4 ms·

The reason we have inadequate evidence is the relatively low priority of SETI compared to other science. SETI has literally been living off financial scraps fo

The reason we have inadequate evidence is the relatively low priority of SETI compared to other science. SETI has literally been living off financial scraps for decades. If a couple of billionaires hadn't funded efforts with very generous personal donations there would be almost no SETI at all. And if SETI had been funded properly - which would still be a drop in the ocean compared to other government spending, nationally and internationally - we'd have more observations to draw on from other sources. This is all quite strange considering how much of a game changer and scientific motivator evidence of ETI would be.

ComputerGuru 6y ago
> This is all quite strange considering how much of a game changer and scientific motivator evidence of ETI would be. All conspiracy theories aside, there is an argument to be made that something with the potential to completely undo the status quo would, in a less-than-ideal world, have a hard time finding funding from those at the top of the totem pole of power.
TheBlight 6y ago
>This is all quite strange considering how much of a game changer and scientific motivator evidence of ETI would be. Well not only a motivator in an inspirational sense but if we can actually get our hands on ET debris who knows what technical leaps we might achieve by attempting to reverse engineer it/parts of it.
BatFastard 6y ago
It could be that the government knows ETs exist, so it is pretty much of a moot point to spend money on searching for them.
- PopsiclePete 6y ago
  Twenty years ago, I'd have been more willing to agree with that. I could see the US Gov't as some sort of sinister, hyper-competent (and even malevolent?) force that could definitely keep a secret like that forever from us, and "disappear" those that get too nosy. Now? Not so much. Looking at who our "representatives" are - failed football coaches, regular conspiracy nuts - there's no way in hell that this "knowledge" would remain locked away for years, decades. Not with clowns like these in charge.

ComputerGuru 6y ago

> This is all quite strange considering how much of a game changer and scientific motivator evidence of ETI would be. All conspiracy theories aside, there is an argument to be made that something with the potential to completely undo the status quo would, in a less-than-ideal world, have a hard time finding funding from those at the top of the totem pole of power.

TheBlight 6y ago

>This is all quite strange considering how much of a game changer and scientific motivator evidence of ETI would be. Well not only a motivator in an inspirational sense but if we can actually get our hands on ET debris who knows what technical leaps we might achieve by attempting to reverse engineer it/parts of it.

BatFastard 6y ago

It could be that the government knows ETs exist, so it is pretty much of a moot point to spend money on searching for them.

PopsiclePete 6y ago
Twenty years ago, I'd have been more willing to agree with that. I could see the US Gov't as some sort of sinister, hyper-competent (and even malevolent?) force that could definitely keep a secret like that forever from us, and "disappear" those that get too nosy. Now? Not so much. Looking at who our "representatives" are - failed football coaches, regular conspiracy nuts - there's no way in hell that this "knowledge" would remain locked away for years, decades. Not with clowns like these in charge.