[Shadowfax]

[quote=afx114]I’m not saying that aliens will think/act like us because of some humanistic egotism. It’s because the Universe is made up of all the same stuff. It all follows all of the same laws. These laws guide things in the universe to be similar: There are galaxies like ours. There are solar systems like ours. There are planets like ours. There are environments like the environments on earth. Take the same elements, governed by the same laws, in the same environments, and you can reasonably assume that there will be similar results. If I pour some vinnegar in some baking soda, I can reasonably assume that it will always fizz. Because it always does.

No, I don’t think aliens will look like us. They won’t have skinny bodies with big heads and big eyes. But I do believe that evolution will find the path of least resistance, and “curiosity” and “exploration” are part of our brains for a reason. Perhaps they are a requirement for life itself… you know, to ensure your existence. Wouldn’t any intelligent being consider expansion and exploration part of its duty to preserve its existence?

THAT is why I think aliens are out there looking. Not because I want to feel special – but because the universe itself demands it of them. They aren’t out there looking for us specifically.. they’re just looking.

Or maybe I’m just batshit insane. :)[/quote]

I think any sentient species will be out there looking. But I think your assumption that everything works the same everywhere is incorrect. While certain molecular elements may be necessary to support life, how gravity effects those chemical reactions is untested (as far as my latest versions of Popular Science and their ilk have published). If life were supportable on Jupiter, for example, its gravity and other aspects would drastically effect how such life would express itself. Also, I think people are generally arrogant (like how we create god(s) generally in our own image or in the images of things we have experienced). I think we are severely limited by our own senses–dogs and whales,for instance, can hear frequencies, high and low, that we can’t. To think that other beings will have experiences like we do or will form genetically and molecularly like we do is close minded and arrogant. IMHO.

[Shadowfax]

[quote=afx114]I’m not saying that aliens will think/act like us because of some humanistic egotism. It’s because the Universe is made up of all the same stuff. It all follows all of the same laws. These laws guide things in the universe to be similar: There are galaxies like ours. There are solar systems like ours. There are planets like ours. There are environments like the environments on earth. Take the same elements, governed by the same laws, in the same environments, and you can reasonably assume that there will be similar results. If I pour some vinnegar in some baking soda, I can reasonably assume that it will always fizz. Because it always does.

No, I don’t think aliens will look like us. They won’t have skinny bodies with big heads and big eyes. But I do believe that evolution will find the path of least resistance, and “curiosity” and “exploration” are part of our brains for a reason. Perhaps they are a requirement for life itself… you know, to ensure your existence. Wouldn’t any intelligent being consider expansion and exploration part of its duty to preserve its existence?

THAT is why I think aliens are out there looking. Not because I want to feel special – but because the universe itself demands it of them. They aren’t out there looking for us specifically.. they’re just looking.

Or maybe I’m just batshit insane. :)[/quote]

I think any sentient species will be out there looking. But I think your assumption that everything works the same everywhere is incorrect. While certain molecular elements may be necessary to support life, how gravity effects those chemical reactions is untested (as far as my latest versions of Popular Science and their ilk have published). If life were supportable on Jupiter, for example, its gravity and other aspects would drastically effect how such life would express itself. Also, I think people are generally arrogant (like how we create god(s) generally in our own image or in the images of things we have experienced). I think we are severely limited by our own senses–dogs and whales,for instance, can hear frequencies, high and low, that we can’t. To think that other beings will have experiences like we do or will form genetically and molecularly like we do is close minded and arrogant. IMHO.

[Shadowfax]

[quote=afx114]I’m not saying that aliens will think/act like us because of some humanistic egotism. It’s because the Universe is made up of all the same stuff. It all follows all of the same laws. These laws guide things in the universe to be similar: There are galaxies like ours. There are solar systems like ours. There are planets like ours. There are environments like the environments on earth. Take the same elements, governed by the same laws, in the same environments, and you can reasonably assume that there will be similar results. If I pour some vinnegar in some baking soda, I can reasonably assume that it will always fizz. Because it always does.

No, I don’t think aliens will look like us. They won’t have skinny bodies with big heads and big eyes. But I do believe that evolution will find the path of least resistance, and “curiosity” and “exploration” are part of our brains for a reason. Perhaps they are a requirement for life itself… you know, to ensure your existence. Wouldn’t any intelligent being consider expansion and exploration part of its duty to preserve its existence?

THAT is why I think aliens are out there looking. Not because I want to feel special – but because the universe itself demands it of them. They aren’t out there looking for us specifically.. they’re just looking.

Or maybe I’m just batshit insane. :)[/quote]

I think any sentient species will be out there looking. But I think your assumption that everything works the same everywhere is incorrect. While certain molecular elements may be necessary to support life, how gravity effects those chemical reactions is untested (as far as my latest versions of Popular Science and their ilk have published). If life were supportable on Jupiter, for example, its gravity and other aspects would drastically effect how such life would express itself. Also, I think people are generally arrogant (like how we create god(s) generally in our own image or in the images of things we have experienced). I think we are severely limited by our own senses–dogs and whales,for instance, can hear frequencies, high and low, that we can’t. To think that other beings will have experiences like we do or will form genetically and molecularly like we do is close minded and arrogant. IMHO.

