A question was asked the other night about how many people were from outer space.  A humorous question I'm sure but it sparked a lot of debate.  There was a person that told everybody to "get real" because there wasn't life in outer space.  So I emailed the person and asked them why they thought that.  He told me I was being decieved if I thought there was life in outer sapce.  So my question is, why are some people so closed minded that they can't fathom a concept as benign as life in outer space?  And I apologize in advace if I offend anybody, but I really want to know.
127469
arrogance..fear .close minded....you would have to be arrogant as well as dogmatic in your thinking not to even entertain the possibility of life elsewhere...and afraid of the unknown... and the possibilities that would bring....are too much for some people to fathom....personally I could do without the anal probe...but other than that... I'm willing to meet and greet ..lol...
616162
Personally I don't reject the idea, but I don't exactly embrace it, either.  \n\nLet me pose this to you:  If there are an infinite number of universes, and let's say, just for now, that there is a Divine Creator, did this ONE being create the infinite universes you describe?  Or are there in infinite number of this Creator?\n\nNext thought:  If, for every action/thought/possibility there is a separate universe, on how many of them would you actually exist?  On how many universes did life on Earth actually form (assuming evolution)?  \n\nLastly:  Take the statement that there are an infinite number of possibilities and that what we perceive from instant to instant is merely what we have CHOSEN to perceive at that instant, is there a separate universe created for each of those possibilities which are not perceived, or, because they aren't perceived (therefore not "real") do they fail to "launch" a separate universe?\n\nIf you haven't noticed, I find the ideas of possiblity incredibly fascinating. \n\nI hope I didn't make your brain explode!
28830
This is a question still under hot debate. Some people believe that there is no way that we can be the only intelligent life in the universe while others (as those who believe that aliens were brought to Area 51) believe that we have already been contacted by aliens on various occassions. Still others hold to the belief that we are the only planet to have either life or intelligent life.\n\nPersonally, I hold to the first belief that, with ALL of the planets in the universe, the odds of statistics are drastically against us being the only form of intelligent life. I believe that we have been checked up on from time to time by space-faring races. Basically, I feel that we have to reach a particular milestone - either in our evolution or in our technology - before we are contacted on a grand scale.\n\nDo I believe the stories about Area 51? I wouldn't put it past the government to try to cover something up if they messed up so badly as to have killed our first ambassadors from the stars, however, I also can't imagine that no one else of that race, were it to have happened, wouldn't have come looking for their lost patrol at some point in time.\n\nI don't believe us to be alone in this vast universe but I do believe that, technology-wise, we are still toddlers & must learn & grow more before we will be allowed to enter the same playground as the other intelligent beings of the universe.
237666
It would suggest that life is even more ubiquitous than we thought.  Take ryanwatts' answer.  Some of his points are valid, some are nonsense (e.g. circular planetary orbits are not rare ... 8 of our 9 planets have circular orbits, as to most of their moons, and the orbits of dozens of extrasolar planets we have discovered ... and panets with intersecting orbits don't last very long).  But even his valid conditions, when applied to the 200 billion stars in our galaxy alone, still leave millions of candidates in the milky way alone.  And if 10% of the 100 billion estimated galaxies are spiral galaxies, that's 10 billion spiral galaxies each with 100-200 billion stars.  And each of those stars may have multiple planets and moons in circular orbits.\n\nSo if we find life on other planets or moons in our solar system, as we're finding in the depths of ice cores or volcanic shafts, it would demonstrate that life isn't just *possible* in billions of other locations in the universe where the conditions are right ... but incredibly likely!\n\nSo, for why we search?  Because that's what humans do!  We don't *need* to find life there to confirm our theories about life on this planet ... we already have plenty of evidence here.  But there are dozens of moons and objects and interesting nooks and crannies in our solar system that we've barely had a good look at ... so dammit we're going there.  The search for life just gives us something to look for when we get there ... and gives us a good argument for which nooks and crannies to visit first. \n\nIt's like when I travel (e.g. I went to Greece and Italy last year) ... some people like to buy wines, some shoes, ... I like to buy soccer shirts.  I have plenty of soccer shirts at home so I don't *need* a soccer shirt. But it does gives me something to look for when I'm there. It would be silly to say that I'm spending all that money on plane fare just to buy a soccer shirt.  The travel itself is the reward. :-)\n\nSearching for life is the ultimate souvenir hunt!  Even if we come out empty handed, the journey alone is worth every penny!
