You FOOLS!! You've just let one of them in, Hawking is half-robot already!

It's a spy!

really? Stephen? Really!?

This is the same Hawking who is very against radio searching/beaconing for aliens for potential alien invasion reasons.

because a technologically superior culture/race/species has never invaded the home/land of those they considered inferior before, and to even suggest such a thing could happen on an interstellar scale is ludicrous...

To suggest we really have even the faintest grasp of what a completely independently evolved sentience would be like in any way is not just "ludicrous" but just plain arrogant considering we basically end up saying "probably something like us" because we have a sample size of one.

That argument can be used both ways. To think our level of sentience/evolution is somehow unique is just as arrogant. Even more so when one considers how many possibilities for life exist in our galaxy alone. And of course we have some idea of how life can evolve. We have our own planet as an small example which provides a sort of sample record (in the form of fossils) of the infinite ways/possibilities life can evolve.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we know of ALL the possible ways life can evolve. We are still discovering daily how diverse and extraordinary life is, as well as the completely alien environments where it manages to take hold. But to suggest life on our planet is alone or that humanities use of technology is exclusive is somewhat pretentious, don't you agree?

Plus, Mr. Hawking is one of humanities greatest minds, and if someone like him can allow for the possibility of technology wielding civilizations, don't you think it's a bit foolish to just dismiss his claims?! Many great minds have come up with the very same possibilities and I daresay they know a bit more on the subject than you or I.

He may be brilliant but I don't asume hawking has the best judgement on ever single field ever, especially not one where so much is subjective or speculation. But seriously, assuming that there are other intelligent beings who have obtained the technology and energy needed to become interstellar, what could they possibly want from us or our solar system which they couldn't already create more easily themselves?

goodness. I didn't expect my comment to spark such a discussion. I merely thought it was ironic because Hawking would not be able to communicate without technology.
Now I can certainly understand the thought process involved in wanting to prepare for something like a robotic take over or evil alien invasions. Anything's possible. It's just that it's usually the sort of thing one expects from the crazy homeless guy to be shouting about, not a respected scientist. So it begs the question; who's crazy? Maybe that homeless guy isn't so insane after all. And on that note maybe 'God' is a Q! O.O

I guess it depends on the society that is classifying what "crazy" is. Nikola Tesla is a prime example. As Bruce Feirstein put it "The difference between insanity and genius is success"

BTW I agree with you about the comical irony of it all. Also, they that can spark lengthy debate with few words are pretty awesome in my book ;)

well said, and thanks!

If this ends up with us constructing Reapers i will not be happy.

How much longer until his robotic voice goes on strike?