas. Believers seem not to have grasped that basic idea. Also, when it comes to things like ESP, the actual findings of scientific research in psychology show interpersonal communication, nonconscious mimicry, and hosts of other findings to be far more wondrous and fascinating than the psychic woofle dust.

]]> By: Sandra H http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2784 Sandra H Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:58:10 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2784 Life after death as a ghost moaning around an old building (or given the number of people dying in auto accidents, sitting disconsolately behind the wheel of a junked car)? No, thanks. No matter how bad it got, you go on and on; sounds kindof hellish. Maybe that's why god is such a twerp, I'd be getting cranky after an eternity, too (especially with all those well-intentioned but off-key praise groupies, yeesh). Life after death as a ghost moaning around an old building (or given the number of people dying in auto accidents, sitting disconsolately behind the wheel of a junked car)? No, thanks. No matter how bad it got, you go on and on; sounds kindof hellish. Maybe that’s why god is such a twerp, I’d be getting cranky after an eternity, too (especially with all those well-intentioned but off-key praise groupies, yeesh).

]]> By: Rob Steenwyk http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2782 Rob Steenwyk Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:59:19 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2782 "Amusing for a laugh I guess?" Excuse me, I meant good for a laugh... brain shutting down apparently. “Amusing for a laugh I guess?”

Excuse me, I meant good for a laugh… brain shutting down apparently.

]]> By: Rob Steenwyk http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2781 Rob Steenwyk Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:58:37 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2781 I have a very hard time watching the History channel now, as all they seem to show is bible stories and looking at ancient civilizations that, "just couldn't have produced this kind of architecture without alien intervention!" Every once in awhile they will put someone sane up for 20-30 seconds, but the majority of the show is dedicated to crackpots with absolutely no credibility. Amusing for a laugh I guess? I have a very hard time watching the History channel now, as all they seem to show is bible stories and looking at ancient civilizations that, “just couldn’t have produced this kind of architecture without alien intervention!”

Every once in awhile they will put someone sane up for 20-30 seconds, but the majority of the show is dedicated to crackpots with absolutely no credibility.

Amusing for a laugh I guess?

]]> By: Aiden http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2779 Aiden Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:48:27 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2779 Regarding the Dogon tribe, Ty appears to be referring to Robert Temple's wild speculation of an extra-terrestrial source of the Dogon's knowledge of Sirius and Sirius B, Saturn's rings, and Jupiter's moons. Carl Sagan and Ian Ridpath have pretty much destroyed this hypothesis. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogon#Dogon_and_Sirius http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sirius_Mystery Regarding the Dogon tribe, Ty appears to be referring to Robert Temple’s wild speculation of an extra-terrestrial source of the Dogon’s knowledge of Sirius and Sirius B, Saturn’s rings, and Jupiter’s moons.

Carl Sagan and Ian Ridpath have pretty much destroyed this hypothesis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogon#Dogon_and_Sirius
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sirius_Mystery

]]> By: DB Skeptic http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2778 DB Skeptic Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:52:04 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2778 <i>Look up the dogon tribe.</i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogon" rel="nofollow">I did.</a> How does this apply to the parent article? Andy Look up the dogon tribe.

I did. How does this apply to the parent article?

Andy

]]> By: Bob Allen http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2776 Bob Allen Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:41:51 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2776 I like the approach of the base article. The orientation for the "believers" to believe, but attempt to disprove the belief is right on. I too am of the orientation that over a 13.7 Billion light-year span, that somewhere, elsewhere, life formed as life formed around here. So yes, I believe that "aliens" are out there. I believe that they too want to find other "aliens". But I ain't run across any convincing evidence, so far. I like the approach of the base article. The orientation for the “believers” to believe, but attempt to disprove the belief is right on. I too am of the orientation that over a 13.7 Billion light-year span, that somewhere, elsewhere, life formed as life formed around here. So yes, I believe that “aliens” are out there. I believe that they too want to find other “aliens”. But I ain’t run across any convincing evidence, so far.

]]> By: Discombobulated http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2774 Discombobulated Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:21:04 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2774 Ty@1 said: <i><b>I can’t even get a handle on any parameters of my own mind much less how it’s entirely matter based and evolved.</b></i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argumentum_ad_ignorantiam#Argument_from_personal_incredulity" rel="nofollow">Argument from personal incredulity</a> Ty@1 said:
I can’t even get a handle on any parameters of my own mind much less how it’s entirely matter based and evolved.

Argument from personal incredulity

]]> By: ty http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2773 ty Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:34:36 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2773 Look up the dogon tribe. Look up the dogon tribe.

]]> By: Humanity Blues http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2772 Humanity Blues Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:22:58 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2772 i actually believe in aliens. Based on the size of space, it's hard to believe there aren't thousands of intelligent civilizations out there. Now whether they've visited earth, that's another story. i actually believe in aliens. Based on the size of space, it’s hard to believe there aren’t thousands of intelligent civilizations out there. Now whether they’ve visited earth, that’s another story.

]]> By: ty http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/12/trading-my-fingers-for-aliens/comment-page-1/#comment-2771 ty Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:32:59 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=940#comment-2771 Well I'd rather I died and didn't have to go on somehow. The nice long sleep is a comforting idea to me, I get sick of living sometimes. I doubt it though because when I talk to people, I sense a spiritual being there and not just a body, and I can't ignore that strong of an intuition. Also if you think you're awareness and mind are evolvable since the start of postulated abiogenesis, it's an insult to your intelligence. I can't even get a handle on any parameters of my own mind much less how it's entirely matter based and evolved. This is the same theme as ghosts and aliens, well I think so anyways. Well I’d rather I died and didn’t have to go on somehow. The nice long sleep is a comforting idea to me, I get sick of living sometimes. I doubt it though because when I talk to people, I sense a spiritual being there and not just a body, and I can’t ignore that strong of an intuition. Also if you think you’re awareness and mind are evolvable since the start of postulated abiogenesis, it’s an insult to your intelligence. I can’t even get a handle on any parameters of my own mind much less how it’s entirely matter based and evolved.
This is the same theme as ghosts and aliens, well I think so anyways.

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