419838
Here's my take.. and yes I am a Christian.\n\nThis universe we live in a massive place and it has been around for billions of years.  I think it would be pretty egotistical and extremely closed minded of us to think that we are the only beings in this whole universe.  When we look at it from this context, there is a very high probility that there other inteligent life forms out there.  Why we haven't met them yet is a matter of debate.  If we are to assume that there are such things as UFO, then we must ask the question, why would they 'discover us' and never attempt contact?  It really don't make any since for them to 'buzz' our planet and never say 'Hi'.\n\nIf one believes that a supreme being (God) created this universe then one has to believe he know's about all the life that is out there.  Therefore, if one believes that God created all life (since he created the universe) then it would fall to reason that he would make his presence known to all inteligent life.  Why would he just tell us?\n\nSo, here's where it get's tricky.  In order for any being to visit our planet they would have figure out how to defeat the laws of physics as it relates to speed and time because there are no life sustainable planets with in 100 light years from here!  Now.. it could be.. that we were visited thousands of years ago from aliens that spent 1,000 years getting here and they are just now getting back home.  I think that's highly unlikely.\n\nSo.. if we consolidate all of these thoughts, we can come to a single, simple conclusion.  IF we get a visit by aliens from another planet, should we be surprised when they tell us stories of their religious diety that exactly mirrors ours?\n\nJust some thoughts to get your creative juices flowing!\n\nGood luck!
187513
Maybe ignorance is bliss. If you remain ignorant you never have to question ur beliefs and your outlook on life and therefore you are always right in your own mind. Its a lot easier than having to constantly evaluate your beliefs and question weather they are valid and to take the time and energy to learn and keep up to date with whats going on in the world. In short people r ignorant out of laziness and because they never were taught any better. So when people ask questions like that dont take it personally, they just want to be reinforced in their ignorant views because deep down they know they are really just scared to face the truth and insecure about that. Anyway im sorry you were hurt by that but just remember that the vast majority of people are not like that, those people are just louder. As far as breaking the chain of ignorance all we can do is ALWAYS look at our own behavior for signs of ignorance (descrimination, prejudice etc) and make sure we r not contributing to the problem, and also to teach our kids better so that the next generation has one fewer ignorant person. Thanks for the question :)
318826
Doesn't it seem as if people cling to their beleifs so hard, they will refuse to acknowledge anything that might question that? I mean, what if you found out that your Mom was a crackwhore for the first half of her life and you were the offspring of her pimp? (no offense to any mothers. This seems to be the case. besides, those 2000 year old beleifs, were the beleifs for 2000 years. This Da Vinci schmuk has just surfaced as a new beleif that can be considered by the mases. Or is it... global warming? I haven't read the book nor seen the movie, but I am familiar with the subject matter through schooling. When in school, or watching a movie that makes you think, it is enlightening. If we did not question things, there would be no need for Jesu, right? Why stop questioning now. I apologize, but it seems this Da Vinci controversy has surfaced the weakest of humans and found great fault in religion just by questioning it, whether true or not. The uproar confirms this. And for the twist... I agree with the author of this question, maybe not in the exact same sense. But I am God folks, not the one you all know, but my own. Think about this concept! What does God do for you? What is his purpose? Can these things be accomplished by yourself? It can be done.
625500
Great philosophical question.  I believe there are other living things somewhere in space.  Even if you believe we are a random happening, there are so many millions of planets out there that there would have to be a second occurrence like what happened to us.  And if there is a god, then I am sure other civilizations were created as well.  So either way, there is a good chance there are other life's somewhere in space.
