Profile: lapratho

Personal background
Greetings!
My name is Owen. I grew up in Germany and have now been living in Tacoma, WA, USA since 1988. As a kid and youth, I literally inhaled the writings of Heinlein, Asimov, Simak, and others. I was also interested in the aspects of science and technology that would allow for these adventures to be possible one day in some way. I later studied physics at the University of Washington after an Associate's degree at Pierce College, but when the dismal state of science funding became clear to me I opted to change my major to Atmospheric Sciences, as it was a growing field in 1993. When I graduated with a BS dgree (oh what pun ... chuckle ...) in 1995 I then promptly had to declare bankruptcy, as the formerly rich job prospects had evaporated with more budget cuts. I now concentrate my efforts to making a living as a communications technician and occasionally still tinker with strange ideas, but strictly for fun. For reasons explained below I have declared my own moratorium to share insights into the nature of matter and space. So, if anybody reads this, here is the moral of the story: study what you damned well like, as there is no guarrantee that when you're done your "sound" choices will be rewarded :) I am simply happy that I can make a small contribution to science by donating the brunt of of my processor time to Seti. What I hope the result may be, if we find intelligent life? A changed perspective of the powers that be, and of all the people who trust that "God will provide" (how I loath them...) while we wreck our planet - a new perspective that aknowledges that man is none but a part of a larger system. That we are not THE chosen species to rule and dominate our "dominion" and that we must live as such, or be doomed. Having said that, I also hope we will not step into further reaches of space ourselves before we overcome our possesive and destructive nature and self chanting believe that we have the right to do as we please with what we find. That would wreak havoc to any life we encounter.
Thoughts about SETI and SETI@home
1)
Do you think extraterrestrial life exists? If so, when and how will humans discover it? What are the possible benefits and dangers of such a discovery?
Even with the most dismal probabilities the chance that life and even intelligent and technology oriented life exists on other planets is staggeringly high, even though it may be too far away to ever find and/or contact. The benefits would be whatever we as a whole planetary society make of it.

2)
Should humans transmit a beacon for others to find? If so, what information should we send?
The prime message should be "We are carnovores and love to rape and pillage any suitably supportive environment, so stay away from us, if you like what you have"

3)
Why do you run SETI@home? What are your views about the project? Any suggestions?
See my profile and the above answers for my thoughts about Seti. As far as suggestions are concerned: Let's send a message that portraits us not as intelligent, but give "them" a chance. Tell them how incredibly stupid and superstitious the bulk of people really is. Of course, that would be bad for funding, so please hide the message in some nice fluff about our knowledge of science and the universe and all. Maybe just mentioning "God" will be sufficient to get the funding and blessing of our "leaders" and simultaneously let anything listening know what this mad bunch of biological contaminants is all about ... chuckle ...
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