# why aint the sky filled with ets **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403 "2013-05-15T14:21:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/41 "2013-05-16T02:07:45Z")
We’ve barely even begun to scrape the skies in search of sentient life. There are too many variables in how and what we should or could be looking for, far too little clues as to how dense or sparse this tiny part of the galaxy might be in harboring intelligent life besides only ourselves, and far, far too short a time actually searching — let alone time we’ve actually been able to search — to say with any sort of conviction whether or not ETs are indeed out there, somewhere. As for **o’rion’s** posts, I can’t help but hear it in the post-apocolyptic, far-future, pidgin-like speech of Tom Hanks’s character in Cloud Atlas, though perhaps a bit less intelligible. Do you only have that one phone to post from, **o’rion?** ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/42 "2013-05-16T02:15:30Z")
> [@o\_rion](#): > > Yer right, and I didn’t, although I have explained appearances. > I’m speakin the language of this country. > except for this shit, which I didn’t begin, I don’t > Think I’ve been postin tripe, least not to me, and u > Took the time to read n reply, so I guess u thought > There was some kinda worth to my op. > > Didn’t seem to have A problem with wording or appearance. > > That’s changed apparantly. > > Kinda blowin my mind, this. Style over substance. > > I ask u to change or adapt somehow, before I could take u > Seriously? But yall feel free to do so to me, r anyone, evidently, > Judgin from the ease with which it happens. > > K, so I’m just a noob. But Fuck nemo, way to build a > Goddam piece a shit weakass monocultural board. > > Honest opinion there. Like I came dressed ‘wrong’, and the > Mean girls just can’t stand it. > Gotta flock n peck. > > I’ll answer my question- no, I just took u seriously and replied > Accordingly. > > I stand by my posts. > > Jesus, really. I don’t write well or have anything to contribute. > > There’s at least one cat out there grinnin. It’s less about style over substance ant more about the effort required to translate your posts into something readable in the first place. In other words, it’s annoying and those with even moderate patience will just pass your posts up. Capisce? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/43 "2013-05-16T02:18:30Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > It’s called english and you will find it in any forum on this board. In fact, you’re typing in it! He’s using English words. The combination of which words he uses is the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/44 "2013-05-16T02:19:10Z")
> [@o\_rion](#): > > K, so I’m just a noob. But Fuck nemo, way to build a > Goddam piece a shit weakass monocultural board. > > Honest opinion there. Like I came dressed ‘wrong’, and the > Mean girls just can’t stand it. > Gotta flock n peck. This board is pretty diverse culturally about most things. But one thing that’s highly valued by our board culture is the communication of ideas. You are getting flack not because you’re dressed wrong, but because you choose to communicate in a virtually incomprehensible way. That’s not our fault, it’s yours. ---
**Author:** ![o\_rion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/278dde/32.png) [@o\_rion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/o_rion)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/45 "2013-05-16T02:24:06Z")
Thank you, very much, cmyk. Like to talk more about it but I’m Gonna reread first n give it some Time. U bring up stuff I was hoping To talk about in the first place. I can go to the library as an alternative To posting from my phone. Pretty Limited venue. Tell u the truth, I just don’t think All this stink…over style… Hhhh. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/46 "2013-05-16T02:32:20Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > He’s using English words. The combination of which words he uses is the problem. Nonstandard spelling and inappropriate line breaks. As far as language goes, it’s perfectly comprehensible. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/47 "2013-05-16T02:32:57Z")
