Do U Believe in Aliens?

[Ifreann]

Maybe Aztecs did go to space. Think about that...

I would, but I can only process so much stupid in one day.

[Legionica]

Well, I'm obliged to say that that was probably an insult!

[Intangelon]

That doesn't mean they exist. That means it's kinda probable that they might exist. Difference.

Saying "they must be there, look at the odds" does not equal "they're here".

No, it actual means there is very high chance that they exist. There is no evidence that Russia will not go crazy and nuke the place you are in, does that mean you should go towards nearest nuclear bunker?
If there is 9 magnitude earthquake, there is no evidence that your house will collapse but why do you head for safe open place?

Are you serious? Russia and earthquakes are documented, existing phenomena. Aliens are not.

[Georgizm]

So, do you?

Certainly.

If so, do you think they are friendly?

Probably a lot of variation

If so, do you think they are visiting earth?

Not sure, leaning towards probably not.

Are their more than one species?

Quite probably

[Great Nepal]

No, it actual means there is very high chance that they exist. There is no evidence that Russia will not go crazy and nuke the place you are in, does that mean you should go towards nearest nuclear bunker?
If there is 9 magnitude earthquake, there is no evidence that your house will collapse but why do you head for safe open place?

Are you serious? Russia and earthquakes are documented, existing phenomena. Aliens are not.

That quite neatly avoids the question.
Earthquake are documented - but buildings may not fall during that earthquake.
Russia is documented along with its nuclear stockpile but what is not documented is that it is not going to launch its nuclear weapons against your nation; targeted at your city.

[Intangelon]

Alright, it's pretty clear to me that you're too much of a condescending prick to think for a minute and comprehend what I'm trying to get through to you, so I'll politely run it through for you one more time.

I am not saying they found fossilized bacteria.

My whole point was that you appear to be saying that if they DID find fossilized bacteria on another planet, that would not be evidence of alien life, which is absurd.

I do not believe evidence of alien life has been found.

I doubt aliens visit our planet.

However, I believe that it is likely that there is some form of life elsewhere, key word being life, which is not synonymous with civilization. I am not a tinfoil hat wearing roswell believer who thinks the government is cutting up aliens under the pentagon.

Please unwedge that stick from your ass, won't you?

Politely? Lawl.

First of all, it has to be proven that said microfissures were DEFINITELY caused by dead and fossilized bacteria.

Second, it would be evidence of death or extinction, not life. Life does not equal former life. Unless you'd care to re-define the parameters of "alien life" for the thread so that we can all make sure that UFO-believers' fantasies are adequately coddled.

[Grave_n_idle]

I've never really understood why people assume that aliens would be more civilised or advanced than us. Misanthropy, presumably. I mean, why couldn't there be a planet out there with aliens in the equivalent of out Dark Ages? Who's to say the first civilisation we encounter won't be Aztecs IN SPACE?

We're years, decades, centuries... maybe more... away from being able to actually get ourselves in a position to find other species. Thus, we tend to assume any aliens we meet, are going to be coming here - which rather suggests they are going to be more 'advanced' than us. At least, in terms of technology.

It's not misanthropy. It's a matter of convenience.

[Intangelon]

Show me the science.

This is exactly what NASA's been working on for the last two decades, in fact; they're just being extremely conservative and are confirming every last detail before they make any sort of noise on the subject, whether positive or negative. First they sent missions to determine whether or not Mars had water in the past; that was confirmed. Then they sent missions to see whether Mars still has water on its surface today; that was also confirmed, along with the existence of several different Earth-like rocks (See the discoveries of the Spirit and Opportunity rovers). Now, they're sending the Mars Science Laboratory (AKA Curiosity) to look for either organic molecules in the surface soil layers or evidence of past organic molecules, and potentially look for signs of life itself via the chemical signatures it leaves. In the next five or ten years, ESA, in concert with NASA, is planning to send the ExoMars probe to drill 2m into the Martian soil to study its chemistry and look for water and the signs of life. Finally, NASA plans to, in the future, send a craft called the Mars Sample Return Mission to pick up samples of the Martian soil and bring it back to Earth as a final test to see if life exists in the soil there.

The evidence has been piling up, slowly but surely. It's too early to say yet, but in my mind the odds are good.

Excellent. So what?

Seriously, what are we going to do or become if it turns out that there are microbes on Mars? We can't live there, we can't afford to even go there in person, and we really can't afford to do what we're proposing, given the economy.

I've got no beef with exploration, but how's about we try something practical and worthwhile? Unless you're one of those Omni magazine believers of terraforming or something ludicrous like that.

[Intangelon]

Are you serious? Russia and earthquakes are documented, existing phenomena. Aliens are not.

That quite neatly avoids the question.
Earthquake are documented - but buildings may not fall during that earthquake.
Russia is documented along with its nuclear stockpile but what is not documented is that it is not going to launch its nuclear weapons against your nation; targeted at your city.

You're trying to pit the likelihood of both human twitchiness and tectonic shifts and the stability of one's house versus the probability (which is zero) of "alien life". Neat. I believe the next step is "black = white" -- please be careful crossing the street.

[Jenrak]

Alright, it's pretty clear to me that you're too much of a condescending prick to think for a minute and comprehend what I'm trying to get through to you, so I'll politely run it through for you one more time.

I am not saying they found fossilized bacteria.

My whole point was that you appear to be saying that if they DID find fossilized bacteria on another planet, that would not be evidence of alien life, which is absurd.

I do not believe evidence of alien life has been found.

I doubt aliens visit our planet.

