Talk:Extraterrestrial
(→Alien forms) |
(→Alien forms) |
||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
We-as-humans have to wear protective clothing for certain environments - and 'those living at sea level' have problems where 'those living up mountains' do not. Adaptations to differences in atmospheric composition, gravity etc are likely to cause problems at least initially with a new environment - and why shouldn't sentient centipedes visit Earth? [[User:Jackiespeel|Jackiespeel]] ([[User talk:Jackiespeel|talk]]) 21:52, 26 December 2009 (UTC) | We-as-humans have to wear protective clothing for certain environments - and 'those living at sea level' have problems where 'those living up mountains' do not. Adaptations to differences in atmospheric composition, gravity etc are likely to cause problems at least initially with a new environment - and why shouldn't sentient centipedes visit Earth? [[User:Jackiespeel|Jackiespeel]] ([[User talk:Jackiespeel|talk]]) 21:52, 26 December 2009 (UTC) | ||
:I think they'd be more likely just to run a scoop-by mission to grab some methane from Jupiter. If they came here it would be to tank-up on oxygen or, much less likely, water. {{User:Human/sig|}} 22:53, 26 December 2009 (UTC) | :I think they'd be more likely just to run a scoop-by mission to grab some methane from Jupiter. If they came here it would be to tank-up on oxygen or, much less likely, water. {{User:Human/sig|}} 22:53, 26 December 2009 (UTC) | ||
| + | ::If you ever get the chance, go have a peek at [http://www.amazon.com/Barlowes-Guide-Extraterrestrials-Science-Literature/dp/0894803247 ''Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials'']. It's a classic, borne of the artist's frustration at not getting a look at the author's description before doing book covers, and wanting to do it the right way. Fabulous stuff. --[[User:Kels|Kels]] ([[User talk:Kels|talk]]) 23:00, 26 December 2009 (UTC) | ||
Revision as of 23:00, 26 December 2009
Why don't we merge the history of this page and its improperly-spelled brother, extraterrestial? The other one has been transformed into a redirect, and it seems a shame to strand the article history there.
Radioactive Misanthrope 16:01, 2 September 2008 (EDT)
Reverted edit
I reverted this edit. Don't get it. If aliens existed, we would definitely know about it by now? Why? It contradicts the tone of the rest of the article - i.e. that we have no firm evidence either way. Ŵêâŝêîôîď
Methinks it is a Weasel 17:59, 8 April 2009 (EDT)
- I'm not understanding many of the recent additions. I can't tell when they are snark, when they are just poorly constructed arguments, or when they are misunderstandings. This is about the 5th major edit today I've said "whatth'" to. --
En attendant Godot"«I think like a genius, I write like a distinguished author, and I speak like a child. --V.Nabokov» 18:03, 8 April 2009 (EDT)
... (criticism)
I just had a very bright idea to do something useful and write something smart and true about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Not unexpectedly, I found that the reference models of rationality have turned this article into simple mockery that I could read from Uncyclopedia as well, and as usual, it contains almost nothing factual or useful. (Comparison with Santa does not count).--Earthland (talk) 17:37, 21 December 2009 (UTC)
- The possibility that aliens walk amongst us would seem to be about on par with Santa delivering gifts at Christmas. But if you want to write something sensible (and within the mission statements) about the possibility of extraterrestrial life living somewhere else why not go ahead?--BobNot Jim 18:03, 21 December 2009 (UTC)
- I think the point Earthland is trying to make is that, by making that joke, we allow ourselves to think we have done a fine job of debunking the subject—which we haven't—, and we guffaw at our brilliance and forget to do anything substantial.
Radioactive Misanthrope 18:08, 21 December 2009 (UTC)
- EC) Stop whining & start editing Earthy. This is a Wiki, anyone can edit it, even you. RA: this is Earthy's m.o. he whinges at us without doing anything to rectify the situation. I am eating
& honeychat 18:10, 21 December 2009 (UTC)
- Oh.
