Cassini finds WATER!

[dsharits]

I don't see how water is such a big discovery. It's hydrogen and oxygen, big deal. People are acting like they found life, but it's not even remotely life, nor is it the so-called 'building block' of life. It's water, nothing more, nothing less.

 

[~Shard~]

That's a good point.

And part of their intelligence may be in seeing that we are not. They might realize that, fail as we would, we might try to harm them and/or harm ourselves in the process.

Exactly. As I said in a previous post, they have no reason to reveal themselves to us, because it would be futile. We are not ready for that yet as a civilization, nor could we fully appreciate what they are and have to offer. The military would get involved (as it has in the past) and no good things can come of that...

 

[zach]

i definitely should not be posting this here, but stubeeef.. your avatar is one of the funniest things i have ever seen.

 

[emw]

i definitely should not be posting this here, but stubeeef.. your avatar is one of the funniest things i have ever seen.

Then I guess I shouldn't post this either - I've met him, and that's what he looks like. It's really disturbing to watch him cheer for UNC after a couple of beers.

One could argue though that if an alien civilization is truly advanced, it would be wise enough to see that there is no need for violence, conquering, war, etc. and would not engage in such activities. They would be smart enough and "know better". This is one of the reasons why we humans are still primitive in the grand scheme of things.

I agree with that, in the context of defining "civilization" in human terms. I would hope that at least the concept of "civilized" would be universal, insofar as saying that all beings would eventually get to the point you describe, if they survive that long.