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If they're real, and if they have their claimed technology level, why do they only reveal themselves in such a bizarre way? The argument that it's to gradually

by mrob 8y ago

If they're real, and if they have their claimed technology level, why do they only reveal themselves in such a bizarre way? The argument that it's to gradually condition humanity into accepting extraterrestrial life is implausible, because there has been no significant change in their alleged activities for many decades. Why wouldn't they instead plant microbes on Mars, or something like that? They could gradually increase the surprise level until they can reveal themselves openly. Assuming they are real, the aliens do not act in a way consistent with a goal-directed intelligence, which means they are not the product of evolution, which means they are something so strange that the idea of befriending or defeating them makes no sense. They're something more like this story: https://slatestarcodex.com/2015/04/21/universal-love-said-the-cactus-person/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2015/04/21/universal-love-said-th...

narag 8y ago
If they're real, and if they have their claimed technology level, why do they only reveal themselves in such a bizarre way? They only have a tiny poorly manned outpost?
behnamoh 8y ago
You make valid points. For a long time I was looking for such answers. Unfortunately, there aren't many clever arguments like yours anywhere outside of HN. >> Assuming they are real, the aliens do not act in a way consistent with a goal-directed intelligence, which means they are not the product of evolution, which means they are something so strange that the idea of befriending or defeating them makes no sense. This. If - and that's a big if - we assume previous bizarre aerial activities observed by humans were in fact of ET origin, then it's only natural to think of those ETs more like AI (robots) that don't necessarily share our goal-oriented intelligence, but rather possess higher levels of intelligence and their own agenda. As a result, you're right; we wouldn't even begin to understand their purpose cause theirs just has no counterpart in humans.
- MockObject 8y ago
  Even humans don't always behave in clearly goal-oriented activities. Consider how hard it is to explain practical jokes, religious ritual, or modern performance art. ET intelligence would presumably have equally inscrutable motivations. Given the distances and ages required for interstellar travel, these things are more likely unmanned probes than busses filled with tourists. > It has been theorized that a self-replicating starship utilizing relatively conventional theoretical methods of interstellar travel (i.e., no exotic faster-than-light propulsion, and speeds limited to an "average cruising speed" of 0.1c.) could spread throughout a galaxy the size of the Milky Way in as little as half a million years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-replicating_spacecraft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-replicating_spacecraft
pfisch 8y ago
They could just be making observations and taking measurements. Maybe they don't want to interfere and are more interested in studying our development. Or maybe they are scouts that were sent all over the cosmos for the purpose of exploration and they will report back their findings to their home eventually. There are plenty of rational explanations for their behavior, especially if we are extremely far behind them in our technological development.
mcphage 8y ago
> Assuming they are real, the aliens do not act in a way consistent with a goal-directed intelligence Are you sure you know what their goals would be?

by mrob 8y ago

narag 8y ago

If they're real, and if they have their claimed technology level, why do they only reveal themselves in such a bizarre way? They only have a tiny poorly manned outpost?

behnamoh 8y ago

You make valid points. For a long time I was looking for such answers. Unfortunately, there aren't many clever arguments like yours anywhere outside of HN. >> Assuming they are real, the aliens do not act in a way consistent with a goal-directed intelligence, which means they are not the product of evolution, which means they are something so strange that the idea of befriending or defeating them makes no sense. This. If - and that's a big if - we assume previous bizarre aerial activities observed by humans were in fact of ET origin, then it's only natural to think of those ETs more like AI (robots) that don't necessarily share our goal-oriented intelligence, but rather possess higher levels of intelligence and their own agenda. As a result, you're right; we wouldn't even begin to understand their purpose cause theirs just has no counterpart in humans.

MockObject 8y ago
Even humans don't always behave in clearly goal-oriented activities. Consider how hard it is to explain practical jokes, religious ritual, or modern performance art. ET intelligence would presumably have equally inscrutable motivations. Given the distances and ages required for interstellar travel, these things are more likely unmanned probes than busses filled with tourists. > It has been theorized that a self-replicating starship utilizing relatively conventional theoretical methods of interstellar travel (i.e., no exotic faster-than-light propulsion, and speeds limited to an "average cruising speed" of 0.1c.) could spread throughout a galaxy the size of the Milky Way in as little as half a million years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-replicating_spacecraft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-replicating_spacecraft

pfisch 8y ago

They could just be making observations and taking measurements. Maybe they don't want to interfere and are more interested in studying our development. Or maybe they are scouts that were sent all over the cosmos for the purpose of exploration and they will report back their findings to their home eventually. There are plenty of rational explanations for their behavior, especially if we are extremely far behind them in our technological development.

mcphage 8y ago

> Assuming they are real, the aliens do not act in a way consistent with a goal-directed intelligence Are you sure you know what their goals would be?