24129
Darn you.  You sucked me in with your question, then I get here and I see 42 is already taken.  Now we really have to go on a trip and I'm without a towel.  Well ok, let me see what I can come up with, shooting from the hip as it were.  My best guess is that the meaning of life, the universe and everything is "MORE".  The quest for more seems to be at the center of all living creatures.  All organizations be they organic or manmade seem to be trying to get "more".  The universe itself is expanding, so I am told.  As for "everything" anything that should happen to get created instantly becomes part of everything, so even everything seems to crave more.  Yes I think I'll stick with the answer "MORE".  What?  Wait, just a minute, my wife is yelling something from the kitchen...... (long pause).....Hello I'm back again.  My wife says the answer is "LESS"  She says life is always moving toward death which by it's very nature is less life.  The universe is made up of a limited quantity of everything and it is being used up also, so you have less now than in the past, and as for "everything"  Well since everything gets used, you must have less of everything now than there was in the beginning.  So my wife and I will agree to disagree and say that the answer is:\nMore or Less, or possibly More and Less.  I guess that's pretty much the same as 42 because 4 is more and 2 is less.  I'm getting a pain just behind my left eye from all of this thinking.  What!?  Just a minute, my wife is yelling again!........ I'm back.  She said I'd better get off this Yahoo Answers thing and come to the table if I want any dinner.  I told her that I'll never have to come back to Yahoo Answers again because I just pretty much summed up life, the universe and everything.  I'd better hurry if I want more to eat and less yelling.  So long and thanks for all the fishes.
531257
love the question it makes one think\nyour points are all valid \ni would also go so far as to say their is as much proof for the existence of ghosts /dragons /vampires etc as their is for the existence of god so i agree these questions should be asked in the mythology section \nbe prepared for some answers from angry Christians\nwith reference to the answer before mine  i have seen proof of dinosaurs [evolution ]but i have never seen gods bones \nby that logic aliens exist as  you can not prove they don't
325338
"Do you think that the people who believe they have had contact with aliens (ETs) actually have?"\nNo, I think it is more likely they are suffering some form of mental illness, crave the attention or have sleep paralysis.\n\n"What about these people who believe that they can just meditate and speak to aliens (extraterrestrials) by just meditating, like they are having mental telepathy."\nThey can believe anything they want, that doesn't make it true.
548993
It also could have been someone being a prick.  There was one question about how people could be stupid enough to believe in evolution.  I posted an answer that stated that I personnally felt that God created life by making a single-celled organism that evolved into people.  It was reported as violationing Terms and everything.
571867
As amusing as find your ranting and as much as I agree with you, I still have to say: educated people still are out there, even though it might seem like they were abducted by aliens... \nStill, I would put the question in a different way: How many people on here have ever cared for education?\nPS: I like you!
640720
greetings....\n\ni actually believe that we are not alone...i have my own encounters... the universe is big....so big we cannot even start to comprehend how big it is... chances are, life could actually be abundant in the universe, but the degree of intelligence could vary widely, maybe life exist only in microbial form, or with intelligence much superior than ours... but for now only earth is known to harbor life... aren't we lucky we are here?
562477
A better question is why do people choose to label themselves at all? Why do people call themselves one thing when truly it doesn't fit in with their own beliefs? lol. I know some Atheist that say they don't believe in God but really they believe in something so is it just the name "GOD" that they don't believe in? People can never fit in under some label and general description. We are all too unique for that. \nLove & Light\nSharon\nOne Planet = One People
169328
Hmmm.  Welll I have some friends that work in space systems and there is a board or counsel  of people chosen from around the world who will decide on whether or not to answer a radio call from another planet.  These people are to make the final decision on such a thing to avoid mass hysteria especially if it was to disturb this planets belief system.
623878
Some people are here to entertain themselves. Some people are in it for the points, I guess. (Why else would someone answer "I don't know"?) Maybe one of your questions will get picked as a featured question. Then you will get more thoughtful answers. In the meantime, share your own knowledge and help to enhance the intellectual level of this site!