[Shadowfax]

[quote=afx114]I’m not saying that aliens will think/act like us because of some humanistic egotism. It’s because the Universe is made up of all the same stuff. It all follows all of the same laws. These laws guide things in the universe to be similar: There are galaxies like ours. There are solar systems like ours. There are planets like ours. There are environments like the environments on earth. Take the same elements, governed by the same laws, in the same environments, and you can reasonably assume that there will be similar results. If I pour some vinnegar in some baking soda, I can reasonably assume that it will always fizz. Because it always does.

No, I don’t think aliens will look like us. They won’t have skinny bodies with big heads and big eyes. But I do believe that evolution will find the path of least resistance, and “curiosity” and “exploration” are part of our brains for a reason. Perhaps they are a requirement for life itself… you know, to ensure your existence. Wouldn’t any intelligent being consider expansion and exploration part of its duty to preserve its existence?

THAT is why I think aliens are out there looking. Not because I want to feel special – but because the universe itself demands it of them. They aren’t out there looking for us specifically.. they’re just looking.

Or maybe I’m just batshit insane. :)[/quote]

I think any sentient species will be out there looking. But I think your assumption that everything works the same everywhere is incorrect. While certain molecular elements may be necessary to support life, how gravity effects those chemical reactions is untested (as far as my latest versions of Popular Science and their ilk have published). If life were supportable on Jupiter, for example, its gravity and other aspects would drastically effect how such life would express itself. Also, I think people are generally arrogant (like how we create god(s) generally in our own image or in the images of things we have experienced). I think we are severely limited by our own senses–dogs and whales,for instance, can hear frequencies, high and low, that we can’t. To think that other beings will have experiences like we do or will form genetically and molecularly like we do is close minded and arrogant. IMHO.

[Shadowfax]

Urbanrealtor:

Here, here!

[Shadowfax]

Urbanrealtor:

Here, here!

[Shadowfax]

Urbanrealtor:

Here, here!

[Shadowfax]

Urbanrealtor:

Here, here!

[Shadowfax]

Urbanrealtor:

Here, here!

[Shadowfax]

[quote=surveyor]

gandalf, you have a documented history of attempting to put words in my mouth. You constantly assign me positions that I do not have and assume political stances that I have never advocated. So you’ll have to do better than “oh, I know how to read because I went to Columbia.” And for one thing, I’m not partisan. The fact that you keep bringing it up means that you are partisan yourself, thereby contradicting your claims to be a “moderate.”

I do find it ironic that you assert that you have reading comprehension and then admit that you have difficulty reading my posts. Doesn’t that prove my point about your reading comprehension?

By the way, when you say you “tune out”, that means YOU ARE NOT READING.

So while I’ve already answered your questions ad naueseum, it makes no difference because you’ve already admitted that you are not reading them. So you should try “not posting.” My content stands for itself.

Reading is fundamental.

By the way, (and this is a reading comprehension thing too) I am saying that the question, the labels (of conservative/liberal policies) is IRRELEVANT. That doesn’t mean that what I am posting is IRRELEVANT.

Geez, try reading.

[/quote]

Not to beat a dead horse, Surveyor, but you HAVE said repeatedly that your position on g’s questions re foreign policy options is irrelevant and then spent the rest of each post just taking him to task for several (rather dull and insulting) paragraphs. I think, in all fairness, all g is asking is for you to provide your opinions re foreign policy. That might spark his interest enough to actually read your post.

[Shadowfax]

[quote=surveyor]

gandalf, you have a documented history of attempting to put words in my mouth. You constantly assign me positions that I do not have and assume political stances that I have never advocated. So you’ll have to do better than “oh, I know how to read because I went to Columbia.” And for one thing, I’m not partisan. The fact that you keep bringing it up means that you are partisan yourself, thereby contradicting your claims to be a “moderate.”

I do find it ironic that you assert that you have reading comprehension and then admit that you have difficulty reading my posts. Doesn’t that prove my point about your reading comprehension?

By the way, when you say you “tune out”, that means YOU ARE NOT READING.

So while I’ve already answered your questions ad naueseum, it makes no difference because you’ve already admitted that you are not reading them. So you should try “not posting.” My content stands for itself.

Reading is fundamental.

By the way, (and this is a reading comprehension thing too) I am saying that the question, the labels (of conservative/liberal policies) is IRRELEVANT. That doesn’t mean that what I am posting is IRRELEVANT.

Geez, try reading.

[/quote]

Not to beat a dead horse, Surveyor, but you HAVE said repeatedly that your position on g’s questions re foreign policy options is irrelevant and then spent the rest of each post just taking him to task for several (rather dull and insulting) paragraphs. I think, in all fairness, all g is asking is for you to provide your opinions re foreign policy. That might spark his interest enough to actually read your post.

