<< The reality is that given the vastness of the universe that intelligent life is probably out there. This same vastness has its down size; If intelligent life is uncommon, and FTL communication impossible then we are effectively alone >>
If, if if. The point of Fermi's paradox is, if there are intelligent aliens out there - where are they? Assume that we are 100 years more advanced than we are now. Can we go to Mars? Probably. Can we settle Mars? Maybe. Can we go to another star? Perhaps. Can we colonize a planet around another star. Unlikely. Assume we're 200 years more advanced than we are now and ask the same questions. (I know, we're assuming a lot. Like we're even still here 200 years from now. But play along with me.) Assume we're 300 years more advanced than we are now. Could we colonize other worlds? Could we perhaps conquer other worlds? Especially other worlds 300 years less advanced. It's hard to believe that every civilization would advance at the same rate. Therefore, there might be races out there less advanced than us - and races more advanced. Three hundred years is not a millionth of an eyeblink to the universe. If there are other races out there, shouldn't some have become sufficiently advanced by now to have found us? This is all speculation, based, as someone said, on a single data-point. Still, it does bear some thinking upon, does it not? Tom Beck (who likes to think they're out there anyway) "I always knew I'd see the first man on the Moon. I didn't realize I'd also see the last." - Jerry Pournelle
