Extra terrestrial life: do you believe they exist?

[Hamilcar]

All the aliens have turned into eternally dreaming AIs. Why explore the mundane galaxy, when you can live an infinity of lives, forever, in your own imagination?

[Drakken]

I am agnostic over this issue.

Yes, our own existence beckons the possibility of other sentient life in the universe, but our sample remains n=1. You may add as many zeros as you wish, the result is still zero.

And if sentient life does exist, I am not convinced it is in humanity's best interest to discover and confirm its existence. The sheer magnitude of this new knowledge might be so dangerous it might tear the core fabric of our societies. Most, if not all of our philosophies and moral codes throughout history, even today, stem from humanity's moral or physical uniqueness in existence.

[KRonn]

I am agnostic over this issue.

Yes, our own existence beckons the possibility of other sentient life in the universe, but our sample remains n=1. You may add as many zeros as you wish, the result is still zero.

And if sentient life does exist, I am not convinced it is in humanity's best interest to discover and confirm its existence. The sheer magnitude of this new knowledge might be so dangerous it might tear the core fabric of our societies. Most, if not all of our philosophies and moral codes throughout history, even today, stem from humanity's moral or physical uniqueness in existence.

Agreed there, even if the extra terrestrials were friendly it would be quite jarring to people and societies for a number of reasons.

[Tonitrus]

Indeed.  It might lead to people conducting suicide bombings, terror attacks, and fomenting civil wars against their governments.

[The Brain]

And if sentient life does exist, I am not convinced it is in humanity's best interest to discover and confirm its existence. The sheer magnitude of this new knowledge might be so dangerous it might tear the core fabric of our societies. Most, if not all of our philosophies and moral codes throughout history, even today, stem from humanity's moral or physical uniqueness in existence.

You can relax. There will be much discussion and throwing of internet feces, but it's not going to upset the fabric of society.

[KRonn]

Indeed.  It might lead to people conducting suicide bombings, terror attacks, and fomenting civil wars against their governments.

  I guess we wouldn't notice any difference then.