[Shadowfax]

[quote=surveyor]

gandalf, you have a documented history of attempting to put words in my mouth. You constantly assign me positions that I do not have and assume political stances that I have never advocated. So you’ll have to do better than “oh, I know how to read because I went to Columbia.” And for one thing, I’m not partisan. The fact that you keep bringing it up means that you are partisan yourself, thereby contradicting your claims to be a “moderate.”

I do find it ironic that you assert that you have reading comprehension and then admit that you have difficulty reading my posts. Doesn’t that prove my point about your reading comprehension?

By the way, when you say you “tune out”, that means YOU ARE NOT READING.

So while I’ve already answered your questions ad naueseum, it makes no difference because you’ve already admitted that you are not reading them. So you should try “not posting.” My content stands for itself.

Reading is fundamental.

By the way, (and this is a reading comprehension thing too) I am saying that the question, the labels (of conservative/liberal policies) is IRRELEVANT. That doesn’t mean that what I am posting is IRRELEVANT.

Geez, try reading.

[/quote]

Not to beat a dead horse, Surveyor, but you HAVE said repeatedly that your position on g’s questions re foreign policy options is irrelevant and then spent the rest of each post just taking him to task for several (rather dull and insulting) paragraphs. I think, in all fairness, all g is asking is for you to provide your opinions re foreign policy. That might spark his interest enough to actually read your post.

[Shadowfax]

[quote=surveyor]

gandalf, you have a documented history of attempting to put words in my mouth. You constantly assign me positions that I do not have and assume political stances that I have never advocated. So you’ll have to do better than “oh, I know how to read because I went to Columbia.” And for one thing, I’m not partisan. The fact that you keep bringing it up means that you are partisan yourself, thereby contradicting your claims to be a “moderate.”

I do find it ironic that you assert that you have reading comprehension and then admit that you have difficulty reading my posts. Doesn’t that prove my point about your reading comprehension?

By the way, when you say you “tune out”, that means YOU ARE NOT READING.

So while I’ve already answered your questions ad naueseum, it makes no difference because you’ve already admitted that you are not reading them. So you should try “not posting.” My content stands for itself.

Reading is fundamental.

By the way, (and this is a reading comprehension thing too) I am saying that the question, the labels (of conservative/liberal policies) is IRRELEVANT. That doesn’t mean that what I am posting is IRRELEVANT.

Geez, try reading.

[/quote]

Not to beat a dead horse, Surveyor, but you HAVE said repeatedly that your position on g’s questions re foreign policy options is irrelevant and then spent the rest of each post just taking him to task for several (rather dull and insulting) paragraphs. I think, in all fairness, all g is asking is for you to provide your opinions re foreign policy. That might spark his interest enough to actually read your post.

[Shadowfax]

[quote=surveyor]

gandalf, you have a documented history of attempting to put words in my mouth. You constantly assign me positions that I do not have and assume political stances that I have never advocated. So you’ll have to do better than “oh, I know how to read because I went to Columbia.” And for one thing, I’m not partisan. The fact that you keep bringing it up means that you are partisan yourself, thereby contradicting your claims to be a “moderate.”

I do find it ironic that you assert that you have reading comprehension and then admit that you have difficulty reading my posts. Doesn’t that prove my point about your reading comprehension?

By the way, when you say you “tune out”, that means YOU ARE NOT READING.

So while I’ve already answered your questions ad naueseum, it makes no difference because you’ve already admitted that you are not reading them. So you should try “not posting.” My content stands for itself.

Reading is fundamental.

By the way, (and this is a reading comprehension thing too) I am saying that the question, the labels (of conservative/liberal policies) is IRRELEVANT. That doesn’t mean that what I am posting is IRRELEVANT.

Geez, try reading.

[/quote]

Not to beat a dead horse, Surveyor, but you HAVE said repeatedly that your position on g’s questions re foreign policy options is irrelevant and then spent the rest of each post just taking him to task for several (rather dull and insulting) paragraphs. I think, in all fairness, all g is asking is for you to provide your opinions re foreign policy. That might spark his interest enough to actually read your post.

[Shadowfax]

[quote=sdrealtor]I always thought the concept of raises was rather silly. Employer’s know that most people dread looking for jobs. They know most of their employees are too lazy or too afraid of rejection to chase a better life. The only real way to get a decent raise is to get promoted or find a new job.

Bottomline- If you want more, you need to go out and find it. If you wait for it to come to you, well… we all know how that goes.[/quote]

Those are some sweeping generalizations! I for one 1) don’t dread looking for jobs (in fact I get approached with new opportunites almost every week), 2) and not too lazy to chase a better salary (not sure if that equals a better life–there are trade offs in the professional services industry). People in my field routinely move on every 1-2 years as that is the best way to increase your salary. Raises won’t do it at 3-5%.

[Author]

Posts