"Antares 531" <gordonlrDELETE@swbell.net> wrote in message 
news:ctu8n55i7jb1a70ki78ggnl90g5a4olv2t@4ax.com...

On Sun, 7 Feb 2010 22:02:52 +0100, "Skybuck Flying"
<IntoTheFuture@hotmail.com> wrote:

Suppose we humans start living in computers, and then we sent computers 
into
space containing us...

Maybe back in time... then we encounter those computers.

Without actually having seen a computer we would think it was a dead piece
of metal.

While in reality there was "life" inside the computer.

Therefore when we explore the universe we should be carefull before we say
that something is dead...

It might appear to be dead... but there could be a whole information 
system
going on inside of it ! ;)

(Life is probably mostly about "loops/circles" be it physically or in an
information system ;))

Bye,
 Skybuck.

Are you using the standard definition for life here? Life has the
potential for reproduction of itself and for reacting to a stimulus.

A bi-metallic strip can react to the stimulus of a change in
temperature, but I don't think this would serve as an indication of
life.

I would agree that a computer can react to the stimulus of someone
touching the keys on the keyboard and other input means, but I don't
grasp the idea that computers could ever reproduce themselves.

yeah, and if they could, they would no longer seem like lifeless bits of 
metal...

granted, yes, maybe the "computer" could resemble something different, like 
plants or mold or similar...

a planet is encountered which seems mostly to just be filled with moldy or 
mossy rocks...

Gordon