> [@o\_rion](#): > > Thank you, very much, cmyk. > Like to talk more about it but I’m > Gonna reread first n give it some > Time. U bring up stuff I was hoping > To talk about in the first place. > > I can go to the library as an alternative > To posting from my phone. Pretty > Limited venue. > > Tell u the truth, I just don’t think > All this stink…over style.. > > Hhhh. Again, not style, but readability. It matters. I suggest taking a bit more time with your mobile keyboard to spell out words properly and a modicum of grammar so we can parse your thoughts better, and you’ll see more people enter an actual discussion with you. Really… just put yourself in our … … — . … / .- -. -.. / -.-- — ..- / -.-. .- -. / … . . / .. - .----. … / -. — - / .-- — .-. - … / .- -. -.-- — -. . .----. … / - .. – . / — .-. / . ..-. ..-. — .-. - / - — / -.. . -.-. .. .–. … . .-. / .. - / .- .-.. .-.. .-.-.- ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/48 "2013-05-16T02:33:31Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > We’ve barely even begun to scrape the skies in search of sentient life.\*\* And unfortunately the Kepler telescopes flywheels have just failed which will considerably slow down our search for exoplanets. [http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2013/05/15/nasas-kepler-mission-endangered-by-hardware-failure/](http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2013/05/15/nasas-kepler-mission-endangered-by-hardware-failure/) ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/49 "2013-05-16T02:37:49Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Again, not style, but readability. It matters. > > I suggest taking a bit more time with your mobile keyboard to spell out words properly and a modicum of grammar so we can parse your thoughts better, and you’ll see more people enter an actual discussion with you. Really… just put yourself in our … … — . … / .- -. -.. / -.-- — ..- / -.-. .- -. / … . . / .. - .----. … / -. — - / .-- — .-. - … / .- -. -.-- — -. . .----. … / - .. – . / — .-. / . ..-. ..-. — .-. - / - — / -.. . -.-. .. .–. … . .-. / .. - / .- .-.. .-.. .-.-.- Grammatically speaking, he’s done nothing wrong. This is example ungrammatical sentence an of an. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/50 "2013-05-16T02:38:10Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > And unfortunately the Kepler telescopes flywheels have just failed which will considerably slow down our search for exoplanets. > > [http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2013/05/15/nasas-kepler-mission-endangered-by-hardware-failure/](http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2013/05/15/nasas-kepler-mission-endangered-by-hardware-failure/) See what I mean? Even today our technology, the very tech we’re searching for ETs with, is dependent on using flywheels. _Flywheels._ ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/51 "2013-05-16T02:40:04Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Grammatically speaking, he’s done nothing wrong. > > This is example ungrammatical sentence an of an. Just expressing some encouragement; not necessarily an accusation. ---
**Author:** ![o\_rion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/278dde/32.png) [@o\_rion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/o_rion)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/52 "2013-05-16T02:52:17Z")
It’s capice, c. Should I jump all over U for it? Give u some goddam Lecture about bein Hard to understand? Colibri, yer here, twice. Decoded me n replied. Ain’t dead or even injured, Far as I can tell. And it is style over substance, Ain’t nobody complained About the actual topic. You’ve read my posts you say. Then u know what happened. Lemme ask you, I walk in and start Bashin anyone? No? Other way around? Yup. I ignore more than I answered? Yup. U n the other one sayin I’m practically Unreadable seem to b readin me Fine enough that thingsre Trackin. Yer replyin, despite The travails. I gotta think there’s some Partisianship goin on, Which, fine n understandable, But it’ll kill any vibrancy ao Board might come to, no shit. One Sees it all over the net, places Gettin so inbred ya can’t even Breathe thout gettin jumped on. See, I just went to fix a booboo, And its taken me a couple minutes Just to get back herey Aww Fuck it. U know fuckin Well I did nothing to deserve Mcs exaggerated crap, and Once she or he started, the other shit since. Now I’m done with the crap. Ban me or keep talkin shit or Maybe, just maybe, backvup, take a look, Understand my op and other Nonselfdefensive posts Did Not Have This Coming. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/53 "2013-05-16T03:01:48Z")
You know, English is my second language and it is sad for me to see the equivalent of the [ET Atari game](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial_%28video_game%29) in text form. And as requested by you, I did report you, you’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/54 "2013-05-16T03:40:09Z")
