this post was submitted on 07 Dec 2023
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[–] gnomesaiyan@lemmy.world 56 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Fermi Paradox. Are there aliens? Of course. Are they in our current time and local space? Probably not. It's it fun to think about? Yes, that's why science fiction exists.

[–] DaCookeyMonsta@lemmy.world 25 points 11 months ago (3 children)

More importantly, are they a lifeforms that we would even recognize as alive? The chances of an alien being humanoid are even slimmer. Then there's whether they develop intelligence, whether they care about space, and whether they survive long enough to get anywhere.

[–] Globulart@lemmy.world 16 points 11 months ago (2 children)

If intelligent life exists anywhere else the biggest chance we have of finding anything would be a self sustaining vehicle sent off into space by them at some point. The chances of us being alive at the same time in close enough proximity to encounter each other is almost zero.

If a vessel could wander space endlessly we have a slightly bigger (but still almost zero) chance of encountering it.

[–] DaCookeyMonsta@lemmy.world 16 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The Old "will the Screensaver hit the corner" method

[–] Globulart@lemmy.world 12 points 11 months ago

Nono I said ALMOST zero

[–] Beetschnapps@lemmy.world 10 points 11 months ago

This was one of the only cool parts of the film Oblivion. Basically if an intelligence can cross that distance to us it would likely be a digital intelligence. That and if you want to fuck humanity without touching them, crack the moon.

[–] THE_STORM_BLADE@lemmy.world 15 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Counterpoint, why do dolphins and sharks look so alike when they have a completely different phylogenetic tree? They separately developed traits that were very well suited to the medium of water. Convergent evolution means that it isn't entirely unlikely that whatever we may find has similar traits to beings on earth, because we all exist in a universe of solids, liquids, and gasses.

[–] Gabu@lemmy.ml 10 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Counter-counterpoint: both species come from the same tree of life, several of their traits taken for granted come from previous species' adaptation, e.g. bilateral symmetry. When you see, say, a molusk with the same bodyplan as a shark, we can talk about it being a common possibility.

[–] Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

What about the whole crabification thing?

[–] Gabu@lemmy.ml 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

While carcinisation does exist as a phenomenon, I believe all examples involve animals of the same order, i.e. it's even less extreme than comparing a shark and a dolphin.

[–] Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 11 months ago

Ah fair enough.

[–] sciencesebi@feddit.ro 9 points 11 months ago

It's a fair point, but I guess we would recognise them, especially if carbon-based.

Think of another issue. We evolved in 6 million years. Assuming it takes 4 billion for the planet to form and organisms to form, that means there's 8 bln years where civ can start. What's the chance that they are at a similar tech level as us? Really small.

Do you stop to talk to an ant on a field trip?

[–] kubica@kbin.social 55 points 11 months ago (2 children)

At this point I just get mad when they say anything about aliens, it is always to take attention away from other important things.

[–] Honytawk@lemmy.zip 19 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Indeed.

I suspect the same with Area 51. They used aliens to cover up even worse stuff. Like torture techniques, biological weapons and other stuff banned by international accords like the Geneva convention.

[–] c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world 9 points 11 months ago

Area 51 was used for testing prototype stealth vehicles like the B-2 Spirit, get your conspiracy shit outta here.

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Area 51 is there so you don't look for area 52.

[–] Chriswild@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Honestly the whole thing felt like glimpses of why the DoD can't pass an audit not aliens.

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 44 points 11 months ago (1 children)

They were covering up the news about the ocean srreams possibly dying by 2025. They did it to cover up the news that they're officially destroying the planet.

[–] technicalogical@lemmy.world 59 points 11 months ago (4 children)

You do realize the media could run a week straight of news about ocean currents dying and half the population would challenge whether or not we even have or need ocean currents.

[–] YourFavouriteNPC@feddit.de 24 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Ocean "currents"? I ain't never seen no goddamn "currents" in the ocean, boy. Have you? They just be sayin' these things to keep us distracted from how their undloadin' trucks full of illegals in are country to steal are jobs and sell drugs and live off of welfare!

[–] atx_aquarian@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago

Dey took are jarbs!!

[–] SuckMyWang@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

Yeh we ain’t stupid. How would grapes get sundried if they’re in the ocean anyway?

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Are you saying the other half wouldn't demand action?

This isn't about what the idiots would do. This is about what leaders would've been asked to do if the headlines were about the oceans and not aliens.

Do not do the shady politicians' job for them and help the distraction work... It was to cover so they could remain lazy.

[–] c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Lol as if the half that cares has gotten their politicians to do anything about it when they actually have control.

[–] Gabu@lemmy.ml 2 points 11 months ago

Right, great idea - let's all just give up and jump from the top of a cliff headfirst into rocks. No, wait, what I meant is bad idea. Horrible, horrible idea.

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Seriously, stop doing their work for them. The point was to keep the job less stressful. Just because they'd ignore everyone doesn't mean they want to hear all of those calls to action.

[–] c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world -3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

And my point is that you can shout until your lungs disintegrate and the only thing that really talks is money. Money you ain't giving them and big oil is.

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 0 points 11 months ago

I agree. My point is putting your lips to their ass to blow raspberries doesn't help. A lot of people view it as unironic ass kissing.

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] MeowZedong@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 11 months ago

Also Don't look up how the US military was able to influence that movie! It's uselessly vague or redacted!

[–] SnokenKeekaGuard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 19 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Have you tried saying, "come out come out wherever you are" as you menacingly pace with a hunched back

[–] SuckMyWang@lemmy.world 13 points 11 months ago (2 children)

No but I leave a trail of skittles every time I go out to my tool shed

[–] NaibofTabr@infosec.pub 16 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

Well there's your problem, it should be Reese's Pieces.

[–] SuckMyWang@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

God damn it. I wasted all those skittles for nothing

[–] UrPartnerInCrime@sh.itjust.works 2 points 11 months ago

Nah iev been pretty happy with em please don't stop

[–] Diabolo96@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I've never heard of Reeses Pieces until I listened to this and it's ingrained in my brain now. https://youtu.be/4qMc2JWToeg

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[–] ergifruit@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 11 months ago

that's how you catch stoners, not aliens

[–] sciencesebi@feddit.ro 15 points 11 months ago (1 children)

The truth is that there's crazies everywhere. Even in the military

[–] ComradeKhoumrag@infosec.pub 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

How do you know that truth in particular is the answer?

[–] sciencesebi@feddit.ro 1 points 11 months ago

I don't. But people are acting like one cunt telling a story with no coroboration is a smoking gun. It's not.

[–] WaxedWookie@lemmy.world 12 points 11 months ago (1 children)

If there were aliens, there's zero chance Trump could resist bragging that he knows all about them.

[–] ThatWeirdGuy1001@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

There are military secrets not even presidents are made aware of until necessary.

Truman didn't even know the Manhattan project was a thing for a while

That should scare you. “Leader of the free world.” Oy vey. 🤥

[–] Omega_Haxors@lemmy.ml 6 points 11 months ago

Isn't it funny how every single time there's a huge military fuck-up there's always some kind of confirmation of aliens that pulls everyone away?

[–] electric_nan@lemmy.ml 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Why would the US government be in charge of whether people know about aliens or not?

[–] SuckMyWang@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

Because they know what best for us /s

[–] blaine@kbin.social 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

There was a hearing in the Senate too? I only saw the one in the US House. Does anyone have a link?!

[–] SuckMyWang@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

I think it was a senate committee but I’m some random on the internet so what I say must be fact