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From: LYang.es@Xerox.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Who's out there ...
Message-ID: <3165@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU>
Date: Wed, 7-Aug-85 13:23:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: topaz.3165
Posted: Wed Aug  7 13:23:56 1985
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From: LYang.es@Xerox.ARPA (Larry Yang)

Many discussions on extraterrestrial life seem to be plagued with one
flaw:  they all seem to be centered around life AS WE KNOW IT (i.e.,
carbon-based, "visible"-light seeing, gas-exchanging life).  If one
believes the more scientific views of the development of this universe,
one would have to agree that our existence in this universe is a very
improbable occurence.  But it happened (sad as it may be to some).  But
what is the probably of another independently evolving ecosystem JUST
LIKE OURS, in some other star system?  Pretty unlikely at best, I'd say.

I believe that there are other forms of life out there.  But they are
VERY different from us.  They just might be silicon based, derive energy
from gamma rays, and "SEE" a totally different wavelength from us.
Maybe they're not even based on any form of matter, but purely in the
form of energy. (What's the difference anyway; matter is energy, right?)
Existence of this form of life would make the definition of "life" and
"intelligent life" very elusive. Our anthropocentric definition of
"intelligent life" is "life just like ours".

The reason "they" haven't found us is because they're looking in the
wrong places.  The look at our star (good ol' Sol) and say "No, a star
of that class could NEVER support intelligent life like ours.  Let's go
someplace else."  Others look at our planet and say "Nope.  Too close to
the sun."  Or "The gravity on a planet of that size would crush anything
living on it."   There might be a group that react, "That star system is
radiating radio waves.  Since radio waves are harmful to us, there can't
be life there."

The point is that the reason no one has found us is the same reason that
we haven't found anyone else: we're looking in the wrong types of
places.

This argument suggests something very distrubing to those who believe in
other life forms.  How are we going to communicate with them?  What if
the other life form is anti-matter based?  How do we interact with them
(Assuming we somehow found each other)?  Interracial marriages would be
difficult (What kind of children would this marriage produce?  Do they
marry on that other planet?  Do they have children?)

Even if there was life of other forms, we may not be able to communicate
with any of them.  We might as well be alone.


-- Larry

Too bad; I was looking forward to finding out the latest fashions on
Rigel.  (Rigel?  Why do people always mention Rigel?)