Because the species is dying out, of course. There are no entwives. ETA: Wait, did you say _ENTS_ or _ETs_? The shift key is your friend. Also, because there ain’t any economical return to be had in crossing interstellar space just to harass the residents of an inhabited technologically advanced (and armed) planet. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/55 "2013-05-16T03:46:44Z")
“Capisce” is Americanized-Italian from [_capisci._](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/capisce) Anyhow, I’m bored… Later. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/56 "2013-05-16T03:53:17Z")
> [@o\_rion](#): > > Yer right, and I didn’t, although I have explained appearances. > I’m speakin the language of this country. > except for this shit, which I didn’t begin, I don’t > Think I’ve been postin tripe, least not to me, and u > Took the time to read n reply, so I guess u thought > There was some kinda worth to my op. > > Didn’t seem to have A problem with wording or appearance. > > That’s changed apparantly. > > Kinda blowin my mind, this. Style over substance. > > I ask u to change or adapt somehow, before I could take u > Seriously? But yall feel free to do so to me, r anyone, evidently, > Judgin from the ease with which it happens. > > K, so I’m just a noob. But Fuck nemo, way to build a > Goddam piece a shit weakass monocultural board. > > Honest opinion there. Like I came dressed ‘wrong’, and the > Mean girls just can’t stand it. > Gotta flock n peck. > > I’ll answer my question- no, I just took u seriously and replied > Accordingly. > > I stand by my posts. > > Jesus, really. I don’t write well or have anything to contribute. > > There’s at least one cat out there grinnin. I did take the time to decipher your post and give it a serious answer. But that’s because I’m a nice guy. I would have preferred it if your post had been written clearly in the first place. So as a nice guy, I was just giving you a little advice. Use it or not as you choose. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/57 "2013-05-16T04:16:43Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > You are describing Fermi’s Paradox (and your free-form poetic style is interesting, by the way). > It must be remembered that space is really really big. > Matter is scattered very very thinly throughout this immense void. > It is entirely possible that faster than light travel is impossible, so any space faring species would have to use generation ships to colonize other worlds. > > Or, we may be the only sapient species. We don’t have large enough of a sample size to determine that, really. We have the good old Greenbank formula, but there are a couple of variables that we can only guess at. [One of the best books](http://books.google.com/books?id=Kp6g79LuKWEC&dq=where+is+everybody) I’ve read on the subject. Fifty Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life. The TLDR version is we don’t really have an answer but the question is thought-provoking. ---
**Author:** ![o\_rion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/278dde/32.png) [@o\_rion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/o_rion)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/58 "2013-05-16T04:26:47Z")
Boy, all this to what I thought was a thoughtful And at least fairly original op. Thanks for the serious ontopic discussion that’s occurred, Those who have. Kaylasdad, I wasn’t talkin war, but since its mentioned, I’m thinkin the planetbound wouldn’t hold out. I agree, a simple harassment ain’t worth crossin interstellar Or any other space for. That’d just b stupid, and I doubt a Species that could make that crossing would do so just To get up to harassment, just my opinion. Some science, too. A species so foolish would early on be unselected, seems Like ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/59 "2013-05-16T05:53:03Z")
> [@o\_rion](#): > > WHOA. > Fuckin somebody just compaih me > To a fuckin _cockroach_? > > Y tank u, able and deelightful personage. > Mehitabelly say hi.. Tujours gai, tujours gai. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403/60 "2013-05-16T09:03:04Z")
Interstellar war would be really tricky to achieve. It takes vast amounts of energy to deliver a single kilogram of payload to another solar system, so the weight penalties of weapons would be highly restrictive. The only way to wage war on that scale would be to arrive many years before the attack and construct your weapons in-system from scratch; a long process, which might allow enough time for diplomacy or negotiation to defuse the situation. Most of the time war would be impractical. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-aint-the-sky-filled-with-ets/658403.md?page=4)