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Why does our civilization send signals and our location into space? (lemmy.world)

submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Individually doing atmospheric analysis for every planet in the galaxy is probably an impossible task for a civilisation confined to a single solar system. Listening for signals is something our civilisation already does. If we discover radio signals from a primitive civilisation in the next star system over there's a non-zero chance we'd panic and try to wipe them out.

That's the risk that dark forest theory is talking about. Maybe the threat comes from a civilisation dedicated to wiping out intelligent life that just hasn't found you yet, maybe it just comes from your nearest neighbor. Maybe there's no threat at all. The risk of interplanetary war is still too great to turn on a light in the forest and risk a bullet from the dark.

And while knowing this, why do we still not choose to just observe and be as quiet/ non existant as possible?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Haha absolutely not! When she replied, I think I might have said out loud "oh you bitch!"

It was super reckless of her to be like, "well my life has sucked so far so I'm going to make this huge monumental decision unilaterally on behalf of all humanity."

With that being said, had she not done what she did, I'm sure it would have happened otherwise. Still was reckless as hell!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

You see, I myself was conflicted.

On one hand, I can see how repeated frequent personal tragedies of violence can break a person to the point that they hate everyone they see. I can sympathise with that, growing up I was the arbitrary target at school and at home most of the time. It brought me to some really dark places in the past. Things are much better now but it leaves a stain, it lurks.

On the other hand, she was explicitly warned that Trisolarans were looking to conquer a new planet and just flat out ignored it. I get being angry and depressed but willfully stupid in an otherwise smart person is much harder to forgive. I mean, she discovered ETI... become famous? Naaahhhh lets doom everyone because I'm mad at the government.

That scene really stuck with me

Have you read The Locked Tomb series?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

No I haven't read that one. Oddly enough, I'm reading another series - the Silo series by High Howey - that could almost be called that same name! What's it about? I might have to check it out next.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Space necromancers, memes, lesbians, swords, skulls, gore, 'one flesh one end'

I've been looking for a new series, Ill check out Silo

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

Haha nice. I can't say that Silo has anything that crazy, but it's still with checking out