Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mmintl.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka From: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams) Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Re: Space Is Clean Message-ID: <758@mmintl.UUCP> Date: Sun, 3-Nov-85 19:41:51 EST Article-I.D.: mmintl.758 Posted: Sun Nov 3 19:41:51 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 5-Nov-85 07:40:14 EST References: <1361@mtgzz.UUCP> Reply-To: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams) Organization: Multimate International, E. Hartford, CT Lines: 23 In article <1361@mtgzz.UUCP> leeper@mtgzz.UUCP (m.r.leeper) writes: > Not that there isn't a good reason to instinctively be disgusted by >relatively alien life-forms. That's nature's way of saying "Do not touch!" > So most life-forms we find disgusting, but the converse is even more >true. Only a small part of the matter on Earth is connected with life- >forms, yet everything disgusting is. An interesting point, and one I think is quite valid. But it doesn't necessarily mean that we will find alien lifeforms disgusting. First, it isn't clear just what the conditions are for us to find something disgusting. The reaction seems to apply only to small but dangerous creatures. Lions, for example, tend to be seen as beautiful. This makes sense, because no such reaction is needed to make us avoid them; the danger is obvious. I think what we have is not "alien life forms are disgusting", but "things with any of the following characteristics are disgusting", where the list includes semi-liquidity (especially if warm), waving feelers, stingers, etc. So there is a reasonable chance that aliens would not fit the pattern, and be quite unoffensive, or even beautiful. The opposite cannot be ruled out, however. Frank Adams ihpn4!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka Multimate International 52 Oakland Ave North E. Hartford, CT 06108