In infinite wisdom Andrew Nowicki answered:

Rich wrote:

Do you expect SETI to succeed?

I assume that "succeed" in this context means to detect
signs of ET civilizations, but maybe you could tell me
what success would be to you. The phrase 'the operation
was a success but the patient died' comes to mind for
some reason. Seems that doctors have a different definition
for the success of an operation than patients (and their
families) do. Perhaps SETI insiders do as well.

I do not care if the ET has four or eight limbs. I want to know if it has a teleology that is
attractive to intelligent creatures.

I'm reminded of discussions I had with an ex-roomate
who was into magic. Despite a tower of theories explaining
why magic works (you know, like that it causes the wave-
function to collapse), he was somewhat aggravated when
I suggested that first he needed to show *that* magic
worked. Oddly, for as yet unexplained reasons, he was
never able to show me this, or point to anyone who could.

SETI is in a similar position near as I can tell.

ET is silent because it has nothing to say. It
is passive because it has nothing to do except
consuming narcotics.

I'll drink to that <hic>.

SETI will be a success if it proves that some
civilizations are diverse, expanding, devoid of
narcotics, and durable.

I fail to see how the search would not be successful
even were ET worse than us. And considering what the
UFO folk are said to be up to, abducting and raping
our women, and men, and cattle, and communicating
by making circles in cereal crops and stuff, that
seems highly likely.  :-)

It will be a failure if
it detects no ETIs, or confirms that all ETIs
commit suicide.

I don't think that the latter is potentially showable
from here, although it would be indistinguishable
from the former.

I also note that you seem to be of the mind that ET
must be mortally superior for some reason. I suggest
that this is anthropomorphic, ET will have his own
standards of conduct, and it need have no relation to
what we would find acceptable. I mean, have you read
of the parts they take from cows? What's up with that?

Rich