Will we have the tools to spot nearby aliens by 2030?

[Harshaw]

No, the central point of the thread was having the ability, not whether we were ready....

Then . . . why did you ask? I dunno, dude; I was responding in what by all appearances was the intent of your thread.

If extraterrestrial life were to contact us directly, i.e Arrive in orbit/solar system, then it would be generally safe to assume that the inherent technological advancement required to achieve such travel would render us at least vastly technologically inferior

Most likely, though technology isn't necessarily symmetrical. They could have found a way to travel without being as advanced in other areas.

and would infer an advanced societal infrastructure.

No, superior technology doesn't imply an "advanced societal infrastructure."

Whether we would consider such things as their societal/cultural make-up advanced outside of the sphere of their technology would be a questionable.

But . . . you just did, directly above.

For us to detect life does not infer such superiority.Only the presence of life.

That is correct. So what would we need to be "ready" for?

 

[Dittohead not!]

I suppose its almost an oxymoron.

If we are contacted by electro magnetic signal and no other then its the philosophical readiness. If an advanced species has overcome the vast interstellar distances and time dilation then i doubt we could ever be ready.

Lets just hope when it does happen that we get to have a few phone/Skype dates before we meet up and decide whether to offer a nightcap.

It would be interesting to ask a few pertinent questions, too, like "Is faster than light travel really possible?" Where, exactly, are you from?" "How many dimensions does the universe really have?" and perhaps the big question that humans have wondered about ever since the Olduvai Gorge: "Is there life after death?"

 

[Hdreamz]

Then . . . why did you ask? I dunno, dude; I was responding in what by all appearances was the intent of your thread.

I cannot see where in this thread i said that anyone's interpretation of being ready was incorrect? Nor have I said we knew what ready was, i just gave my opinion. I am unsure as to what you have taken so much objection!

Most likely, though technology isn't necessarily symmetrical. They could have found a way to travel without being as advanced in other areas.

No, superior technology doesn't imply an "advanced societal infrastructure."

But . . . you just did, directly above.

I mentioned that advanced technology would require advanced societal infrastructure, not an advanced society or culture. I agree with you that it could be asymmetrical.

That is correct. So what would we need to be "ready" for?

The discovery of life, even bacterial life would in my opinion be the greatest discovery made by humanity. It would shatter many theological arguments and completely change many aspects of our philosophical and cultural outlook.

 

[Hdreamz]

It would be interesting to ask a few pertinent questions, too, like "Is faster than light travel really possible?" Where, exactly, are you from?" "How many dimensions does the universe really have?" and perhaps the big question that humans have wondered about ever since the Olduvai Gorge: "Is there life after death?"

It would be ironic if there were life among the stars but without the ability to ever touch each other except through radio communication taking thousands/millions of years. Eternally separated by the void and all with the same unanswerable questions.

 

[Harshaw]

I cannot see where in this thread i said that anyone's interpretation of being ready was incorrect? Nor have I said we knew what ready was, i just gave my opinion. I am unsure as to what you have taken so much objection!

I'm not "objecting." :roll: It's just impossible to have a meaningful conversation -- and to answer a question you asked -- if the thing being asked about isn't defined.

I mentioned that advanced technology would require advanced societal infrastructure, not an advanced society or culture.

What is the difference?

The discovery of life, even bacterial life would in my opinion be the greatest discovery made by humanity. It would shatter many theological arguments and completely change many aspects of our philosophical and cultural outlook.

Nah, I don't think the discovery of simple life somewhere else will have much effect on anything. The assumption it exists is, for whatever reasons, pretty much baked into the cake already.

 

[Harshaw]

It would be ironic if there were life among the stars but without the ability to ever touch each other except through radio communication taking thousands/millions of years. Eternally separated by the void and all with the same unanswerable questions.

Not sure "ironic" is the right word. That would imply there should be some contact between them, and there's no reason there should be.

 

[Dittohead not!]

It would be ironic if there were life among the stars but without the ability to ever touch each other except through radio communication taking thousands/millions of years. Eternally separated by the void and all with the same unanswerable questions.

Wouldn't it though? And that is exactly how it could be.

Maybe one day, we'll get a broadcast from a civilization that sent it millions of years ago and has long since perished.

 

[Hdreamz]

I'm not "objecting." :roll: It's just impossible to have a meaningful conversation -- and to answer a question you asked -- if the thing being asked about isn't defined.

Okay, then lets move on from this point as we arn't really getting anywhere...

What is the difference?

You can have an advanced societal infrastructure and at the same time have a subjectively unadvanced society. An example would be Apartheid South Africa..
It had top performing schools, hospitals, military etc... but yet was backwards in the way it viewed large sections of its population, the rule of law etc...

