Is the Earth Too Poor To Attract Aliens?

[Atheist-Lite]

Time and again people say there is nothing worth crossing the gulf between stars for. And yet it could be done, albeit the technology is unavailable. Is that it though? Maybe the reality is this planet is a loser, a backwater dump. The humans can't imagine a reason to even leave low earth orbit except to play in the sands of mars. There is nothing here worth trading or stealing so why bother talking? You don't talk to the drunk tramp laid out on the pavement, you step over them without a sound so they don't notice.

[Jason]

There's a wealth of elemental resources here for aliens to harvest and, if early indications mean anything, we are somewhat of a relatively rich solar system.

Naturally to any species capable of interstellar flight we have little to offer in the way of technology, but perhaps they'd be something of 'xenopologists' - studying other species they encounter. I have to believe that such a species would have at the heart of its ideology the insatiable curiosity which drives scientific endeavour.

[FBM]

But where else are they going to find a Starbuck's?

[Atheist-Lite]

Maybe the galactic intelligent dominant species hierarchy expects something beautiful, by their standards, rather than just utilitarian things? Maybe they'd take the Eiffel Tower but nothing else here is really that pleasing to them. Wheels might not do it. Just a circle. But the Eiffel Tower reminds them of their early space elevators a bit and brings on some of that nostalgia...for a more simple time?

[Tyrannical]

Much easier to mine asteroids for minerals, there are chunks of metal the size of small mountains floating out there. An advanced civilization might have little need for terrestrial mining.

[FBM]

Oops. Sorry for my comment, Crump. I just noticed this is in GSD&P.

[Atheist-Lite]

Much easier to mine asteroids for minerals, there are chunks of metal the size of small mountains floating out there. An advanced civilization might have little need for terrestrial mining.

They wouldn't need much for any practical purpose but in terms of keeping simpler yet more dangerous entities happy they may need a distraction and simply point the DaleK mothership this way? I'm sure we'd know about that by now? Lucky really?

The most important thing is to try to fathom out these Machiavellian motives before something is discovered or turns up? Pity most efforts at alien psychology are done by the strategically naive. Hard to fathom why really? Maybe humans are dumber than mice?

[MrFungus420]

Maybe humans are dumber than mice?

Everything on the planet is dumber than mice.

[Atheist-Lite]

Maybe humans are dumber than mice?

Everything on the planet is dumber than mice.

Humans would top the list I'm beginning to think these days.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

It has a wealth of liquid water which I think would make it attractive - Also, it's covered in valuable protein in the form of bald bipeds.
What's not to like?

[Pappa]

Much easier to mine asteroids for minerals, there are chunks of metal the size of small mountains floating out there. An advanced civilization might have little need for terrestrial mining.

Commercial asteroid mining might be with us very soon too:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2 ... -galactic/

[Atheist-Lite]

Much easier to mine asteroids for minerals, there are chunks of metal the size of small mountains floating out there. An advanced civilization might have little need for terrestrial mining.

Commercial asteroid mining might be with us very soon too:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2 ... -galactic/

That's the thing. You see the problem with a poor planet? Must go get things. The idea of making things is never present. The mission must be to get get something.

[Blind groper]

There is only one treasure I can think of on Earth worth sending back across interstellar distances. DNA.

We have perhaps 20 million species of eucaryotes, each of which has DNA unique to Earth. Who knows what utility an ultra-advanced species could extract from that.

[Atheist-Lite]

There is only one treasure I can think of on Earth worth sending back across interstellar distances. DNA.

We have perhaps 20 million species of eucaryotes, each of which has DNA unique to Earth. Who knows what utility an ultra-advanced species could extract from that.

I don't think they'll need to repeat the mistakes here? DNA isn't gonna mean much to a million year old form of intelligent life with computers the size of earths moon. Gotta consider they may be quite choosy about buyer collects options and spam may go in the galactic wastepaper bin?

[mistermack]

Strangely enough, there's an ant's nest in outer Mongolia where the ants are having this same discussion.

Some say that if there were intelligent life-forms out there, they would have made contact by now.
Others say that the sandiverse is so big, it's not surprising that nothing has got in touch.

I could tell them, but, fuck 'em. They're only ants.