Search for aliens poses game theory dilemma (old but interesting piece)

New Scientist ^ | December 12, 2012 | Jacob Aaron

[DoodleBob]

SENDING messages into deep space could be the best way for Earthlings to find extraterrestrial intelligence, but it carries a grave risk: alerting hostile aliens to our presence. Game theory may provide a way to navigate this dilemma.

So far the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) has mostly been restricted to listening for signs of technology elsewhere. Only a few attempts have been made to broadcast messages towards distant stars. Many scientists are against such “active” SETI for fear of revealing our presence. If all aliens feel the same way then no one will be broadcasting, and the chance of detecting each other is limited.

To weigh up the potential losses and gains, Harold de Vladar of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria in Klosterneuburg turned to the prisoner’s dilemma, a game-theory problem in which two prisoners choose between admitting their shared crime or keeping quiet, with different sentences depending on what they say. An individual prisoner gets off scot free if they rat on a partner who remains silent, with the silent partner getting a maximum sentence. If they both rat on each other, each gets a medium sentence. By contrast, if both stay silent, both get token sentences – the best overall result.

De Vladar reasoned that the SETI dilemma is essentially the same, but reversed. Mutual silence for prisoners is equivalent to mutual broadcasting for aliens, giving the best results for both civilisations. And while a selfish prisoner rats, a selfish civilisation is silent, waiting for someone else to take the risk of waving “Over here!” at the rest of the universe.

[rodguy911]

And... since our science is all there is mankind has not evolved in the past 10k years elsewhere and achieved new levels its foolish to even suggest that science, math,the 10% usage we have of our minds everything we know or think we know has evolved. Since nothing evolves. Everything stays the same. That's how we like it. Change is well.... uncomfortable, so why allow it.

[rodguy911]

I wouldn't bother looking. Seems you have already made up your mind that mile long triangles don't exist in your world so don't upset your self.
One of the most interesting things about the Phoenix lights is that the governor at the time Fife Symington made a big joke about it all claiming it was nothing.He had one of his aides dress up as an alien and it all went away which was what he needed at the time.
Problem is years later he recanted and told the truth that it really happened.
https://www.thephoenixlights.net/Symington.htm

[cgbg]

Rod:

Just a tip--they are not "coming" here from _there_. They _are_ here.

If folks ask the wrong questions they get the wrong answers.

(SETI, for example, is a total joke.)

Jacque Vallee is the best guy to read on this stuff.

Then listen to podcasts on UFos by Terence McKenna and also the Rubert Sheldrake "banned Ted talk" I linked earlier.

Right now our thoughts are prisoners of a culture of "science" which closes minds instead of opening them, and punishes "heretics"--as humans have throughout history.

[waterhill]

We have Marfa lights in TX.

[BenLurkin]

Have you found that video yet? You’d appreciate it.

As for what I think does or doesn’t exist, you assume about me.

So lighten up, FRiend. It’s not a big deal.

[Tallguy]

I recommend a book called “Three Body Problem’. It’s fiction, but it makes a compelling argument that aliens aren’t likely to give a rip about us, but they will be interested in taking our resources. And that puts us in a tight spot.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks DoodleBob.

• Strange lights off the Outer Banks spark UFO debate: Was it aliens or the military?

[SunkenCiv]

/bingo