Fermi's Paradox

On 9/12/12 11:55 PM, William wrote:

> I think most tend to shy away from what is at this point the simplest
> explanation, therefore the one most likely to be true: they're not
> there.

Yes, almost none of us would like to believe that... but I have to
agree, this is by far the simplest explanation that fits the evidence.

> I think it's mostly that, and maybe perhaps a little of this:
>
> http://accelerating.org/articles/answeringfermiparadox.html

That's really interesting. I'm going to have to study this one further.
At first blush, I find it hard to believe that this "transcendance"
could be absolutely universal (i.e., affect 100% of every civilization
advanced enough for interstellar colonization). If even a tiny, tiny
fraction of them (the future equivalent of Amish perhaps?) decides to
eschew navel-gazing for actual growth in the real universe, then the
whole argument breaks down. But perhaps he can make a case why that
can't happen.

At the very least, I'm happy to see something new in the Fermi debate!

Thank you,
- Joe