Call off SETI... it's a waste of money!

[Skeptic]

Makes sense to me. (http://xkcd.com/638/)

[makaya325]

The chances of success are difficult to estimate, but if we never look, the chances are ZERO.

[JoeTheJuggler]

The cost is pretty minimal and I believe there's no public money going to it.

We certainly can forbid private organizations from spending their own money on a project because we don't think it's cost effective!

[Humanzee]

:D
..love xkcd

[shadron]

Odd how a cartoon lampooning a possible lack of imagination in the search can be used to attack the program, even when the money being spent isn't the attacker's. xkcd's insight is great; skeptic's is pedestrian.

[paximperium]

Odd how a cartoon lampooning a possible lack of imagination in the search can be used to attack the program, even when the money being spent isn't the attacker's. xkcd's insight is great; skeptic's is pedestrian.
Seconded.

[Wowbagger]

They do, occasionally, discover other interesting things, you know. Even if it has not been extra-terrestrial intelligence.... yet.

[Rasmus]

I call your ants and raise you a Drake (http://xkcd.com/384/).

[The Fallen Serpent]

I took Skeptic's post to be tongue in cheek humor because of the other SETI threads that I admit I have not read yet. Has Skeptic actually posted previously a desire to shut down SETI or is one of us misunderstanding the OP?

[Mark6]

Makes sense to me. (http://xkcd.com/638/)
Assuming you are serious: SETI is privately funded. If its sponsors want to waste their money, it's their business.

If I am not mistaken, Paul Allen and William Hewlett (of Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, respectively) are the biggest sponsors.

[Careyp74]

Well, I have maintained a ham sandwich in a trap in my backyard for several years, and haven't had any aliens land there yet either. Doesn't mean I am going to quit! If there are any aliens out there, they are sure to be attracted to my ham sandwich.

[paximperium]

Well, I have maintained a ham sandwich in a trap in my backyard for several years, and haven't had any aliens land there yet either. Doesn't mean I am going to quit! If there are any aliens out there, they are sure to be attracted to my ham sandwich.
There's your problem. Aliens eat Peanut Butter and banana sandwiches.

[Dave Rogers]

Well, I have maintained a ham sandwich in a trap in my backyard for several years, and haven't had any aliens land there yet either. Doesn't mean I am going to quit! If there are any aliens out there, they are sure to be attracted to my ham sandwich.

I think your experimental protocol needs some revision. Have you tried a bacon sandwich?

Dave

[Careyp74]

well, I am sure that if I put a peanut butter and banana sandwich out, I will catch Elvis, and that would be a direct assault against all of my 'Elvis is dead' arguments.

Bacon....... Well I suppose I could try both, not going to do any more harm, I guess.

I was pretty sure that aliens eat ham sandwiches. Why wouldn't they be like us?

[Fnord]

There's your problem. Aliens eat Peanut Butter and banana sandwiches.
No, they eat Reeses Pieces. I know 'cuz I saw it in a movie once.

;)

[Careyp74]

No, they eat Reeses Pieces. I know 'cuz I saw it in a movie once.

;)

And that was proof also that SETI would be useful in finding intelligent life! Fnord just killed the argument. I am going to put the SETI screensaver back on my at work computer now.

[Harpo]

I think your experimental protocol needs some revision. Have you tried a bacon sandwich?

Dave

I'd certainly cross the galaxy if it had Daddies Brown Sauce on it!! :)