On Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:31:07 +0100, 
Mike Dworetsky <platinum198@pants.btinternet.com> wrote:

"Paul J Gans" <gans@panix.com> wrote in message 
news:g84av5$76p$1@reader1.panix.com...

In talk.origins John Wilkins <j.wilkins1@uq.edu.au> wrote:

Paul J Gans <gans@panix.com> wrote:

In talk.origins John Harshman <jharshman.diespamdie@pacbell.net> wrote:

...

Yes, one solution would be for all civilizations to render themselves
undetectable very soon after becoming detectable. This assumes they
don't go in for travel or communication, and never make noticeable
changes to their habitat (like Dyson spheres and such). It seems to me
that this assumption would require humans to be a very unusual sort of
intelligence, because we're going to go in for communication and travel
as soon as we figure out how, if we don't collapse first.

Other civilizations might well be signalling us like mad using
techniques we've not yet invented.

Or techniques we have abandoned? Semaphores?

Or obviously artificial signals such as the ones that begin:

 "I am Mr. Harson Gumbaw, nephew of the reigning oligarch
  of Obway.  I would like you to join me in a business venture
  that will make us both rich..."

-- 
  --- Paul J. Gans

Contest proposal: the best interstellar Nigeria-scam radiogram. 

I am the Sub-adjutant to the Fifth Plural of Epsilon Bootes.  Since the
impisonment of the Fifth Plural, the Ninth General Assembly of Episilon
Bootes has held many millions of the Fifth Plura's tender discs.  I desire
to free these tender discs to permit greater flow of my economic fortunes,
and ask your assistance in this venture.  Please forward your banking
information, so that I may transfer the value of these tender discs
offworld, thus opening new economic fortunes free of the Ninth General
Assembly's involvement.  In return, I shall leave with you a generous
economic bonus for your assistance in this manner.

If you could also fax information on various missile installations, nuclear
submarines, airforce installations and a plain of sufficient area for
several dozen Qag-class Ultakiller Cruisers, please do so, as we are looking
for a nice place to camp and consume.

-- 
Aaron Clausen mightymartianca@gmail.com