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Surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe... (Original Post)
progressoid
May 2012
OP
DetlefK
(16,423 posts)1. What if super-intelligent life is contacting us?
A conversation is only possible, when the two people have something in common. A super-intelligent life-form talking to us could be like explaining the stock market to a toddler.
Warpy
(111,339 posts)2. More like explaining string theory to a toaster.
Face it, we are in the infancy of being able to communicate with other sentient species that surround us on this planet. Lacking a planetary point of reference, how are we going to begin to communicate with a methane breather from Zarkon who communicates chemically?
Goblinmonger
(22,340 posts)3. Fucking methane breathers.
Made me think of Mugwumps in Naked Lunch.
Joseph8th
(228 posts)4. Like explaining reality to a zealot. nt
Starboard Tack
(11,181 posts)5. Isn't that what zealots do? Explain "reality"?
Joseph8th
(228 posts)6. Zealots might explain "reality"...
... but are thoroughly disconnected from reality-sans-air-quotes. I.e., the fact-based shared reality of the sane and rational.
Starboard Tack
(11,181 posts)7. And who determines who is sane and rational?
And why are we talking about zealots? Have you encountered any here?
dmallind
(10,437 posts)8. deductive proofs and inductive arguments, because they are a useful metaphor, and yes