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I would like to believe that in five thousand years of civilization, we could produce people with a finer grasp of concepts like "Mercy" and "forgiveness". Unfortunately, that goes against the development curve of human nature. Mankind is a Predator, and that single trait undoes all we do to suppress it. The Future and the past, if ignored, will always resemble the worst of the Present.

... and maybe we'll need them...
It's not necessarily a friendly place out there among the stars. Think about this... the ONLY race we know of that EVER developed tool usage beyond the occasional rock hammer or poking stick is our own. Also think about this:
"Intelligence is problem-solving ability. Sentience is something different... the ability to make use of this and develop civilization, maybe?
"I define it in terms of three characteristics:
1) Tool-using capability. Hands, tentacles, telekinesis, whatever can be used to manipulate objects.
2) Tool-using intelligence. Picking up the stick doesn't help me if I can't figure out how to pry at stuff with it!
3) Tool-using communication. So I figured out how to start a fire; doesn't help anyone else if I can't tell them how!
Also doesn't matter what the method is; could be anything from speech to rapid changes in odour." -me
The first two don't have ANYTHING to do with those concepts that you mentioned. And the THIRD presupposes that one is willing to share! All life depends upon a balance between aggressiveness and kindness, and too much of either will lead to self-destruction or stagnation, respectively.<P>------------------
De enemies just ran roughshod over DeMatt...

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DeMatt:
<B>... and maybe we'll need them...
It's not necessarily a friendly place out there among the stars. Think about this... the ONLY race we know of that EVER developed tool usage beyond the occasional rock hammer or poking stick is our own. Also think about this:
"Intelligence is problem-solving ability. Sentience is something different... the ability to make use of this and develop civilization, maybe?
"I define it in terms of three characteristics:
1) Tool-using capability. Hands, tentacles, telekinesis, whatever can be used to manipulate objects.
2) Tool-using intelligence. Picking up the stick doesn't help me if I can't figure out how to pry at stuff with it!
3) Tool-using communication. So I figured out how to start a fire; doesn't help anyone else if I can't tell them how!
Also doesn't matter what the method is; could be anything from speech to rapid changes in odour." -me
The first two don't have ANYTHING to do with those concepts that you mentioned. And the THIRD presupposes that one is willing to share! All life depends upon a balance between aggressiveness and kindness, and too much of either will lead to self-destruction or stagnation, respectively.<P></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Could be... then again, could just be that the aliens are ASSHOLES too.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DeMatt:
<B>All life depends upon a balance between aggressiveness and kindness, and too much of either will lead to self-destruction or stagnation, respectively.<P></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Hmm... You didn't, by any chance, happen to have been a student of mine at one time or another?<P>Naw, most of my students failed to grasp the concepts...<P><P>------------------
<B>Avatar Zero</B>
http://egokwest.keenspace.com