Nah, I don't think the discovery of simple life somewhere else will have much effect on anything. The assumption it exists is, for whatever reasons, pretty much baked into the cake already.

Day to day effects for the majority of the population, i agree will be pretty anti-climactic...

 

[Hdreamz]

Not sure "ironic" is the right word. That would imply there should be some contact between them, and there's no reason there should be.

Perhaps not, and Ironic perhaps isnt the right word, but its the one that springs to mind for me at least. I think life has a deep seated compulsion to seek out other life...

 

[Hdreamz]

Wouldn't it though? And that is exactly how it could be.

Maybe one day, we'll get a broadcast from a civilization that sent it millions of years ago and has long since perished.

Well seeing as the 1936 Berlin Olympics is likely the first broadcast that would reach any would be listeners, they will unfortunately get a good 10 years of us at our most violent. Perhaps they might not want to call back for a while.

 

[Dittohead not!]

Well seeing as the 1936 Berlin Olympics is likely the first broadcast that would reach any would be listeners, they will unfortunately get a good 10 years of us at our most violent. Perhaps they might not want to call back for a while.

They might use some of our situation comedies as morality plays of what not to do as well.

 

[Harshaw]

Perhaps not, and Ironic perhaps isnt the right word, but its the one that springs to mind for me at least. I think life has a deep seated compulsion to seek out other life...

Human life seems to. Doesn't mean other kinds do.

Though for the most part, life does seek out other life . . . for food.

 

[Jango]

What does "ready for it" even mean?

My take: an unequivocal first contact with extraterrestrials, as in witnessed by thousands/millions or more, would undoubtedly and fundamentally change things for us down here on the ground. Whether or not they come in peace would be among the first questions. The realization that we're NOT alone could and probably would be frightening to many, particularly those who never believed before. I believe there would be ramifications on religions. Militaries and intelligence agencies around the world would have their backs against the proverbial wall. I suspect there would be a bonanza on the stock markets. Grocery stores would be emptied. Gas prices would go up, way up. World leaders would scramble to calm their populations and to find a delegation to communicate with the extraterrestrials. There would be probably a run on the banks. Crime would skyrocket. The media would be going in every direction which would only make matters worse.

Society wide, we're not ready for the discovery that we're not the top predator in the universe like most of us like to think. Suddenly, we would realize how small we are in the scheme of things. That wouldn't bode well for many. There would be a massive breakdown. Look at how crazy people get over Black Friday sales. Those people, what Walter Lippmann called the 'bewildered herd', they'd lose their minds.

 

[UtahBill]

We'll find out when the time comes. My bet is that we won't be.

READY? OR RIPE? Aliens may find us before we find them, and I bet they know all about meat tenderizers and BBQ sauce....

 

[rhinefire]

Since military's everywhere are working on stealth to the point of being invisible it would stand to reason that an advanced technology would have mastered stealth or invisibility so they could be sitting right next to you. Or perhaps they are from another dimension and you just walked right through one of them. Ever hear a sound then go look to see what it was and find nothing?

 

[Dittohead not!]

READY? OR RIPE? Aliens may find us before we find them, and I bet they know all about meat tenderizers and BBQ sauce....

and they won't even have to waste time fattening us up.

 

[SayMyName]

This might help.

How to spot an alien

 

[Deuce]

Most likely, though technology isn't necessarily symmetrical. They could have found a way to travel without being as advanced in other areas.

I think they're essentially guaranteed to be vastly superior in virtually every area, at least any areas that matter in any military or strategic sense. If they're hostile, we're screwed. The energy required for interstellar travel necessarily grants one the ability to smash anyone unfortunate enough to be at the bottom of a gravity well. Space is the highest of all high grounds. If you can get to Earth, you can get to the asteroid belt and nudge a dozen giant space rocks into a collision course.

 

[Bodi]

I think they're essentially guaranteed to be vastly superior in virtually every area, at least any areas that matter in any military or strategic sense. If they're hostile, we're screwed. The energy required for interstellar travel necessarily grants one the ability to smash anyone unfortunate enough to be at the bottom of a gravity well. Space is the highest of all high grounds. If you can get to Earth, you can get to the asteroid belt and nudge a dozen giant space rocks into a collision course.

That is the silly part of these Alien Invasion movies... like they would waste their time actually landing on Earth to wipe us out. They could use asteroids to blast us or just sit up there blasting away with missiles or ray guns. Hell, I bet they could manipulate our atmosphere so that we all die and then just come down and take the resources they want.