| Personal background |
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An Ode to my Dad,
Dear Dad
If ET is as reticent as myself at discussing itself then you can forget it. I've spent the last 30 minutes trying to think of what to say about me for this 'background' and I'm still faffing about.
At the end of the day though I put it down to parental abuse, or something. A long, long time ago in......you decided that you were not going to watch 2001:A Space Odyssey on your own, but who to take? Mum was definitely not interested and, of your two sons, one was just too young. So I, aged about 8 or 9, was taken along to the local cinema to keep you company.
That was over 30 years ago and I am still both haunted and obsessed by that film which, at the time, scared the bejesus out of me (especially the Star Child at the end). From that small introduction to Science Fiction I have grown into a man who knows very little about human life (or anything that makes sense) but who does know more than is good for him about that damn film. Of course, I have not limited myself to only one SF film. I now have an extensive knowledge(?) of SF in all its forms encompassing the awful to the brilliant and I would like to think it has greatly expanded my awareness of many things. But a balloon also expands and its still full of hot air.
So at the end of the day Dad you've only got yourself to blame but, looking on the bright side, at least we did make it to 2001 even if it was'nt like the movie. (Next time, please take mum)
John |
| Thoughts about SETI and SETI@home |
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My opinion of SETI and SETI@home in order of your suggestions
1) I cannot understand how anyone with only the slightest knowledge of the universe we live in could doubt the existence of extraterrestrial life. There is no guarantee that humans will ever discover it but that does not allow us to neglect searching using all resources available. The benefits and/or dangers only become apparent when we discover what we have made contact with. As to the psychological effects on society, this is also dependant on when we make contact. One hundred years from now things may (or very much will) be different. All change is difficult.
2) I understand that we have been sending signals since at least the advent of television and, if so, we are 'transparent' to anyone with ears to listen. Beyond that I do not believe we need to advertise as any beings further advanced will contact us if they want to.
3)I run seti@home because it gives me a feeling of personal satisfaction to know I am contributing to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, whether it is discovered or not. I am utilising my resources for what I consider to be important research. I would suggest that some of the add-ons available from private web sites be incorporated, rather than just advertised, into the official seti@home downloads and explained in more detail to avoid misunderstandings. I found SETI very easy to install and run, even as a beginner, and it would be nice to extend certain graphic utilities onto my computer but I am hampered by the lack of explanations given by these private sites. I do not doubt their integrity, only my power to utilise it. |
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