Charlie StrossNov 1

Random Fermi Paradox solution of the day:

Nobody goes into space and colonizes the galaxy because only Moon Nazis want to do that, and after experiencing a few dozen genocides all sapient species learn the safest thing to do when you see a Moon Nazi is to murder them immediately, it's the only way to avoid the genocides.

Show threadPete Alex Harris🦡🕸️🌲/∞🪐∫Nov 1

@cstross
Nobody goes into space and colonises their galaxy because it's an insane, incoherent goal with no possible return on the investment of energy and resources. Only civilisations infected by the Infinite Growth mind-virus pursue such goals, and their home planets … don't make it.

I sure hope our civilisation isn't throwing irrecoverable resources into a project that can definitely never pay for itself just to make the number go up for as long as possible.

Show threadIsaac Ji KuoNov 1

@petealexharris @cstross I think that "colonizing" the galaxy is a reasonable goal, but the "problem" is that the rational way to go about it would take a lot longer than the age of the universe so far.

For the most part, interstellar probes can provide desired scientific exploration info about far away star systems, and these will not be very noticeable for us.

Space colonization makes most sense within a star system, with expansion to other star systems only making sense during close flybys.

Show threadSteve Leach
@isaackuo @petealexharris @cstross Yes Yes Yes. And maybe not "colonization" as we're used to thinking about it but more extremely large scale efforts at engineered panspermia: If "we" survive, a few million years in this solar system and never manage to go further ourselves but are building seed probes with microbes that we fire off at every near approaching star system or passing rogue planet until we finally go extinct... well, cool that's a worthy "purpose" for our species.
Nov 1 at 8:18pmWeb
Show threadIsaac Ji KuoNov 1

@stevenaleach @petealexharris @cstross I find it interesting that you would find this a satisfying goal. I'm not saying it's anything invalid or anything, it's just "interesting" to me.

I can easily point to a direct inspiration for me - Star Trek TMP.

I am fascinated by what Pioneer 10/11 or Voyager 1/2 says about us. Rather than a microbe legacy, I find a robotic probe legacy more compelling. Robotic probes cruising through interstellar space at gravity slingshot speeds would take MILLIONS

Show threadIsaac Ji KuoNov 1

@stevenaleach @petealexharris @cstross of years to explore the galaxy. But they could be engineered with modern technology and launched at reasonable costs. And even after they have completely broken down, they will still wander the galaxy for billions and billions of years.

I find that a satisfying legacy for humanity.

Show threadSteve LeachNov 1

@isaackuo @petealexharris @cstross I can see that.

For me it's the idea of the greatest potential for experience and creation.

Our solar system will be sterile in ~10^10th yrs. Put the heat death of the universe at 10^100th yrs and accept that anything beyond the local group is being carried away too fast by expansion to ever reach ( so limited sources of life to finally reach here from further away), well just think of the potential "waste" of possible "stuff" not living and experiencing.