Radioactive Misanthrope 18:12, 21 December 2009 (UTC)
- ("Earthy"?) I think you can't make difference between ufology ("aliens") and and extraterrestrial life. The article should at least mention SETI, Drake equation and the Fermi paradox. Cynicism masks a failure to cope - who brought the Santa in?
- Oh.
- EC) Stop whining & start editing Earthy. This is a Wiki, anyone can edit it, even you. RA: this is Earthy's m.o. he whinges at us without doing anything to rectify the situation. I am eating
- I think the point Earthland is trying to make is that, by making that joke, we allow ourselves to think we have done a fine job of debunking the subject—which we haven't—, and we guffaw at our brilliance and forget to do anything substantial.
- Why am I whining here? I should delete the entire article to make it at least seem rational.--Earthland (talk) 18:30, 21 December 2009 (UTC)
- As I suggested in my earlier comment. You can make the article better by considering the mission objectives and adding these points if they further the objectives. RA can as well.--BobNot Jim 18:33, 21 December 2009 (UTC)
- PS - it is better to add than delete.--BobNot Jim 18:35, 21 December 2009 (UTC)
- BS. This article is fine. We have exobiology to deal with the reality of the possibilities which pretty much has everything discussed above but could still do with a clean up, however.
d hominem 18:51, 21 December 2009 (UTC)
- BS. This article is fine. We have exobiology to deal with the reality of the possibilities which pretty much has everything discussed above but could still do with a clean up, however.
- PS - it is better to add than delete.--BobNot Jim 18:35, 21 December 2009 (UTC)
- As I suggested in my earlier comment. You can make the article better by considering the mission objectives and adding these points if they further the objectives. RA can as well.--BobNot Jim 18:33, 21 December 2009 (UTC)
- Why am I whining here? I should delete the entire article to make it at least seem rational.--Earthland (talk) 18:30, 21 December 2009 (UTC)
Alien forms
Why do all the extraterrestials posited by the 'encounterists etc' look vaguely humanoid?
The assumption that 'if sentient lifeforms evolved once they will evolve elsewhere in the universe' is plausible (what is 'the theory about the general sameness/resemblance of different parts of the universe' called) - but not centipedes, plant creatures, swarm/hive creatures, mice etc? Science fiction is somewhat more creative (Daleks, Triffids, Jabba the Slug etc, etc). Nor should they be able to tolerate our atmosphere, climate, gravity etc without any modification, breathing masks etc
Anyone care to develop 'what aliens should look like' further? Jackiespeel (talk) 23:02, 23 December 2009 (UTC)
- Even in War of the Worlds, it was simply being on Earth that killed the aliens in the end. ħuman
01:50, 24 December 2009 (UTC)
And why is it little green #men#? Apart from WotW and 'Daleks and stairs' how often do 'Environmentally inconvenienced' aliens appear in science fiction? Jackiespeel (talk) 12:22, 24 December 2009 (UTC)
- I think the thing is that aliens most likely to tolerate earth-like conditions are the ones most likely to visit earth. They are also the ones we are most likely to encounter on other earth-like planets. --BobBring back the hat! 13:21, 24 December 2009 (UTC)
We-as-humans have to wear protective clothing for certain environments - and 'those living at sea level' have problems where 'those living up mountains' do not. Adaptations to differences in atmospheric composition, gravity etc are likely to cause problems at least initially with a new environment - and why shouldn't sentient centipedes visit Earth? Jackiespeel (talk) 21:52, 26 December 2009 (UTC)
- I think they'd be more likely just to run a scoop-by mission to grab some methane from Jupiter. If they came here it would be to tank-up on oxygen or, much less likely, water. ħuman
22:53, 26 December 2009 (UTC)
- If you ever get the chance, go have a peek at Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials. It's a classic, borne of the artist's frustration at not getting a look at the author's description before doing book covers, and wanting to do it the right way. Fabulous stuff. --Kels (talk) 23:00, 26 December 2009 (UTC)