# Technology and extra-terrestrials **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 15, 2002, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-and-extra-terrestrials/103776 "2002-04-15T17:15:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Raoul\_Anatherwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@Raoul\_Anatherwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raoul_Anatherwan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-and-extra-terrestrials/103776/21 "2002-04-18T00:07:25Z")
To PARAMETER Re: Scylla Yes, you’re right. As I re-read Scylla’s comments, I see that he was, as he later posted, re-stating my OP, but with more detail than I had intended. But where is the illogic in Scylla’s statements? [easy, brothers, I’m not THAT educated] The way Scylla puts it is rather TOO plain. I didn’t want to frighten those whose entrenched belief is that, “things will only get better”, lest I hasten what I see as the ineluctable end. Just wanted to have them consider the possibility. Then, when and if it actually happens, it wouldn’t be so much of a shock. And I had expect at least SOME agreement. I had the temerity to think that the OP was rather hot stuff, disposing of the virtues of technology and also the possibility aliens coming here, all in one swell foop. The way I saw it, a superior alien technology would collapse of its own weight long before they had discovered faster than light travel, and were able to get here. If they land soon and make their presence known, boy will I be surprised; about as surprised as I’ll be if Jesus comes back again. [Oh no, not both at the same time–I can’t stand it.] ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-and-extra-terrestrials/103776/22 "2002-04-18T00:49:30Z")
> [@](#): > > The way I saw it, a superior alien technology would collapse of its own weight long before they had discovered faster than light travel, and were able to get here. Only if the psychology, economic and social structures of these alleged aliens allowed for such a collapse. Even our own Humam civilization shows no unambigious signs of collapse. As for being a Liberal–so what? You seem like the kind of negative thinker that despairs before the race is over, or panics before the battle is lost. You seem to believe that failure is manditory–to a degree this is true. If you despair, you cannnot succeed. ---
**Author:** ![Raoul\_Anatherwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@Raoul\_Anatherwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raoul_Anatherwan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-and-extra-terrestrials/103776/23 "2002-04-18T15:21:25Z")
For: Tracer ``` Yes, but they will be the meek bacteria. ``` For: Bosda D’chi of Tricor ``` Yes to most. Concerning aliens, almost anything is possible. I'm a bit of a Liberal myself, but my knee has stiffened thru the years. I'm definitely a negative thinker--that way I'm never disappointed. If bad things don't happen, I say, "Great! Oh boy! Bonus! Bonus!" If bad things do happen I say, "No problem; I figured it would be this way." And to succeed requires more vanity than I care to manifest. But as to the signs of imminent collapse...seems to me we're riding the edge of the razor...or maybe it's just that our country could be the first to go... But, enough of this depressing shit. Did you hear that France and Italy declared war on each other? Nobody won, because both sides surrendered... Hatemail gladly accepted. Just don't overload my inbox--the porno might not get thru. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Raoul\_Anatherwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@Raoul\_Anatherwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raoul_Anatherwan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2002, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-and-extra-terrestrials/103776/24 "2002-04-18T18:13:55Z")
To: Raoul Anatherwan From: Raoul Anatherwan What do you mean, “…our country…”? Ethnocentrist. OOOOOOOPS! I forgot we were Internationale. Apologies to all other countries…[especially France and Italy] I’d be glad to embolden members’ names–I think it looks kinda neat–but I can’t figure out how to do it. Just point me in the right direction. Thanks. I’ve only had a computer since last December, and don’t know my Internet Express from my Outlook Explorer. I decided to get a PC because I had heard that Apple computers had a “core” problem. And now, organized crime is sending me “Hitmail.” Well, I could go on, but the drugs are starting to wear off, which means I’ll have to face reality without the help of my multiple personalities. We hate it when that happens. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-and-extra-terrestrials/103776/25 "2002-04-19T14:11:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Raoul Anatherwan \* > I don’t have the money to be able to take a year off and run around naked, even if I could get away with it. I might like to try, though. Running around naked in the wilderness doesn’t cost anything. The way I see it, you can’t afford NOT to. To: Msmith537 From: Msmith537 Re: Tinfoil hat Note to self. The generic aluminum foil works just as well as the name brands for deflecting alien mind control rays. Don’t forget you have a 50% off coupon. ---
**Author:** ![Raoul\_Anatherwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@Raoul\_Anatherwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raoul_Anatherwan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-and-extra-terrestrials/103776/26 "2002-04-20T01:17:32Z")
**msmith537** Yes, but then my shortcomings would be even MORE obvious. Figured I better get this in before somebody else did. ---
**Author:** ![Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tyrrell_mcallister/32/16772_2.png) [@Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyrrell_McAllister)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-and-extra-terrestrials/103776/27 "2002-04-20T06:36:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Parameter Π² \* > \*\*I think that you are missing the most important aspect of all: What is meant by the word “superior”? > > I suspect that the species-trait which counts most your context, **Tyrrell McAllister** , is one which is very widely attributed to humankind: **Curiosity**. Wisdom or “superiority” has little to do with anything. Humans, and perhaps all primates, are curious individuals and that, if nothing else, **should** lead us to want to travel into space–as well as dig below the Earth’s surface and scour beneath Her seas. 🙂 \*\* I’m still trying to figure out how my user name appeared totally out-of-context in this discussion. We don’t have WHOVIEW on this board, do we? ---
**Author:** ![Sea\_Sorbust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Sea\_Sorbust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sea_Sorbust)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2002, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-and-extra-terrestrials/103776/28 "2002-04-20T18:18:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by \*\*Tyrrell McAllister \* > \*\* > I’m still trying to figure out how my user name appeared totally out-of-context in this discussion. We don’t have WHOVIEW on this board, do we? Now that is wierd. My best guess, **Tyrrell McAllister,** is a very, very low probability occurrence–on three simultaneous factors. I don’t want to misspell anyone’s name so I routinely highlight the name, use CTRL+C to put it exactly correctly on the clipboard, then use CTRL+V to paste it where I want it in the posting. No typing errors; no spelling errors. (Like most boys, I _hated_ spelling class in school and and so, to this day, many years later, don’t do too well at spelling.) I sometimes, but not often, do the highlighting but forget to press CTRL+C to copy the name. The mistake usually shows up as I get, for example, a URL instead of someone’s name. This time, however–as a second low probability occurrence–your user-name, **Tyrrell McAllister,** was on my clipboard from another reply in another thread; and it has two names with a space between–both almost the same length as the target-name that I intended to type: **Raoul Anatherwan**. Since the cut & paste is a mechanical operation–in which almost-nothing can go wrong–I didn’t notice the error. :o :eek: 🙂 Alas. Sorry. It perhaps explains why **Raoul Anatherwan** never noticed my reply. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-and-extra-terrestrials/103776.md?page=1)