However, I believe that it is likely that there is some form of life elsewhere, key word being life, which is not synonymous with civilization. I am not a tinfoil hat wearing roswell believer who thinks the government is cutting up aliens under the pentagon.

Please unwedge that stick from your ass, won't you?

Bro, be careful of 'dem languages. Consider this an informal warning or some shit, brah.

[San Whoopee]

I'd like to see the Na'vi or something. Techno-savvy aliens are so old school.

[Southern Patriots]

I believe it is very possible there is alien life out there. Whether it is currently or has visited earth I cannot say.

However I am with Stephen Hawking when he says that it isn't a good idea to broadcast our presence to the universe right now. We could very quickly find ourselves the Natives and the aliens the Europeans in a resource raid or colonization situation. And without plucky characters such as those from World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles to save us.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8642558.stm

[Great Nepal]

That quite neatly avoids the question.
Earthquake are documented - but buildings may not fall during that earthquake.
Russia is documented along with its nuclear stockpile but what is not documented is that it is not going to launch its nuclear weapons against your nation; targeted at your city.

You're trying to pit the likelihood of both human twitchiness and tectonic shifts and the stability of one's house versus the probability (which is zero) of "alien life". Neat. I believe the next step is "black = white" -- please be careful crossing the street.

And you still have not said why likelihood of alien life is zero or why your house could not stand against 9 magnitude earthquake or Russia wont launch nuke against your city.

[Great Nepal]

However I am with Stephen Hawking when he says that it isn't a good idea to broadcast our presence to the universe right now. We could very quickly find ourselves the Natives and the aliens the Europeans in a resource raid or colonization situation. And without plucky characters such as those from World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles to save us.

Or, we could find that they are in fact very helpful species who give us some alien tech? And, what significant resorce does earth have to justify cost, time or effort of an invasion?

[Ifreann]

Well, I'm obliged to say that that was probably an insult!

I wasn't insulting you, just the idea that the Aztecs went to space.

[Vellosia]

I'd like to see the Na'vi or something. Techno-savvy aliens are so old school.

Agreed.

[Southern Patriots]

However I am with Stephen Hawking when he says that it isn't a good idea to broadcast our presence to the universe right now. We could very quickly find ourselves the Natives and the aliens the Europeans in a resource raid or colonization situation. And without plucky characters such as those from World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles to save us.

Or, we could find that they are in fact very helpful species who give us some alien tech? And, what significant resorce does earth have to justify cost, time or effort of an invasion?

Liquid water, or any of the other abundant minerals, etc, found on our planet. Or the simple fact that since our planet is life-bearing that it may (just may) be tolerable in some capacity for alien life.

[Grave_n_idle]

Or, we could find that they are in fact very helpful species who give us some alien tech? And, what significant resorce does earth have to justify cost, time or effort of an invasion?

Liquid water, or any of the other abundant minerals, etc, found on our planet. Or the simple fact that since our planet is life-bearing that it may (just may) be tolerable in some capacity for alien life.

It seems unlikely that a species advanced enough to make trips across the depths of space... can't find an easier way to find ANY resources we might have.

[Al-Harakut al-Islami]

So, do you believe in aliens? Yes
If so, do you think they are friendly? Maybe. Probably. I hope their better than we humans.
If so, do you think they are visiting earth? No.
Are they hostile? If they're no better than humans, then yes.
Are their more than one species? Maybe.
Just tell us, do you BELIEVE! Yes.

[Norstal]

Liquid water, or any of the other abundant minerals, etc, found on our planet. Or the simple fact that since our planet is life-bearing that it may (just may) be tolerable in some capacity for alien life.

It seems unlikely that a species advanced enough to make trips across the depths of space... can't find an easier way to find ANY resources we might have.

Or maybe they find our women hot.

Oh wait, that's now how biology works.

[Norstal]

It is a matter of simple mathematics to establish that aliens almost certainly do exist. It is a matter of even more simple mathematics to establish that they would almost certainly not be able to get to us, and even if they could, that there would be no benefit to them in doing so.

Let me guess, the debunked Drake's Equation.

[Grave_n_idle]

It seems unlikely that a species advanced enough to make trips across the depths of space... can't find an easier way to find ANY resources we might have.

Or maybe they find our women hot.

Oh wait, that's now how biology works.

Ehh... I don't know. People tend to assume that our first encounter with alien life would be either war, or us being educated by superior teachers...

...based on the history of our species, I think the unfortunate truth is that our first encounters with aliens will involve us trying to either fuck them, or eat them. Or both.

[Southern Patriots]

Liquid water, or any of the other abundant minerals, etc, found on our planet. Or the simple fact that since our planet is life-bearing that it may (just may) be tolerable in some capacity for alien life.

It seems unlikely that a species advanced enough to make trips across the depths of space... can't find an easier way to find ANY resources we might have.

Maybe it does. And maybe the Spaniards could have found gold an easier way that sailing across a treacherous ocean and murdering hundreds of thousands of natives. Who knows.

All I know is that the theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking suggests that it could a devastating encounter for us. I'm inclined to believe he may not be saying that for shits and giggles.

[Sovereign Spirits]

I believe extraterrestrials are quite abundant. I also believe that the general image of them propagated by several forms of media are deliberately false.

[Salandriagado]

You're trying to pit the likelihood of both human twitchiness and tectonic shifts and the stability of one's house versus the probability (which is zero) of "alien life". Neat. I believe the next step is "black = white" -- please be careful crossing the street.

By what basis do you claim that it is impossible that life exists elsewhere in the vastness of the cosmos?