Is sending signals out into space wise?

[Rich86]

We are currently beaming out signals into space in order to inform other life forms of our presence.

Is this wise?

Is there a chance that these life forms we may contact would be hostile towards us? Could we be doing nothing more than sending a menu out into space; first course animals, main course; humans?

[Plan C]

Well possibly we could be shooting ourselves in the foot but the assumption is that if other forms of life in the universe are capable of receiving and decoding our broadcast then they would have most likely moved on from pure eating-mating-sleeping cycle (hopefully at least ).

Nonetheless it is entirely possible that human concept of friendship and coopoeration is endemic to our planet and that we're being utterly naiive advertising our presence like this. Statistically we're bound to find out one day.

[The Cobra]

Yes it's wise

[Rich86]

Yes it's wise

Care to elaborate?

[The Cobra]

Care to elaborate?

I would like to see aliens, whether or not they're going to destroy the earth doesn't really matter

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

well what is the alternative? hide on the earth and turn our back on the infinate possiblites of the universe because we 'might' be attracting the wrong kind of people.

Its like talking to girls in bars, you might get rejected, but you might get lucky, so nessicary

[Rich86]

Its like talking to girls in bars, you might get rejected, but you might get lucky,

If you talk to a girl in the bar the worst thing that could happen is she will reject you - perhaps her boyfriend will hit you - that's about it.

If you beam signals out into space and advertise our presence you could be attracting god-knows what.

Considering we don't know what other life out there is like - how can we be sure it won't eat us, or enslave us, or destroy us?

[The Cobra]

Considering we don't know what other life out there is like - how can we be sure it won't eat us, or enslave us, or destroy us?

How can we be sure that it won't give us technology we never dreamed of ? culture we never heard of ? food we never knew it existed ?

[Plan C]

How can we be sure that it won't give us technology we never dreamed of ? culture we never heard of ? food we never knew it existed ?

Well it all comes down to balancing risks and opportunities.
The risk of getting wiped out or enslaved slightly outweighs even prospects of a brand new kind of food IMO.

I'm an adveturous type and prone to risks but I wouldn't be prepared to chance it on behalf of the whole human race.

[The Cobra]

Well it all comes down to balancing risks and opportunities.
The risk of getting wiped out or enslaved slightly outweighs even prospects of a brand new kind of food IMO.

How exactly are you so certain that aliens are going to be evil and eradicate the entire human race ?

I'm an adveturous type and prone to risks but I wouldn't be prepared to chance it on behalf of the whole human race.

Sometimes you have to take the risks

[snuggans]

How can we be sure that it won't give us technology we never dreamed of ? culture we never heard of ? food we never knew it existed ?

technology and cultures are always evolving. we don't need a new race to come and show us new stuff if there's already going to be new stuff in a few years time. anyway, there's already tons of cultures out there that many of us don't know of. i'm also surprised you mention food, because that one is even more obvious than the previous two. for example, have you tried crab or octopus? or hot tuna rolls with soy sauce, maybe fried duck?

my point is, we don't NEED an alien race to come and show us any of this when there's still undiscovered things here in planet earth while the ones we do know are in a constant state of flux.

now, would i be excited to meet a new alien race? sure, as long as they aren't complete s.

[Rich86]

It's like arguing on how a coin will flip when it falls, there's no point.

No it's not like arguing that. Nothing rides on which way the coin lands. There is plenty riding here on wether or not the aliens are hostile or friendly.

I'm willing to afford the loses

I'm not.

[Justice and Mercy]

Considering we don't know what other life out there is like - how can we be sure it won't eat us, or enslave us, or destroy us?

We can't.

And I'm sure those who first started planting crops weren't entirely sure that giant monster plants wouldn't grow out of the ground and eat them instead of whatever they intended to grow.

Good thing there are people who don't think like you, ain't it?

[Dracula]

We can't.

And I'm sure those who first started planting crops weren't entirely sure that giant monster plants wouldn't grow out of the ground and eat them instead of whatever they intended to grow.

Good thing there are people who don't think like you, ain't it?

The comparison is not equal. People observed how crops come out of earth with no problem before starting to plant them. It's not the case with alien friendship.

[Justice and Mercy]

The comparison is not equal. People observed how crops come out of earth with no problem before starting to plant them. It's not the case with alien friendship.

I observe that we haven't been attacked by aliens yet. Doesn't mean it can't happen as far as we can know.

Don't like the planters example?

Fine. The early explorers didn't have any idea what was out in the ocean. For all they knew they would lead a giant army of flesh-eating mermaids back to civilization.

[Dracula]

I observe that we haven't been attacked by aliens yet. Doesn't mean it can't happen as far as we can know.

Don't like the planters example?

Fine. The early explorers didn't have any idea what was out in the ocean. For all they knew they would lead a giant army of flesh-eating mermaids back to civilization.

You cannot find a good example. A sailor could expect a harder storm or smth but not something totally extreme. Look at the pic in the first post. The spirit of exploration is inapplicable to this.

[Rich86]

What marrow said!

[Rich86]

How exactly are you so certain that aliens are going to be evil and eradicate the entire human race ?

How are you so certain they won't be evil?

Sometimes you have to take the risks

And sometimes you have to realise what you are gambling with you cannot afford to lose!

[The Cobra]

How are you so certain they won't be evil?

It's like arguing on how a coin will flip when it falls, there's no point.

And sometimes you have to realise what you are gambling with you cannot afford to lose!

I'm willing to afford the loses

[Claudius Gothicus]

Yes it's reckless and stupid we're all gonna die.

No seriously I think the probability of finding extraterrestrial life capable of reaching our planet is quite low let alone them being Independence Day kind of aliens.