Profile: Robert E. Barber

Personal background
I am a research engineer in a material science group at Texas A&M University. I have always been a student of science, and this qualifies as good science. I have doubts that we will find any new "civilization" out there, but who knows.... I find the SETI approach to the enormous problem of analyzing the data collected very cool. Sexy even. I cannot help but wonder what else the technology could do. Perhaps calculate macroscopic behavior from quantum mechanical beginnings?
Thoughts about SETI and SETI@home
Extraterrestrials? Maybe. A really big maybe. Yes, I have seen the Drake eq'n, and am not impressed. It leaves out a lot of factors, and I don't believe a real equation can be formulated that would accuratly reflect real probability. That being said, if we do find a civilization out there, I think we should listen, become very quiet (RF wise) and never attempt contact until we know a great deal about them, if at all.

We cannot tolerate each other, and we are very similar. I cannot envision our civilization and a completely alien one coexisting. e.g. If we found an alien civilization where for instance, the young of the civilization are fair game for food, and considered unworthy of any sort of respect until they have survived to the age of 22 (years?), can you picture them seeing us us favorably? Us seeing them in a favorable light? Kick back and listen. If we can decipher thier language, we can learn this way. If, after several years of listening, it can be shown that contact may be safe, then proceed.
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