Are we alone?

Vehemence · Post by **Vehemence** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 8:05 am

CE: I believe if we were to make contact with an alien species, that they would be more advanced technologically than us. After all, space travel is no mere feat!

Still, I often have the theory that we are a separate colony that was abandoned thousands of years ago and that we are still being observed to see how we grow and adapt.

Darkpoet · Post by **Darkpoet** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 8:06 am

Originally posted by C Elegans:
Me too! But it's not very likely this will happen during our life span But if or when it happens, I predict a major change in human mentality, a real sociocultural as well as scientific paradigm shift!

Should we meet extraterrestrial life forms, let's hope we don't extinct them if they are more friendly or less techically advanced.
Right now, we know of about 40 exoplanets! (Planets outside our own solar system)

CE, do you think that human mentality, will get better or worse?

I was just wondering, with all the disregard for others.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 8:07 am

Originally posted by Vehemence:
Closest neighbours... and yet it'd still take more than a single lifetime to reach it

I know

It's depressing

But as I said, maybe it's for the best, mankind in it's present form might just colonise other planets and extinct other species if we could. I mean, just look at the colonisation of new land here on earth.

It might be best for our green, tentacled neighbours that we don't go there is our present mind set

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 8:13 am

Originally posted by Vehemence:
CE: I believe if we were to make contact with an alien species, that they would be more advanced technologically than us. After all, space travel is no mere feat!

I agree, but there's of course also a future possibility that we travel to them, and then, my black colonisation scenario is not unlikely, I'm afraid

Sorry for my civilisation-pessimistic view of mankinds imperialistic mentality

Vehemence · Post by **Vehemence** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 8:14 am

Who was it that said:

"Sometimes I believe that the surest sign that intelligent life exists in the universe is that they haven't shown themselves"

Or something along those lines... I forgot the exact quote.

Vehemence · Post by **Vehemence** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 8:16 am

Originally posted by C Elegans:
I agree, but there's of course also a future possibility that we travel to them, and then, my black colonisation scenario is not unlikely, I'm afraid Sorry for my civilisation-pessimistic view of mankinds imperialistic mentality

Yes, there is that possibility. But hopefully, we've grown as a species before that occurs.

Brink · Post by **Brink** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 8:19 am

Our own arrogance will lead to our downfall

Vehemence · Post by **Vehemence** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 8:25 am

Originally posted by Brink:
Our own arrogance will lead to our downfall

Your not hopeful that our species will grow?

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 8:26 am

Originally posted by Darkpoet:
CE, do you think that human mentality, will get better or worse?

Oh, that's a very difficult question. Also, of course, it depends on what one would think is good and bad in the human mentality. In short, I view for instance the concepts and ideas of imperialism, discrimination and failure to recognise we all have the same rights and responsibilities, as bad, since these are fundaments of injustices, homicides, slavery, ideologic wars etc.

I would think the human mentality has a great potential to improve, since we have better possibilities than ever to learn, understand and acknowledge the above problems. But at the same time, the present Western society provide a base for problems such as alienation, resignation and a passive attitude. So - I don't really foresee any major improvements in the near future.

Darkpoet · Post by **Darkpoet** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 8:30 am

Originally posted by C Elegans:
Oh, that's a very difficult question. Also, of course, it depends on what one would think is good and bad in the human mentality. In short, I view for instance the concepts and ideas of imperialism, discrimination and failure to recognise we all have the same rights and responsibilities, as bad, since these are fundaments of injustices, homicides, slavery, ideologic wars etc.

I would think the human mentality has a great potential to improve, since we have better possibilities than ever to learn, understand and acknowledge the above problems. But at the same time, the present Western society provide a base for problems such as alienation, resignation and a passive attitude. So - I don't really foresee any major improvements in the near future.

Could this be linked to the food and medicines, we take in? We do ingest a lot of chemicals. I wonder, if that would have an impact, on our mental growth?

Brink · Post by **Brink** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 8:31 am

Originally posted by Vehemence:
Your not hopeful that our species will grow?

Erm, not really

Vehemence · Post by **Vehemence** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 8:34 am

I agree with CE. I happen to believe that the diversity in human existance is both a benefit and a downfall.

I can't see a picture of a unified world being painted with the pastels of today's society. There will have to be some major changes first for that to occur.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 9:53 am

Originally posted by Darkpoet:
Could this be linked to the food and medicines, we take in? We do ingest a lot of chemicals. I wonder, if that would have an impact, on our mental growth?

No, I wouldn't think the degree of chemicals the average person takes in, would affect the mental development. Also, people have been exposed to unhealthy substances for thousands of years because they are naturally occuring around us. (Arsenic, mercury which affects the central nervous system, lead, etc)

Rather than mental development, I would think the heavy use of antibiotics in the agriculture and chemicals in the food, would affect the immune system.

The way I see things, the human mind has been about the same for a few thousand years now, different times and cultures just express the same basic drives and goals in different ways. For those features to change, I think we either need a major change in our gene pool, or some major change in the world we have created for ourselves.

Btw, I know you in the US have far less restrictions around pharmacologic substances than we have in Sweden. For instance, the brain transmittor melatonin can not be bought without a prescription from a physician here, but you could buy it in any health store. And neurotransmittor substances really have a potential of affecting the way people think and behave, so I would strongly recommend against taking in that kind of chemicals without doing a proper research first, or consult a doc!

ThorinOakensfield · Post by **ThorinOakensfield** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 9:55 am

Darkpoet · Post by **Darkpoet** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 9:59 am

Originally posted by C Elegans:
No, I wouldn't think the degree of chemicals the average person takes in, would affect the mental development. Also, people have been exposed to unhealthy substances for thousands of years because they are naturally occuring around us. (Arsenic, mercury which affects the central nervous system, lead, etc)

Rather than mental development, I would think the heavy use of antibiotics in the agriculture and chemicals in the food, would affect the immune system.

The way I see things, the human mind has been about the same for a few thousand years now, different times and cultures just express the same basic drives and goals in different ways. For those features to change, I think we either need a major change in our gene pool, or some major change in the world we have created for ourselves.

Btw, I know you in the US have far less restrictions around pharmacologic substances than we have in Sweden. For instance, the brain transmittor melatonin can not be bought without a prescription from a physician here, but you could buy it in any health store. And neurotransmittor substances really have a potential of affecting the way people think and behave, so I would strongly recommend against taking in that kind of chemicals without doing a proper research first, or consult a doc!

Hmmmm, I might have to make a trip to Sweden, then. : D

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 3:18 pm

Originally posted by Vehemence:

Ah how I can't wait for faster than light speed travel

Don't worry Veh, i'll just get my Ass in gear and well be there in no time.....

(what happened last time you made an off handed comment about your ass sleep?

)

[ 07-28-2001: Message edited by: Mr Sleep ]

Darkpoet · Post by **Darkpoet** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 3:32 pm

I never asked, are we alone? It was usually, are your parents home?

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 3:37 pm

Originally posted by Darkpoet:
I never asked, are we alone? It was usually, are your parents home?

ROTFLMAO

Waverly · Post by **Waverly** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 3:47 pm

Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering.
-Arthur C. Clarke

Truly. The Drake Euation tends to make me think more likely than not we have company... and even this equation doesn't consider life so unlike our own that is defies our imagination.

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 3:52 pm

Like the new sig Wav very amusing

i think we are alone in the Universe. In fact i think the whole population of earth are schizophrenic versions of me

I am the only member of the Human Race, and the whole universe is crammed into my psyche

Honest