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it still is a stupid, easily disprovable statement for the author of the original piece to claim that practically everybody believes that there is intelligent alien life in our galaxy.

Oh, it's a hoot since most, after spending their entire lives on this planet, can't even ID earth's closest planetary neighbors in the night sky. In fact, most when they see the "Milky Way" in the night sky, have no idea it's actually part of their own home galaxy...Ya it's hoot IMO.

You say those same billions of people don't believe intelligent life exists on billions of other planets in our galaxy?

Considering the intelligence level of most people in regards the universe, or our galaxy, it would seem to call into question their beliefs and or opinions. In fact would it not seem to undermine their credibility?

It's easy to disprove most or billions don't believe? Maybe, but I've never seen a world wide survey.

But the fact is, everything considered, and based on the above, what the typical person believes regarding life on other plants, does not impress and is basically meaningless.

BTW, don't know about you, but most people I know, including myself, who have an above average understanding regarding the enormity of the universe and our galaxy, believe there is life out there, beyond our tiny world.

BTW, don't know about you, but most people I know, including myself, who have an above average understanding regarding the enormity of the universe and our galaxy, believe there is life out there, beyond our tiny world.

That's funny, because most of the people I know, including myself, who have an above average understanding regarding the enormity of the rationality and sentience of man, see no evidence whatsoever for intelligent alien life out there, beyond our tiny world.

On a natural level, no matter how big the numerator (# of planets) is, odds cannot be determined until we have a way to figure out the denominator (exact conditions needed to generate intelligent alien life, and the number of planets, if any, that might meet those conditions).

Those who believe in intelligent alien life in the Milky Way do not further their cause by belittling people who think otherwise. For the record, I went through my UFO phase in the 70s (it was a bit of a fad, then), reading three books by that fraudster Erik von Daniken, among others. I know you are not hawking that line, but a lot of people who don't have "an above average understanding" of the physical universe bought into it. My excuse was that I was a fourth grader.

Indeed, as someone who totally groks the enormity of our universe, I am psyched about the possibility -- no, the certainty -- of finding a planet shaped just like Alfred E. Newman's head.

Won't that be exciting?