Intelligent life is common in the Universe: Free Public Debate

[avandonk]

Could I say it more simply Rob we are here WHY?

We exist because we do. The best minds for millennia have pondered on this problem.

Only good peer reviewed science has worked so far.

There are many 'spiritual' versions of our reality. To me they are always found wanting. Their demands and precepts are totally without foundation and any sort of accountabilty. I personally think they are all a con to control us lesser humans.

If any people want to be spiritual then they should keep it to themselves.

Bert

[Robh (Rob)]

Originally Posted by avandonk

Could I say it more simply Rob we are here WHY?

We exist because we do. The best minds for millennia have pondered on this problem.

Only good peer reviewed science has worked so far.

There are many 'spiritual' versions of our reality. To me they are always found wanting. Their demands and precepts are totally without foundation and any sort of accountabilty. I personally think they are all a con to control us lesser humans.

If any people want to be spiritual then they should keep it to themselves.

Bert

Now that is an interesting question! From a philosophical or religious viewpoint, a debate here will solve nothing. People believe what they want to believe.
However, the point I've been making is that life in this Universe may not be as common as people think. We really don't know how "easy" it is for life to form. We may be the only planet in the observable Universe to fluke it.

Rob

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

Originally Posted by Karls48

I’ sorry but this is not true. Have you ever been out in the bush and seen waterhole full of animal droppings and urine. No? Then go and spend some time out in the sticks.

Yes, but the difference between them and us is that their droppings and urine are a part of nature, they are a natural habit, not a manmade one, and they break down and disintegrate back into the water ways.

Dave

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

Wade - that is truly good to see. Photography is a great way to get kids involved in nature I might add.

Karl - If I might just add - Bees and Frogs are in severe danger worldwide. They are disappearing at a rate of knots. Birding populations in North America are at their lowest in 50 odd years. Ask Artie Morris who's an avid pro bird photographer and has 25 years + birding experience under his belt. Fish populations in the North American waterways are under attack as well, with some water ways completely devoid of fish, when as little as Ten years ago they were teeming.

We can be Ostriches and stick our heads in the sand, or we can own up and admit to the problems that we are causing. I prefer to be mature and admit that we are causing issues, other than trying to dodge the blame, which sadly, too many of our species do.

Dave

Originally Posted by Darth Wader

Luckily I don't think you're weird! To me it's just common sense... Animals have respect for the environment they live in - you're be hard pressed to find a non-human animal polluting their own drinking water or laying waste to the land they live on - but for some reason humans have evolved "beyond" this. How can we say that we are the pinnacle of evolution when we commit atrocities against not only each other, but our home planet too.

I am teaching and will continue to teach my young son about nature and will do the same for my daughter as soon as possible (she's 7 weeks old which makes it a bit tough!). I want my kids to respect nature and marvel in its beauty with the same wonderment I had as a child (and thankfully still have). I can see that modern apathetic attitudes pose a threat to this however - one only has to look at the gaggle of mindless youth kicking about at local malls to become somewhat disheartened...